The Program Support Assistant is responsible for preparing incoming paper and electronic mail to the Regional Processing Office for Education Benefits. The incumbent creates electronic files and claim tokens, as appropriate.

Duties

Processes incoming education paper and electronic mail, to include undeliverable mail, for all education benefits to include Chapters 33, 30, 35 and 1606. Processes a wide variety of education forms such as education applications, enrollment certifications, miscellaneous forms, general correspondence, etc. Establishes records based on unique regulations and procedures for each benefit. Ensures all documents are date stamped, sorted, batched, scanned and indexed into TIMS in a timely manner. Uses sound knowledge of the organization and jurisdiction rules, to independently resolve problems associated with creation and correction of files. Makes suggestions to help improve methods, procedures, and systems, such as adapting or changing established mail procedures. Reviews applications to determine if the form has been properly completed. Forms not properly completed are returned. Reviews all mail to ensure a proper identification number has been provided. Reviews and determines disposition of "unidentifiable" mail. Requests transfer of records using VA systems; May request and track files using VA systems and local applications, as necessary. Scans and inputs a variety of documents. Reviews documents to ensure clarity and legibility. Performs initial quality review of scanned document to ensure appropriateness for indexing. Reviews multiple systems of record to obtain necessary evidence to support claims processing. Associates evidence in the claims file, capturing and annotating source information. Establishes correct date of claim in VA systems. Assists in preparing workload reports by calculating pending inventory. Date stamps mail and manages the mass folder transfer process ensuring all records are electronically transferred to the proper jurisdiction and resolves any transfer errors. Archives paper mail to place in storage. Assists in running ECAP program. Generate folder prints. Serves as a mentor and reference point for program support clerks and assists in training new employees. Maintains a log of records requiring deletion of TIMS record, after file analysis supports corrective action. Builds and maintains NO SSN file repository. Determines mail jurisdiction and transfers as appropriate.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A probationary period may be required for employees and supervisors.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/21/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 Grade level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. This may also require you to submit more than one SF-50 to support your eligibility. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. AND Specialized Experience: GS-5: Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required at the GS-05 grade level. To qualify at the GS-05 grade level, applicants may substitute 4 years above high school to qualify. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

No Transcript is required with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Buffalo Regional Benefits Office 130 S. Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202 US
• Name: Kimberly Sumner
• Phone: 716-857-3821
• Email: [email protected]