Summary

ICTAP eligibles in the Aberdeen, South Dakota local commuting area only and individuals eligible under the Military Spouse Hiring Authority.

This position is in the Aberdeen, South Dakota Field Office located at 115 Fourth Avenue SE, Room 111, Federal Building, Aberdeen, SD 57401.

Flextime / Part-Time / Alternate work schedules may be available.

This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Military spouses

Clarification from the agency

APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM those eligible for Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) in the Aberdeen, South Dakota local commuting area only and certain Military Spouses.

Duties

Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) provide assistance to beneficiaries and the general public in person, by telephone, or in writing. CSRs conduct interviews to determine the nature of the caller's question or issue; explain technical information, gather facts, evaluate evidence, and take action to resolve problems relating to all Social Security programs.

Once selected for the Customer Service Representative position in SSA, you will contribute to the Agency's mission through direct service to the public. As the first point of contact, you are responsible for assisting beneficiaries or inquirers in person, by telephone or in writing to provide information on SSA laws, rules and regulations and Medicare Insurance Programs. This includes obtaining information in order to determine eligibility and entitlement for programs administered by SSA, and using automation tools to access and update information about claims or potential eligibility.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Proof of ICTAP/Military Spouse eligibility required
• 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
• ICTAP eligibles in the Aberdeen, SD local commuting area only

Qualifications

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower grade 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.

GS-8: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level or above that includes comprehensive knowledge of laws, regulations, and written guidelines as it relates to programs administered by SSA or related programs; using automation tools and computer systems software to resolve or process a wide variety of actions; communicating with a large volume of people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in order to resolve a wide variety of problems, and/or provide advice/guidance about program policies and benefits; writing correspondence in response to multiple complex or technical issues.

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.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR:

COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW PROCESS (CAIP) INTERVIEW - Applicants will be required to participate in a panel interview (after basic eligibility determination) to demonstrate an aptitude for meeting and dealing with the public. Applicants must pass this interview process in order to be found fully qualified for this position and receive further consideration for selection. This interview will cover typical situations, which might be encountered on the job, in person or over the telephone. Applicants must demonstrate qualities such as clarity of speech, ability to listen, ability to establish confidence and put others at ease and the ability to organize and express thoughts clearly. If you do not pass the CAIP interview, you will not qualify for the job. Panel interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible.

NOTE: Previous Meet and Deal results are not valid for this vacancy announcement; you will be required to complete the CAIP assessment.

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

Applicants for promotion to GS-8 must have 52 weeks at GS-7.

Time in grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

For GS-8: Substitution of education is not applicable at these grade levels.

Additional information

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).
• Certain Military Spouses

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.

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.

• 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.

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 occupational 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. These competencies include:

• Knowledge of the laws, regulations, procedures and online services applicable to SSA
• Ability to use online technology, automation tools and web-based applications.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and multi-task.
• Ability to communicate orally
• Ability to communicate in writing

We recommend you use USA Jobs resume builder for submitting a resume to ensure you include dates of employment for each job listed (month/year) as well as average number of hours (e.g., 40 hours, 20 hours) worked per week. Note: You can copy and paste your existing resume into resume builder. Please review the Tips for Applying for additional guidance.

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/12406362

• 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.
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  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.
  
  Military Spouse Appointing Authority: You may be eligible for an appointment under the Military Spouse Appointing Authority if you are a spouse of: 1) an active duty member of the armed forces; 2) a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury; or 3) a deceased service member of the armed forces. Each of these categories has different eligibility criteria that must be met. Individuals applying for consideration under this authority MUST provide the applicable supporting documentation (e.g., documentation verifying marriage, copy of your spouse's active military orders, DD-214, copy of a statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs or a branch of the military certifying the service member's service-connected disability rating, DD-1300, etc.). You are no longer eligible if you remarry.
  
  
  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 apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
  
  1. Your Resume
  
  2. The Occupational Questionnaire
  
  3. Additional Required Documents (e.g., ICTAP notice, SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action. See Required Documents section).
  
  The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (ET) on 05/08/2024.
  
  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 Cynthia Brushaber at Cynthia.Brushaber@ssa.govor (312) 575-6952.
  
  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
  
  
  
  Cynthia Brushaber
  
  Phone
  
  (312) 575-6952
  
  Email
  
  Cynthia.Brushaber@ssa.gov
  
  Address
  
  Region VIII Area 1
  
  1961 Stout Street
  
  Denver, CO 80294
  
  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.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

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.

Military Spouse Appointing Authority: You may be eligible for an appointment under the Military Spouse Appointing Authority if you are a spouse of: 1) an active duty member of the armed forces; 2) a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury; or 3) a deceased service member of the armed forces. Each of these categories has different eligibility criteria that must be met. Individuals applying for consideration under this authority MUST provide the applicable supporting documentation (e.g., documentation verifying marriage, copy of your spouse's active military orders, DD-214, copy of a statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs or a branch of the military certifying the service member's service-connected disability rating, DD-1300, etc.). You are no longer eligible if you remarry.


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

1. Your Resume

2. The Occupational Questionnaire

3. Additional Required Documents (e.g., ICTAP notice, SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action. See Required Documents section).

The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (ET) on 05/08/2024.

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 Cynthia Brushaber at Cynthia.Brushaber@ssa.govor (312) 575-6952.

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



Cynthia Brushaber

Phone

(312) 575-6952

Email

Cynthia.Brushaber@ssa.gov

Address

Region VIII Area 1

1961 Stout Street

Denver, CO 80294

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.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request