Social Security is a program through which more than 90 percent of working Americans are building protection for themselves and their families against the reduction of income that comes with retirement, disability, or death.

The basic concept for Social Security is simple. During working years, employees, their employers and self-employed people pay Social Security taxes into the system; and upon retirement, disability, or death, Social Security benefits are paid from these funds.

Social Security also administers a program called Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which is financed through general revenues, not the Social Security trust funds. SSI makes monthly benefits to people who are aged, blind or disabled and in financial need.

There are more than 1,300 Social Security field offices located nationwide, 74 in the Boston Region. There are a variety of challenging positions available at Social Security.

EMPLOYMENT POLICY: Social Security is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation.

What the Boston Region Offers You

Are you looking for a professional position that offers you an opportunity to work with the public, to provide advice and assistance to individuals and groups, to research and solve problems? Then, we have a job for you!

The Social Security Administration in the Boston Region is looking to fill the positions of Claims Representatives, Service Representatives, Teleservice Representatives, and Claims Clerks. We are a customer oriented agency and our employees are committed to providing service of the highest standards.

The Boston Region has 73 offices based in all 6 New England States as well as a large Teleservice Center located in downtown Boston.

The New England area is home to world-class performing arts organizations and hosts major sports teams. You will find four seasons which offer a variety of cultural and recreational related activities. There are many prestigious colleges and universities which provide continuing education opportunities. And, historical sites of interest such as the JFK Federal Library and Mystic Seaport are located in our Region.

Information on Salary and Benefits

Federal employees are paid according to the General Schedule (GS) Classification and Pay System. Competitive starting salaries for 2007 are available on these Salary Tables.

Salaries may be higher according to geographic location.

The Federal government offers an excellent retirement program which includes a tax-deferred savings plan with matching contributions.

A number of health insurance plans are available and a portion of the costs are paid by the Government. Low cost life insurance is also available.

Employees are eligible for 13 vacation days a year and 13 paid sick leave days a year. You are allowed to accumulate unused sick leave. There are also 10 paid Federal holidays.

The Government offers an extensive training program which covers all necessary knowledge and skills. It includes classroom training with state-of-the-art computer processing equipment.

Employees have the opportunity to work flexible work schedules and some offices offer a compressed work week.

General Information on Positions

Claims Representatives

As a Claims Representative, you will assist individuals in establishing entitlement to benefits under Social Security programs. You will have contact with the public either in face-to-face interviews or by telephone. These contacts allow you to obtain, clarify, and verify information which you will use to analyze claims and make decisions regarding entitlement to benefits.

To qualify for this position, you must be a U.S. citizen and have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor’s degree in an accredited college or university. In some instances, experience may be substituted for education. Because these positions require extensive and responsible public contact, the ability to meet and deal with the public is a selecting factor.

There are also Special Hiring Opportunities for Disabled Individuals, and Veterans which are outlined in detail below.

Many Claims Representatives deal with the public where bilingual ability is highly desirable. Also, the ability to communicate with deaf or hearing-impaired individuals using signed English or American Sign Language is desirable for some positions. each year many vacancies and are particularly interested in applicants who are bilingual in Spanish and Asian languages.

Depending on your qualifications, you may enter these positions at either the GS-5 or GS-7 grade level. The training program for these positions is generally 24 weeks.

Service Representatives/Contact Representatives

As a Service Representative, you have in-person and telephone contact with people from all social, economic and educational backgrounds. You provide assistance to the public by answering a wide variety of questions about Social Security programs. You explain technical provisions of the law and provide information about benefits. Service Representatives also investigate situations and resolve problems that beneficiaries may have with their payments.

To qualify for this position, you must be a U.S. citizen and have either 52 weeks of experience that includes any kind of work in which you have demonstrated an aptitude for meeting and dealing with the public and the ability to understand and apply a body of rules, regulations and precedents to specific cases or applications for benefits, privileges, etc. or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Employees generally enter these positions at the GS-5 level. With good performance, employees receive regular promotions to the GS-8 level. If selected for this position, you will attend a Service Representative training course during which you will learn about the Social Security laws and regulations. This course lasts approximately 15 weeks.

