Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer).

Veterans Benefits Administration; Montgomery (AL); In loco; USD 60.000 - 80.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Veterans Benefits Administration in Montgomery, AL seeks a Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer) to adjudicate unusually complex claims and provide second-signature approval on high-level decisions. You will analyze complex service matters such as character of discharge and fraud, and ensure decisions meet agency standards.

You will draft Statements of the Case for appeals, guide veterans through post-decision steps, and accurately enter data to generate award notices and benefit

Competenze

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-10) in the normal line of progression for the occupation.
• Specialized experience includes adjudicating and authorizing veterans' claims.
• Education may substitute for the required experience per the stated rules.

Mansioni

• Serve as the primary authorizer for unusually complex claims, including terminations and disallowed benefits.
• Provide second-signature approval on high-level administrative decisions to ensure technical accuracy and completeness.
• Analyze and decide on complex military service claims such as character of discharge, presumed death, line-of-duty determinations, and fraud.
• Draft Statements of the Case for authorization appeals and guide veterans through post-decision processes.
• Accurately enter adjudication data in electronic systems and issue benefits payment decisions.
• Clearly explain final complex decisions to veterans via mail, phone, or in-person.

Conoscenze

Adjudicating claims

Formazione

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of grad education

Descrizione del lavoro

Duties

• Serve as the primary authorizer for unusually complex claims, including terminations and disallowed benefits.
• Provide second-signature approval on high-level administrative decisions to ensure technical accuracy and completeness.
• Analyze and decide on complex military service claims - such as character of discharge, presumed death, line-of-duty determinations, and fraud.
• Review decisions prepared by Veterans Service Representatives (VSRs), ensuring clarity, thoroughness, and empathetic wording.
• Clearly explain final complex decisions to veterans via mail, phone, or in-person.
• Draft Statements of the Case for authorization appeals and guide veterans through post-decision processes.
• Accurately enter adjudication data in electronic systems, generate award notifications, and issue benefits payment decisions.
• Review incoming case documentation, perform routing or take action as appropriate on mail evidence.

Promotion Potential: None

Work Schedule

Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Compressed/Flexible:

Not Authorized

Telework

This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

Virtual:

This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#

Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer), 02105A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report:

Not required

Bargaining Unit:

No

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Required

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the Agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Additional Conditions Of Employment Are As Follows

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Required to attend an 8 week training session, which may require travel.
• VSR Skill Certification required at the GS-10 level
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:11/05/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT

• For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10 level.
• If you are a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-11 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-10.

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

GS-11 Grade Level

Specialized Experience

Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-10) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes experience that demonstrates competence in adjudicating and authorizing veterans' claims. Specialized experience is typically gained in positions that have involved experience in the development, examination, investigation, adjudication, and authorization of claims for disability compensation, disability pension, death compensation, death pension benefits, life insurance benefits, etc. Such experience is to be substantive and relevant and may have been gained in the practice of law or working with a Federal or state agency, insurance company, retirement, disability, or insurance program.

OR

Education Substitution

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or successful completion of three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or a LL.M., if related, and obtained in an accredited college or university. Note: Transcripts Required.

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.

Volunteer 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.

Education

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

Education must be accredited by an

Note: You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.

Additional information

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Placement Policy

The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members

Please visit the

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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 federal career very rewarding.

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.