The Legal Administrative Specialist (LAS) serves as a member of the Public Contact Team, located in the Veterans Service Center. Within the following locations Baltimore, MD, Saint Louis, MO, Pittsburgh, PA, Butler, PA, and Erie, PA. The incumbent provides in-depth information and comprehensive assistance to veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries concerning any matter within the scope of VA benefits and related non-VA benefits.

Duties

Counsels Veterans, their dependents, and their beneficiaries regarding all benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as non-VA benefits available through other agencies. Analyzes the claim and initiates action to obtain all required evidence to support the claim. Explains the types of documents necessary to facilitate timely processing of claims and provides assistance in obtaining and completing such documents and forms as required by the type of claim being submitted or services requested. Obtains the necessary information and completes claims while veteran and/or family member is present. In certain circumstances, may monitor the claim to eliminate unnecessary delays in receiving needed evidence and to assure the claim is fully developed. Acts as advocate for veterans and their beneficiaries in their dealings with other VA elements and organizations that affect their claims. Provides away from office counseling and as necessary provides in-home counseling to those who are geographically isolated or physically unable to go to VA facility due to physical or mental incapacity. Explains decisions made by the VA and communicates the reasons to the claimant for these decisions, orally or in writing. Advises on the right of appeals and assists claimants in making appeals. Presents benefits or claims appeals at personal hearings. Prepares technical correspondence to veterans and their dependents providing benefit information, representation rights and response to miscellaneous inquiries. Signs such correspondence for the Veterans Service Center Manager. Receives and responds to congressional and White House inquiries concerning VA benefits for veterans and other claimants. Analyzes inquiries, researches issues involved, consults with other federal, state and local agencies as necessary and prepares written replies or furnishes replies by telephone or other medium to congressional or White House staff members. Serves as an Outreach Coordinator (such as Women's Veterans Coordinator, Minority Veterans Coordinator, Homeless Veterans Coordinator, Aging Veteran Coordinator, Ex-Prisoners of War Coordinator, or Military Services Coordinator). Develops a network relationship with the state and private veterans organizations to broaden the scope of outreach and increase the community awareness of the role VA plays in being a resource to that community. Speaks to individuals or groups or otherwise represents the agency on media programs involving matters of interest to veterans and their dependents. Serves as a resource for the veteran community by participating in events and programs, such as military Transition Assistance Program, Armed Forces Day booths, Veterans Organizations seminars, etc. Conducts seminars, conferences and other information dissemination activities. Performs other duties as assigned.

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.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• You will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Remote: This is not a remote position.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 11/23/2024. Time-in-grade: Applicants who are/were federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-10 position you must have served 52 weeks at GS-9. To support your claim of time in grade, you must submit your most recent appointment, promotion, or within grade increase SF-50. Some applicants may have to submit more than one SF-50 to demonstrate their eligibility. See the required documents section for more information. The Office of Personnel Management's group coverage qualification standards, associated individual occupational requirements (IOR), and individual qualification standards covering white collar occupations in the Federal competitive service can be found here. AND Specialized Experience: GS-10: To qualify, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-9) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves: Experience that has demonstrated the capability of being a self-reliant decision-maker and possessing the ability to work independently when providing customer service benefits counseling and claims processing. The individual must possess in-depth knowledge of researching relevant subject matter. The experience should be significantly and directly derived from federal, military, or the private sector. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to orating to persons from a wide variety of backgrounds regarding VA benefits programs; performing research of local, state, and Federal laws and regulations to determine Veterans' eligibility for benefits programs. OR Education GS-10: Two and a half years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. This graduate education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work for this position. Note: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. OR Education Combination GS-10: If you have some, but not all, of the graduate education described above AND less than one full year of the specialized experience described above, you may qualify by combining the amount of creditable education and experience that you do have. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at the GS-10 grade level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned. Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Note: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: 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.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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.

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.

Contacts

• Address Pittsburgh Regional Benefit Office 1000 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 US
• Name: Maeve Costello
• Phone: 313-596-7207
• Email: [email protected]