Summary
You will provide reading and clerical services for employees who interact with beneficiaries about their rights under the Social Security laws, gather facts and evidence to establish eligibility for benefits, make critical decisions to determine the amount of benefits paid to individuals, and using state-of-the-art computer technology, access and update information about claims.
Duties
The incumbent will serve as a reader assistant for one or more blind or visually-impaired employees at the Office of Hearing Operation in Philadelphia, PA. Duties include reading a variety of work-related, hand-written/printed materials to the assisted employee, which may include technical, administrative, and program-related materials that involve diverse specialized terminology such as federal legislation and regulations. When not required to perform reader assistant duties, the incumbent may be assigned to provide clerical assistance to units, as needed.
This position is located in the Office of Hearing Operation located in Philadelphia, PA.
This is not a career ladder position; the full working level for this position is GS-5.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Selective Service Registration, if applicable (See Other Information tab)
- Background and/or security investigation required
- Selectees are required to serve a 1 year probationary period
- Relocation expenses will not be paid
- Fingerprint clearance is required
- Must pass Meet-and-Deal panel interview
Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. If you are using experience to qualify, you must have:
GS-5: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level in the federal service that demonstrates all or most of the following: 1) skill in reading; 2) ability to communicate orally; 3) ability to locate information; and 4) ability to interpret guidelines. Skill in reading and ability to communicate orally are mandatory and will be determined by an interview.
Important Note: Your resume MUST indicate the specific number of hours worked per week for each position you have held. This is required no matter how long you have been in the position. Additionally, your resume must indicate both a beginning and ending date for each position you have held. Your beginning and ending dates must include at least a month and year.
NOTE: You should not use a range of hours (i.e., 20-30) to indicate the number of hours worked per week. Part-time work is pro-rated in crediting experience (e.g., if you work 20 hours per week for a 12-month period, you will be credited with 6 months experience).
Education
SUBSTITUTING EDUCATION: If you are qualifying for this position based on completed education at an accredited U.S. college, university, or other educational institution, you must provide a copy of your transcripts or other proof of education prior to being appointed. NOTE: Education completed in a foreign institution must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs. It is the applicant's responsibility to acquire U.S. Certification and provide it at the time of application. For a list of Credential Evaluation Services, log on to: Credential Evaluation Services.
GS-5: Completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree OR a combination of post-high school education and the general experience described above. One year of study is defined as 30 earned semester hours or 45 earned quarter hours.
Combining Education and Experience
Experience and education can be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements. Experience and education should be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal 100% when combined. Example: three years of college coursework plus 6 months specialized experience is qualifying for the GS-5 level.
Benefits
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 occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position.
Required Documents
Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12450670~
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
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.
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 Megan Robertson at Megan.Robertson@ssa.govor (215) 597-8938.
Individuals with disabilities may also call us via Federal Relay using the (voice) contact telephone provided.
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.
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.
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