Program Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration is listing a Program Support Assistant-Enrollment Specialist position within the Eligibility and Enrollment Section of the Business Management Service. The role primarily interviews applicants to determine eligibility for VA healthcare benefits and requires adherence to time‑in‑grade and SF-50 documentation procedures.

Applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date.

Qualifications

• Interviewing applicants to determine eligibility for VA healthcare benefits.

Responsibilities

• Interview applicants to determine eligibility for VA healthcare benefits.

Skills

Interviewing applicants

Office administration

Regulations interpretation

Phone & visitor follow-up

Tools

Office automation software

Job description

The Program Support Assistant-Enrollment Specialist (PSA) position is located in the Eligibility and Enrollment Section of the Business Management Service, and performs a wide variety of duties, but is primarily responsible for interviewing applicants to determine eligibility for, and entitlement to, VA healthcare benefits.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/24/2026. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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. 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 provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Receiving and directing telephone calls and greeting visitors. Preparing correspondence, reports, and other documents based on information gathered from program files or other records. Establishing and maintaining program files and records. Knowledge of various office automation software, processing procedures, and function keys to produce a wide range of documents, such as graphics or tables within text, editing and reformatting electronic drafts, and updating and revising existing databases or spreadsheets. Knowledge of standard office equipment, such as computers, copiers, fax machines, and office automation systems to perform a substantial range of office automation support. Ability to interpret and explain regulations, procedures or laws. 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.

Physical Requirements:

The work is mostly sedentary but includes some walking, standing, and carrying of light items such as papers and books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. The work is performed in an office setting which require normal safety precautions typical for offices and meeting rooms. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.