9-Month Temporary Aide Disability Examiner

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This work unit exists to produce accurate and timely disability determinations for the residents of Colorado in a courteous and cost-conscious manner following Social Security Administration (SSA) rules and regulations. Disability Determination Services (DDS) receives applications from SSA and makes a medical eligibility determination using SSAs criteria found in the Program Operations Manual and Statistics (POMS) and judicial Social Security Rulings (SSRs). DDS is 100% funded by SSA. DDS gathers medical psychological functional and vocational evidence to determine whether a claimant meets SSAs medical eligibility criteria and writes a justification rationalizing its determination. The Policy Assurance Flex PA/Flex Unit of DDS identifies deficient disability claims at all stages of production and outlines the appropriate corrective action. Inaddition it analyzes deficiency trends from SSA quality oversight teams; and recommends training and operational changes to the Management Team to address the deficiencies. This unit is responsible for the overall agency quality assurance components of the SSA program.

This is a Remote Part-Time position.

• Perform case adjudication including Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) to assist with backlog.
• Independently determine medical eligibility for disability benefits under the SSDI/SSI Program by gathering evaluating and analyzing medical and non-medical data.
• Independently review and analyze evidence of illness injury disease or other medical conditions and vocational factors which prevent an individual from working or gaining employment and render a determination to approve or deny disability benefits. Data is consolidated and correlated with SSDI/SSI program regulations directives and agency guidelines to determine applicants ability to perform physical/mental work-related functions.
• Evaluates continuing eligibility for people already receiving benefits using medical improvement standards. Based on preliminary evidence and Social Security disability regulations program directives and agency guidelines position determines which claims will receive immediate temporary disability payments of about $500 per month plus Medicaid. The determination is carried out by accessing and evaluating electronic data.
• Acts to prepare medical and psychological assessments independently which allows experienced adjudicators to expedite the initial determination of disability in coordination and consultation with the state agency medical consultant (SAMC) whose signatory input is required by statute with narrow exceptions. Medical evaluation and analysis are completed and the results are keyboarded into appropriate programs.
• Documents the disability decision by citing legal references from the Social Security regulations.
• Writes rationale to explain and justify the disability decision. Decisions and rationale are documented/recorded by keyboarding the information into the appropriate SSA/DDS software programs.

Experience

What are the specific job experiences required from the applicant

• Experience adjudicating disability claims

• Knowledge of medical terminology

• Proficiency using basic computer software and email

• Keyboarding proficiency

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Excellent organizational skills

• Excellent customer service skills

• Excellent decision-making skills

• Ability to work with a diverse constituency.

Education

No specific degree is required as the DDS will train on specific information. The DDS will follow DPA guidelines for general degree (i.e. Bachelors degree) with experience substitutions for degree on a year-to-year basis in the following areas: (any combination of education and experience to equal the MQs from DPA.

Experience in an industry professional environment or government (State Federal County) agency that is highly regulated where a person has to evaluate and apply policy such as: Claims adjuster examiner or investigator Project/office management Business Support Services/Analyst Supervisory/Management Accounting/Auditing Case Management Paralegal/Contract management Medical/Veterinarian Technician - will substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.

Please note the experience substitutions are meant to be broad and inclusive of a variety of experience types.

• COWINS Partnership Agreement: Relevant years of State service should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process. Part-time relevant years of State service will be prorated.

• TRANSFERS ONLY: Relevant years of State service will be considered as a preferred qualification and given the weight of at least 15% of the overall score under the process.

• Relevant years of State service contribute to a candidates position-related knowledge skill ability behavior or other posted competency

• Two years of disability determination work experience using SSA SSI and SSDI rules and regulations in a DDS electronic environment

• Demonstrated proficiency in Initial Reconsideration (Recon) and Continuing Disability
  (CDR) case types

• Proficiency using basic computer software and email

• Keyboarding proficiency

• Ability to communicate effectively in potentially high-stress and confrontational situations

• Ability to multi-task and stay organized despite interruptions

• Excellent customer service skills

• Ability to work and communicate effectively with individuals with diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds

• Strong analytical problem-solving and decision-making skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
  
  

• Standard background check and reference check required
  

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

  • Disclose that information on the application.

  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

  • Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieuof termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:

  • Relevant years of state service experience.

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process the official appeal form and how to deliver it on theState Personnel Boardwebsite.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.

• You can find the official appeal formhere.

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

  • By email () or

  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street 4th Floor Denver CO 80203 or

  • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street 4th Floor Denver CO 80203) or

  • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the departments action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At or

• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1 State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures Chapter 8 Resolution of Appeals and Disputes within theRuleswebpage.

• The Assessment Process

• For additional recruiting questions please contact .

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs well-being and dignity of the individuals families and communities we serve. We commit to respect fairness and access in every decision policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility health and wellness and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions programs and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees our partners the Coloradans we serve and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together:We work together with all partners employees and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

This includes completing the application process interviewing completing any pre-employment testing participating in the employee selection process and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position please direct your inquiries to.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing aColorado for ALLof our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.

The State of Colorado believes that a Colorado for ALL drives our success and we encourage candidates from all identities backgrounds and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore in all aspects of the employment process we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race color religion sex disability age sexual orientation gender identity or expression pregnancy medical condition related to pregnancy creed ancestry national origin marital status genetic information or military status (with preference given to military veterans) or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.