Disability Determination Specialist

okgov; Oklahoma; On-site; USD 49,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

805 DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES in Oklahoma hires a Disability Determination Specialist to interpret the Social Security Act and determine eligibility for benefits across the state. Incumbents collect and analyze medical and vocational information to prepare legally defensible determinations.

This role handles complex disability cases, maintains sensitive data, and communicates decisions to claimants and agencies, with emphasis on accuracy and compliance with regulations.

Qualifications

• Interpreting Social Security Act provisions to determine disability eligibility.
• Collecting, evaluating, and analyzing medical and vocational information.

Responsibilities

• Reviews medical and vocational evidence to determine eligibility for disability benefits.
• Prepares detailed written analyses and notices to claimants and the SSA.
• Maintains complex caseloads and ensures compliance with regulations.

Job description

Job Posting Title

Disability Determination Specialist

Agency

805 DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES

Supervisory Organization

Job Posting End Date

Refer to the date listed at the top of this posting, if available. Continuous if date is blank.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.

Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)

Full/Part-Time

Full time

Job Type

Regular

Compensation

Monthly/Annual Salary: Monthly Annual

• Level I (Pay Band I) $4,060.95 $48,731.44
• Level II (Pay Band J) $4,642.08 $55,704.96
• Level III (Pay Band K) $5,249.87 $62,998.44

Job Description

Basic Purpose

Positions in this job family perform complex professional level work, interpreting and implementing provisions of the Federal Social Security Act to determine eligibility for disability benefits for applicants throughout the state of Oklahoma. Incumbents obtain, evaluate and analyze all pertinent information to prepare a legally defensible disability determination to approve or deny benefits.

Typical Functions

• Reviews and analyzes evidence of illness, injury, disease or other medical condition s and vocational factors which prevent an individual from working or gaining employment, and prepares a determination to approve or deny disability benefits.
• Prepares a detailed written analysis explaining the facts of the case and the basis for the decision and provides written notice to the claimant and the Social Security Administration.
• Maintains a complex and diverse caseload of Social Security Disability claims and claims for Supplemental Security Income at various stages of development, and exercises judgment to insure resolution of all issues.
• Protects and safeguards confidential and sensitive personal, medical and vocational information in accordance with federal and state mandates.
• Completes case reviews on a variety of difficult or complex disability cases, at different stages of development, in order to assure compliance with internal office procedures, Social Security laws and regulations and legal statutes.
• Determines the medical and vocational information needed to substantiate the claim, analyzes medical, vocational, educational and other collateral information received and integrates those findings with Social Security regulations concerning disability and with facts of that particular claim.
• Determines the need for additional medical tests, evaluations or consultative examinations in the fields of medicine, psychology, psychiatry or other specialties and arranges for expenditure of funds for medical evidence.
• Prepares a written residual functional capacity assessment based on the severity of the medical condition and the nature of the impairment.
• Consults with internal and external professionals, or contract providers, including physicians, psychologists, and vocational experts to address highly complex issues.
• Interviews or corresponds with claimants, family members, legal representatives, employers, community resources and others as needed to obtain additional information or collateral evidence concerning an individual's functional abilities.

Level Descriptor

Levels are distinguished based on the complexity of assigned duties, the level of expertise required for completion of work assignments, and the responsibility assigned for the supervision of others.

Level I

This is the basic level, where incumbents, under direct supervision, receive mandatory classroom training in case processing, medical evaluation and terminology, vocational evaluation, internal procedures for case development and in the provisions of the Social Security Act, concerning eligibility for disability benefits. Incumbents perform entry level professional work in managing a progressive caseload of Title II and Title XVI disability claims and learn to process disability cases using various secure software applications with Federal and State operating systems. Incumbents learn to evaluate disability applications for benefits in order to resolve jurisdictional issues and to resolve conflicts in evidence through contact with claimants, representatives, employers, medical providers and others. Incumbents analyze and evaluate multiple case issues simultaneously; analyze medical source opinions and effects of medication or pain on the claimant's ability to function in a work environment; assess credibility of claimant's statements regarding their ability to work and prepare vocational assessments for adults based on a variety of vocational factors.

Level II

This is the career level where employees have responsibility for a full range of activities involved in independently developing, reviewing, analyzing and adjudicating disability claims at different degrees of complexity. Incumbents independently plan and carry out assignments, interpret policy and determine