Summary

LOCATION: This position is located in Central Processing, Head of Earnings in the Wilkes Barre Direct Operations Center (WBDOC) at 1150 East Mountain Blvd. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

TOUR OF DUTY: Multiple work schedules (up to 40 hours) | Alternate work schedules may be available.

TYPE OF POSITION: Temporary, not to exceed one year. May be extended. Will not become permanent.

This job is open to

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM those eligible for Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) in the commuting area of Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Duties

Benefits & Records Technicians perform a variety of activities involving analyzing, investigating, identifying, coding, reconciling, updating and adjusting earnings data reported by employers, and benefit data reported by recipients and representative payees.
Examples of such activities include:

Review and categorize incoming correspondence.
Examine incoming documents and forms to determine acceptability for further processing.
Identify and resolve discrepancies for a wide variety of completed forms and reports.
Initiate and receive direct contact calls from various government agencies, beneficiaries, their representatives, wage earners, and the general public.
Initiate and receive direct contact calls and/or correspondence to report on progress, resolve problems, clarify, exchange, obtain or provide information, and advance a better understanding of SSA programs.
Access computer systems, personal computer, and other related computer equipment for various records and reports.
Enter, correct, and update data in automated systems for management information reporting purposes.
Distribute completed work in accordance with specific workload procedures to the appropriate SSA components and other government agencies.
Follow applicable procedures governing the release of confidential information.
Prepare complex and detailed written reports needed by other government agencies and subsequent operations to accompany the source document for further processing.
Apply individual judgment to identify, evaluate and resolve nonstandard requests or replies utilizing different and often unrelated steps, processes and/or methods.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Applicants must have a fully successful rating of record.
Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.
Proof of ICTAP eligibility.
U.S. Citizenship required.
Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
Background and/or security investigation required.
Job offers are contingent on background/security investigation results.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include operating a personal computer and utilizing software such as entering and retrieving data, editing, making record changes, verifying information; applying rules, regulations and written guidelines to work assignments, such as reviewing, verifying, evaluating applications, claims, documents, forms, etc., to determine acceptability for processing; communicating orally with the public to provide or obtain information; and writing correspondence/reports such as responding to inquiries or requests for information.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants for promotion to GS-6 must have 52 weeks at GS-5.

Resumes exceeding 2 pages in length will not be considered. Visit the 'Required Documents' section below for more information.

Education

Substitution of education for experience is not applicable at this grade level.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date of the initial selection.

In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicants must be eligible under the following category:

Displaced or surplus Federal employees eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) who have held a GS-6 or above, and in the commuting area of Wilkes-Barre, PA.

In addition to meeting the basic eligibility criteria, ICTAP applicants must be well qualified for the position. Well-qualified is defined as having knowledge, skills, and abilities that clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Under numeric rating procedures, qualified ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of 85 or higher to be eligible for selection.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

OTHER NOTES:
This position is temporary, not-to-exceed 1 year. May be extended; will not become permanent.

This is not a career ladder position; GS-6 is the full performance level.

This position is eligible for telework as determined by agency policy.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupation questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are necessary to perform the duties of this position:

Ability to apply procedures and written guidelines to analyze reported data, identify necessary information and resolve discrepancies.
Skill in operating a personal computer to access systems to enter, update and retrieve information.
Skill in accurate data entry using a keyboard.
Ability to record, maintain, and monitor workload controls.
Ability to effectively communicate orally to obtain or provide information, assistance or instructions.
Ability to effectively communicate in writing to obtain or provide information.

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. Applicants will be assessed using the rating criteria listed in the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12965980

Required Documents

You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

Resume
In accordance with OPM's new resume guidance, USAJOBS will not accept resumes longer than 2 pages. You may upload additional documents by selecting the "other documents" option in USAJOBS. Once your application transfers to the agency application system, assign your uploaded documents to the appropriate document types-each required document type must have at least one supporting document assigned. If the document you need is not reflecting in the available documents, you may upload it directly into the agency application system.

Your resume must specifically demonstrate, in your own words, the possession of the required experience related to the minimum qualifications, selective placement factors and/or evaluation criteria. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement, rating criteria, KSAs and/or position description will not be considered. If this occurs, you may lose consideration for one or more grade levels or found ineligible.

How to Apply

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.

Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements
Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your resume may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume
Proof of ICTAP eligibility
The Occupational Questionnaire
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (EST) on 05/27/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.

If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Careers@ssa.gov.

Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories

Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.

Agency contact information

Careers at SSA

Email: Careers@ssa.gov

Address: Central Processing
6401 Security Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21235-0001
US

Next steps

Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.

Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.

Benefits & Records Technician (ICTAP) (TEMP) Job in Wilkes Barre, PA