This position is located in SSA Hearing Offices across the San Francisco Region (AZ, CA, HI, NV). Positions under this announcement are being filled using a Direct Hire Authority (DHA)(SSA-001), open to all U.S. citizens. Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given new appointments to the civil service. Under the provisions of the DHA, Veterans Preference and the "Rule of Three" do not apply.

Duties

Once selected for this important position, you will contribute to the Agency's mission through direct and personal service to the public. The Office of Hearings Operations handles appeals that have been filed by people who have been denied Social Security, Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI), or Medicare benefits. You will provide support to Administrative Law Judges and other professional employees in processing cases filed under the Social Security Act. Legal Assistants provide quasi legal and technical support to Administrative Law Judges and other technical and professional positions in the processing of entitlement cases pursuant to Titles II, XVI, and XVIII of the Social Security Act, as amended, at the administrative appeals level. Legal Assistants are responsible for developing and processing requests for hearing cases from their receipt in the office to completion, independently performing a wide range of case development actions, and processes more complex hearing cases where analysis of pertinent issues and interpretation of the provisions of the laws, regulations, rulings, precedents, policies, procedures and guidelines relative to the cases is necessary. This announcement serves as public notice. Applications submitted will be placed into a pool and will remain on file for selection as positions become available. Vacancies may be filled for up to 6 months after the closing date of this announcement. Applicants may not receive notifications of referral status until the full 6-month eligibility period has elapsed. Applications may also be gathered from additional recruitment sources. These applications will be added to the pool created by this announcement.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
• Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
• Selectees may be required to complete off-site training

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 (1) yearof full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal Service performing all or most of the following tasks: Applying laws, rules or regulations and written guidelines; Communicating orally in order to provide information, assistance, or instructions to members of the general public or their representatives; Performing administrative and clerical processes using a computer to reconcile discrepancies, associate documents with related files/records, etc.; Writing correspondence in response to inquiries and drafted a variety of other written products. GS-6: One (1) yearof full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal Service performing all or most of the following tasks: Reviewing legal or medical documents for accuracy in accordance with applicable rules and regulations; Communicating with a wide variety of individuals in order to provide or elicit information; Applying & interpreting laws, rules or regulations and written guidelines; Using a computer to prepare correspondence in draft and final form or to prepare reports. GS-7: One (1) yearof full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in the Federal Service performing all or most of the following tasks: Reviewing and processing a variety of legal and/or medical documentation, records and evidence in accordance with applicable rules & regulations; Communicating with a wide variety of individuals in order to provide advice/guidance about medical or legal claims, hearings process, insurance claims, or other related programs; Interpreting complex laws, rules or regulations and written guidelines & explaining the provisions to others; Using a computer to prepare correspondence and has experience using word processing software (i.e., Word, Access, Excel) for data input, queries, reports or case tracking. Note: Part-time work is prorated in crediting experience (e.g., if you work 20 hours per week for a 12-month period), you will be credited with 6 months of 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: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study above high school (e.g., 120 earned semester hours, 180 earned quarter hours, bachelor's degree, etc.).

GS-6/7: Substitution of education is not applicable at these grade levels.

COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Experience and education as described above may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements.

GS-5: Education course work equivalent to a baccalaureate program beyond the second year (e.g., in excess of the first 60 earned semester or 90 earned quarter hours) is creditable toward meeting the minimum qualification requirements.

Note: Experience and education will be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal to 100 percent when combined.

Contacts

• Address Region IX OHO 1221 Nevin Ave 4th Floor Richmond, CA 94801 US
• Name: Theresa Gao
• Phone: 510-970-2775
• Email: [email protected]