DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
This position is located within the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP), Region III, Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation District office located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The district office is responsible for injury reports and claims processing functions leading to the amicable resolution of claims for compensation and medical benefits issues arising under the provision of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) and its extensions. The selectee will be responsible for adjudicating and authorizing payments for the full range of disability and death claims under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.
This position has promotion potential to GS-12. Promotion Potential: There is no obligation to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and supervisory approval.
- This position is inside the bargaining unit.
- Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.
Duties
If selected at the GS-07 level , you will be responsible for adjudicating a variety of increasingly difficult cases assigned of a developmental nature, preparing you to independently perform a broad range of duties at the GS-09 level.
If selected at the GS-09 level , you will be responsible for adjudicating a broad range of disability and death claims. Examines claims cases which involve traumatic injuries and primary non-traumatic injuries. Analyzes responses and makes decisions which often requires review and analysis of voluminous and complicated material. Examines medical reports involving prolonged disability. Reviews and processes death claims which involves examining various forms and appropriate documents such as birth, death, marriage certificates, and autopsy reports. Makes determinations concerning beneficiaries entitlements and advises beneficiaries concerning the election of FECA benefits versus CSC or UH benefits. Adjudicates claims on the basis of written medical and factual evidence secured by correspondence or though investigation. Represents both the Federal government and the claimant, who generally does not have legal representation. Authorizes monetary compensation in both disability and death cases including total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent total or partial disability, loss of wage-earning capacity, scheduled awards, and survivor’s death benefits. Authorizes burial and transportation allowance and the full range of medical benefits. Exercises authority to approve even the most complicated occupational disease cases, and can authorize payment of compensation for the lifetime of an employee. Is responsible for the maintenance of all appropriate claims development adjudication and compensation adjustment data.
If selected at the GS-11 level , you will be responsible for adjudicating and authorizing for payment the full range of disability and death claims under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. Claims are assigned on an unscreened basis, and the incumbent operates with considerable freedom from supervision. Independently adjudicates and authorizes for payment the full range of disability and death cases under the FECA. Examines injury, disease and death cases for factual sufficiency and legal correctness. Identifies candidates for rehabilitation and work with rehabilitation specialist in efforts to return claimant to gainful employment. Arranges for examination of the claimant to obtain evidence as to whether the disfigurement is of a permanent nature. Receives and evaluates all medical evidence, reports and medical documents. Develop facts and evidence for evaluating conflicting statements or allegations. Makes determination for cases involving highly controversial medical and factual issues. Determined the pay rate to be used for compensation purposes, authorizes payment, secures necessary documentation in instances involving dual benefits, periodically reviews earnings and makes appropriate adjustments of compensation, guards against false claims. Authorizes payment of attendant allowances up to a period of one year and up to $500 a month. Examines injury and disease claims to determine any wage earning capacity loss. Responsible for making determinations in cases involving an overpayment of compensation.
Travel Required
Occasional Travel
Less than 25%
Relocation Authorized
No
Job Requirements
Job Requirements
Key Requirements
Requires a background investigation if the requirement has not been met.
Requires a security clearance if the requirement has not been met.
Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
U.S. Citizenship required.
Must be at least 16 years of age.
Qualifications
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Specialized experience is experience that equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
GS-07 : Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, 05, in the Federal Service. Experience adjudicating claims; receiving and evaluating medical reports and supporting medical documents. Experience determining the amount of compensation, the extent of the disability and the length of time compensation is to be paid. Experience setting up payments. Experience entering claims development, adjudication and compensation into the automated system. Experience preparing correspondence to claimants, witnesses, doctors, employers, etc., seeking information and evidence to develop the claim.
GS-09 : Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, 07, in the Federal Service. Experience adjudicating a broad range of disability and death claims. Experience making determinations on nonmedical and/or medical issues. Examines claims for factual and legal correctness. Receives and examines forms, i.e. CA-16 or 20, CA-5 and CA-6 and all appropriate certificates such as, birth, death, marriage certificates, and autopsy reports. Secures medical reports and reviews case to determine the extent of claimants disability. Reviews and processes death claims cases. Experience setting up payments and authorizing burial allowances. Receiving and evaluating medical evidence, reports and medical documents. Authorizing monetary compensation. Experience determining the pay rate to be used for compensation purposes and authorizes payment. Experience entering appropriate claims development adjudication compensation adjustment data. Experience demonstrating a knowledge of medical terms and findings (working knowledge of the human anatomy and its function, the etiology and pathology of injury and disease), causes of diseases, treatment methods and probable results, relationship of disability to the ability to work; or work that demonstrates the ability to develop and evaluate pertinent medical facts and evidence from medical reports and diagnostic tests and studies, and to apply and interpret laws, regulations, policies, precedents, and other criteria for disability and death cases.
GS-11 : Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, 09, in the Federal Service. At the GS-11 level: In addition to the GS-09 experience the candidate must demonstrate experience developing, adjudicating, and authorizing claims with highly controversial medical and factual issues. Experience developing all necessary evidence on difficult or highly controversial issues through correspondence, directed investigations, and the consideration of expert medical reports. Experience with medical terms and findings, causes of diseases, treatment methods and probable results, relationship of disability to ability to work; or demonstrated the ability to develop and evaluate pertinent medical facts and evidence and to apply and interpret laws, regulations, policies, precedents, and other criteria for disability and death cases or provided a knowledge of the pertinent workers’ compensation laws, and of the controlling policies, principles, regulations, and precedents which embody that specialized branch of law generally referred to as “worker’ compensation.”
The foregoing may have been gained from: (1) experience in a Federal or State disability, death, workers’ compensation, pension, or other similar program; (2) practice of law which included cases related to such programs or (3) experience in an insurance company administering and adjudicating claims under similar programs.
Education substitution is applicable at the GS-7, 9 and 11 grade levels
GS-07 : 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement.
GS-09 : Master’s or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.
GS-11 : Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.
If you wish to use your education as a basis for meeting the eligibility and/or minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the eligibility and/or minimum qualification requirements, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit for that course work. See the ‘Qualifications and Evaluations’ section of this announcement for more details.
If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.
College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education – The Department of Labor does not recognize academic degrees from unauthorized secondary schools or post-secondary institutions that are not accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.
Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the “Required Documents” section for additional requirements.
Security Clearance
Q – Nonsensitive
Additional Information
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