Veterans Service Representative

Veterans Benefits Administration; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Benefits Administration is seeking a Veterans Service Representative to explain benefit programs, review claims, gather evidence, and adjudicate cases for Veterans.

Positions are located in various centers including the Veterans Service Center, Pension Management Center, and IDES program division. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the stated cut-off date for GS-0996-07.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 in interpreting or applying laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence.
• Education substitution allowed with graduate education or Bachelor's with SAA.
• Combining Education & Experience to total 100% of requirement.

Responsibilities

• Explain benefit programs and entitlement criteria to Veterans.
• Review claims, identify issues, gather evidence.
• Conduct interviews and adjudicate claims.
• Input award data and prepare decision letters.
• Utilize various electronic data processing systems for claims processing.

Skills

Interpretation of laws & regs

Claims processing experience

Written communication

EDP systems usage

Education

Graduate level education

Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA)

Job description

This position is located in the Veterans Benefits Administration. The Veterans Service Representative works in the Veterans Service Center, Pension Management Center, Benefits Eligibility Support Team, or Integrated Disability Evaluation System Program Division. The position explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria, reviews claims, identifies issues, gathers evidence, conducts interviews, adjudicates claims, inputs award data, and prepares decision letters for Veterans.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the cut-off date/and or of this announcement.

To qualify for the GS-0996-07 position you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher in the federal, state and/or private setting. Specialized experience is defined as the interpretation or application of laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence to make determinations and research routine issues to resolve discrepancies.

Examples of experience include:

• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, regulations, and policies for processing compensation and benefits claims across agency programs, including dependency status, health insurance, workers' compensation, disability, retirement, pension systems, social service, Medicaid or special income based programs administered through private, local, state or federal agencies.
• Determining basic employment qualifications and eligibility for benefit programs
• Providing written communication to inform claimants of decisions, the reason and bases for decisions, appeal rights, and evidence requirements.
• Utilizing a variety of electronic data processing (EDP) systems and applications related to claims processing, monitoring, and correspondence preparation.

OR

Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must have:

• One full year of graduate level education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position; OR
• A Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (2.95 GPA or higher) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) is based on: 1.) class standing, 2.) grade point average or 3.) honor society membership.

OR Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information.

Experience: 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.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/