Senior Disability Claims Adjudicator

Schedule: Full-time

Now accepting applications from current Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities employees only.

Senior Disability Claims Adjudicator Position Overview

Develops, evaluates and adjudicates all claim levels (e.g., initial, reconsideration, continuing disability review (CDR), prehearing) for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits: Performs full scope of claims adjudication to include gathering information from various sources (e.g., claimant/beneficiary, third parties, legal representatives) to obtain descriptions of how the individual functions over time (e.g., physically, mentally, vocationally and/or academically); maintains professional interactions with all persons involved in the disability claims process; obtains medical evidence of record (MER) from professional sources (e.g., hospitals, psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health professionals, attorneys, schools) in accordance with program and agency procedures/guidelines; reviews all information received for consistency, accuracy and completeness and determines the need to purchase a consultative examination; reviews the gathered information to determine medical eligibility using a multi-step evaluation process; makes professional recommendation(s) regarding the individual’s medical condition related to program eligibility (e.g., severity of the impairment(s), comparison point decision, medical improvement and residual functional capacity); consults with internal professionals (e.g., physicians, psychologists, disability claims specialists) as necessary to make a disability determination; prepares and summarizes appropriate medical and program issues to assist consultant(s) in case review; prepares documents for consultants(s) review and approval; writes case determinations; writes logical and persuasive rationales and personalized disability explanations summarizing the evidence related to the claimant/beneficiary’s eligibility under the appropriate entitlement program; manages and prioritizes workload to determine actions needed for timely and accurate adjudication of claims within agency expectations; generates electronic correspondence and other case related documents; maintains paper/electronic files of case-related records.

Maintains and keeps up-to-date on new policies and procedures; may provide guidance, mentoring and claim assistance to disability claims adjudicators; answers questions of other adjudicators regarding the technical aspects of the evaluation process; provides assistance to the agency (e.g., reviewing aged cases, additional assignments and coverage); may participate in special assignments (e.g., Homeless, Anti-Fraud, Fast Track), attends meetings, lectures and/or training; makes presumptive medical eligibility decisions for early payment, prior to final decision; performs other duties as assigned.

Division of Disability Determinations Overview

Division of Disability Determination (DDD), in agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA), determines medical eligibility for Ohioans who apply for Social Security disability benefits. DDD is a federally regulated division of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, receiving 100% of our funding from the SSA. Under SSA, disability is based on an individual’s inability to work. To learn more about DDD, please click here.

Pay Information

Starting salary will occur at the step closest to an approximate 4% increase from the current rate of pay, subject to law or union contract requirements. New hires advance to the next step in the range after 180 days and annually thereafter. There are cost of living increases to these rates each year and additional longevity supplements begin after 5 years. The current wage progression for this position is in the table below.

Months of Employment

At Hire

6 months

18 months

30 months

42 months

54 Months

66 Months

Pay Range

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

OCSEA 31

Hourly

$27.92

$29.22

$30.55

$31.88

$33.52

$35.15

$36.90

Annual

$58,074.00

$60,778.00

$63,544.00

$66,310.00

$69,722.00

$73,112.00

$76,752.00

Applications and Selections

Please ensure your online application and work experience clearly indicates how you meet minimum qualifications (MQs). Applications that fail to demonstrate how they meet minimum qualifications will not be considered. If you meet the MQs through education, transcripts are required for consideration by attaching directly on the Additional Attachments section of the application (Step 7) or via email to .

“See resume” is not a substitution for completing work experience and/or supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must also be supported by the work experience/education sections of the application. If "See Resume" is used in place of work experience, your application may not be considered.

Applicants can check their application status and all vacancy-related email correspondence on “My Jobpage.” On the Careers.Ohio.Gov job search webpage, once signed in the link to My Jobpage is displayed under the TeamOhio logo. Applicants who require technical assistance (e.g., issues logging in or other system-related issues) should contact .

This position shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the OCSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. The selection process consists of an online assessment. All communications are sent via email. Candidates should make sure their account contains an email address that is checked regularly including checking junk and/or spam.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

DDD Training will hold a test-taking workshop on September 30. Interested candidates can register via OhioLearn.

-Completion of undergraduate core program in human/medical services area (e.g. psychology, sociology, criminology, pre-medicine, special education), public relations, public administration, business administration, communications or closely related field; AND 36 months experience in adjudicating disability benefit claims for social security disability insurance program in other state jurisdiction or federal components of social security administration.

-OR 36 months experience as Disability Claims Adjudicator, 16762.

-OR equivalent of education and/or experience per Minimum Class Qualifications noted above.

Job Skills: Claims Examination