Positions Available at SSA

• Claims Representative
• Claims Authorizer
• Service Representative
• Teleservice Representative
• Benefits Authorizer
• Legal Positions

Claims Representative

Employees in this position assist individuals in establishing entitlement to benefits under Social Security Programs. You will have contact with the public either by face-to-face interviews or by telephone. These contacts will allow you to obtain, clarify, and verify information that will be used to analyze claims and make decisions regarding entitlement to benefits. Depending upon your qualifications, you may enter these positions at either a GS-5 or GS-7 grade level. If you perform satisfactorily, you will be promoted to subsequent grade levels until you reach the highest grade in this position, GS-11. Career advancement from this position is usually to technical or management positions.

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.

Claims Authorizer

The claims authorizer position is very similar to the claims representative position. In this position, you make decisions regarding entitlement to benefits. You will work in a Program Service Center (PSC). There are six PSC's located in the nation; the Atlanta Region PSC is located in Birmingham, Alabama. The most challenging cases to process are sent to the Program Service Centers. You will have telephone contact with the public. The GS levels for this position are the same as those for the claims representative position.

Service Representative

This position involves providing assistance to the public. Employees in this position answer a wide variety of questions from the public by interviewing the individual, investigating the situation and resolving the problem. Service Representatives are located in Social Security field offices and have direct contact with the public.

Many service 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.

Entry into these positions is at the GS-4 or GS-5 level with progression, based on satisfactory performance, to the GS-8 level. Career advancement from these positions can be to claims representative positions or to positions in the Teleservice center.

Teleservice Representative

Telephone service representatives are located in a number of Teleservice centers across the country and deal with the public only by telephone. You will answer questions about eligibility for benefits and SSA's programs. Bilingual ability is highly desirable for Teleservice Representatives.

Entry into this position is at the GS-4 or GS-5 level with progression, based on satisfactory performance, to the GS-8 level. Career advancement from this position can be to the higher-graded claims representative position or to supervisory positions in the Teleservice center.

Teleservice Center locations in the Atlanta Region are Birmingham, Alabama; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and Tampa, Florida.

Benefit Authorizer

Benefit Authorizers are responsible for updating beneficiary records, making sure that payment is made to the beneficiary and preparing correspondence to beneficiaries regarding their benefits. These positions require contact with the public by telephone. You will work in a Program Service Center (PSC). The Atlanta Region PSC is located in Birmingham, Alabama.

Entry into this position is at the GS-4 or GS-5 level. Benefit Authorizers can advance to the GS-9 level. Further career development is to technical assistant or specialist positions or the claims authorizer position.

Legal Positions
 

STAFF ATTORNEY, OFFICE OF DISABILITY ADJUDICATION AND REVIEW

People who are denied benefits and disagree with the Agency's decision may appeal through the Office of Hearings and Appeals. Staff attorneys, working in hearing offices throughout the country provide professional legal assistance to Administrative Law Judges. Most of the staff attorney's time is spent writing decisions on disability cases.

In these challenging positions, staff attorneys assist in pre-hearing legal preparation, research, decision preparation and other post-hearing actions. This position starts at the GS-9 entry level. Staff attorneys can advance to the GS-12 level.

ASSISTANT REGIONAL COUNSEL, OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) promotes, advocates and protects all legal interests of the Social Security Administration. Assistant Regional Counsel in the Atlanta regional office provide a full range of legal services to management in the eight state region. The work is broad, varied and challenging. Assistant Regional Counsel defend Social Security program-related cases in federal district courts and the courts of appeals. They also handle complex administrative litigation in EEOC, MSPB and arbitration cases, provide legal advice on disclosure and Privacy Act issues, and write legal opinions on program matters. Assistant Regional Counsel work closely with the U.S. Attorneys' offices to provide litigation support. The entry level for this position is GS-11 with opportunities for advancement to the GS-14 level. Applicants must be licensed members of a state bar. Application packages should be mailed to the Regional Chief Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W. Suite 20T45, Atlanta, GA 30303. Complete applications must include a resume, a law school transcript, and a legal writing sample.

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee