Pathways Recent Graduates Claims Examiner (Sickness Unemployment)
Job Location:
Chicago, IL - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
This position is located in the Office of Programs Railroad Retirement Board. The incumbent will be responsible for developing and adjudicating cases involving complex developmental or follow-up actions as well as initial applications and claims for unemployment and sickness benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA).
This job announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM For additional information regarding the Pathways Program please refer to the following website: Students & Recent Graduates
The RRB Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic developmental program with the potential to lead to a civil service career in the Federal Government. Following the completion of program requirements selectees may be considered for non-competitive conversion to a career-conditional or term appointment. All conversion requirements will be identified in the Participant Agreement. Program requirements include but are not limited to:
- Successful completion of at least 1-year of continuous service
- Completion of at least 40 hours of interactive training
- Demonstration of successful job performance
- Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate may be converted
- Conversion to the competitive service is not implied nor guaranteed.
As a Pathways Recent Graduates Claims Examiner (Sickness/ Unemployment) you will:
- Examine and adjudicate supplemental medical statements to make determinations on continued entitlement to sickness benefits.
- Determine the sufficiency relevancy and validity of evidence submitted in the adjudication of initial applications and claims for unemployment and/or sickness benefits.
- Review cases referred to the section for possible recovery of erroneous payments and collection of debts from claimants.
- Respond to inquiries via telephone written replies or electronic means from labor or railroad officials government agencies welfare organizations claimants attorneys and others.
- Access various computer systems to enter view route retrieve and print data/documents used in the adjudicative processes and process various miscellaneous work items.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service
- Suitable for Federal employment determined by a background investigation
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
- Complete the online assessment
- All selectees must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement.
- Selected candidates will participate in an intensive training program. Successful completion of the training and successful performance is required.
Minimum Qualifications for the GS-05 level:
A. One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience is defined as experience which involves analyzing explaining processing or interpreting claims benefits laws regulations or detailed technical procedures.
-OR-
B. Four years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business secretarial or technical school junior college college or university.
-OR-
C. A combination of education and experience as listed above. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e. beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year (30 semester hours) beyond the second year equals 6 months of specialized experience.
In addition to the above you must have within the previous 2 years* completed all educational requirements for a qualifying associates bachelors masters professional doctorate vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying institution. Education requirements must be met by 6/30/2026.
*Veterans who due to a military service obligation were precluded from applying to a Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2 year eligibility period may have their eligibility period extended so that they receive the full 2 years of eligibility. The remaining 2-year eligibility period will begin upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. The veterans eligibility period may not extend beyond 6 years from the date of completion of all requirements of an academic course of study.
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 religious 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.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of addition to describing duties performed applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.
Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.
Official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Official transcripts will be required if selected.
PASS/FAIL COURSES:
If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) was taken on a pass/fail basis your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION:
One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate schools definition of one year of graduate study 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION:
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information click here.
An employee selected for this training program will not be released to another bureau or office during the 10-month training period and for a period of 6 months after completion of training unless a promotion is involved or the releasing official determines that the action is in the best interest of the RRB.
A trainee hired from outside the RRB with no current or prior federal service or who has such service but has not completed a probationary period who fails to successfully complete the training class may be separated from the RRB.
Trainees (internal or external to the RRB) who have completed their federal probation and do not successfully complete the training program will be removed from the program and placed in an RRB position-at headquarters or in the field service-at the grade of their last federal job if available. Trainees who took a voluntary downgrade to enter the program may be returned to their previously held position. If no position at that grade is available a lower-grade role in headquarters or the field service will be offered. Relocation expenses will not be paid. Any employee reassigned must meet the minimum qualifications of the position.
If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 you are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act; the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.Reasonable Accommodation 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 reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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. 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 Reasonable Accommodation please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: 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 your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