Also, the ability to communicate with deaf or hearing-impaired individuals using signed English or American Sign Language is desirable for some positions.

Teleservice Representatives/Contact Representatives - Teleservice

As a Teleservice Representative, you have direct telephone contact with people from all social, economic and educational backgrounds. You provide assistance to the public by answering a wide variety of questions about Social Security programs. You explain technical provisions of the law and provide information about benefits. Teleservice Representatives work at the Teleservice Center located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Also, the ability to communicate with deaf or hearing-impaired individuals using signed English or American Sign Language is desirable for some positions. At this time, several of our offices have vacancies and are particularly interested in applicants who are bilingual in Spanish and Asian languages.

How to Apply for Employment

Vacancies for our positions are posted on the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Job Opportunities Board (FJOB). The qualifications and promotion potential for each position will be included in the announcement. Since the Boston Region covers an extensive geographic area, please specify your preference by State or general areas of interest.

SPECIAL HIRING OPPORTUNITIES: There are four special hiring opportunities which may streamline the hiring of qualified individuals which we have outlined below. If you qualify for one of these programs, your application materials should be sent to:

Social Security Administration
Recruitment Coordinator
JFK Federal Building Room 2175
Boston, MA 02203

We can be reached by telephone at 617-565-9241, by fax at 617-565-1401, or by E-Mail. Please call or write us if you have any questions about applying for jobs with Social Security.

If you have bilingual ability, please specify this in your cover letter.

Since the Boston Region covers an extensive geographic area, please specify your preference by State and/or general areas of interest. For a complete listing of offices in the New England area:

New England Field Offices

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: People with disabilities may be considered for employment with the Social Security Administration through the competitive process or the Selective Placement Program. The Selective Placement Program is a special employment program that is designed to assist qualified individuals with disabilities to obtain employment consistent with their level of skills and abilities. If you meet the knowledge, skills and abilities requirements of the position for which you are considered, you may be offered a direct appointment by us without having to go through the normal competitive hiring procedures.

To qualify for this program, you must have a severe physical or mental disability and be certified by either a State Rehabilitation Agency or the Department of Veterans Affairs for Federal employment. The Social Security Administration will provide necessary, reasonable accommodations to ensure that people with disabilities may successfully perform the duties of the position for which hired.

You may send in a resume or an OF-612, Application for Federal Employment, and your certification for Federal employment from the State Rehabilitation Agency or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

VETERANS: There are two programs pertaining to the hiring of veterans.

The Veterans’ Readjustment Appointments (VRA) is a special authority by which agencies can appoint an eligible veteran without competition to positions through the GS-11 level. You must meet the military service and basic qualification requirements for the position being filled. The military service requirements are as follows: A candidate must have served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days all or part of which occurred after August 4, 1964, (February 28, 1961, for those who served in Vietnam) AND received a discharge other than a dishonorable one.

You may send in a resume or an Application for Federal Employment, OF-612, and form DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof of eligibility.

The second veterans program is for veterans who have a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements for the position to which appointed. To apply for a position under this authority, you will need to provide a copy of a letter dated within the past 12 months from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense certifying receipt of compensation for a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more and a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. You may send the above documents and a resume or form OF-612, Application for Federal Employment.

Presidential Management Fellows

The PMF program was established by Executive Order in 1977. It is designed to attract to the federal service outstanding graduate students from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have an interest in, and commitment to a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs.

Selectees as Presidential Management Fellows with the Social Security Administration are involved either in analyzing the policies and procedures for delivery of our program and services to the public, or administering support to our field office employees as they provide those services. The positions are Management Support Specialist in a field office and Regional Management Analyst or Program Specialist in a regional office.

SSA will provide the intern with several rotational assignments as well as training during the two-year PMF internship to prepare the candidate for the target position.

Current Job Openings

Thank you for your interest in working for the Social Security Administration!

All SSA Boston Region jobs and full vacancy announcement information can be found on the Federal Jobs Opportunities Board at: www.usajobs.opm.gov

For more information, please call the Center for Human Resources, 617-565-9241.

For nationwide job information with the Social Security Administration, call or write to the Social Security Regional Office servicing the area you are interested in. A complete listing can be found at the following Web site:

How to Apply for a Position with Social Security


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