Disability Determination Examiner I (5 Positions) - Charleston, Columbia, Greenville Offices

• Review applications for disability claims for the Social Security Administration.
• Request and review medical, psychological, vocational, employment, and other evidence needed to determine eligibility for benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.
• Read and analyze medical reports and other disability file documents and make a judgment as to the existence of physical or mental impairments confirmed by medical diagnosis. 
• Recognize the sufficiency of evidence and recommend purchase of consultative examinations as needed to provide updated and current documentation of files.  
• Contact applicants, usually by telephone, to document medical and nonmedical evidence as well as determine the existence of pertinent medical sources of evidence.
• Identify and resolve conflicts in medical, vocational, and other evidence; and contact physicians and other medical sources by telephone or by letter to resolve these conflicts.
• Choose from a variety of approaches to accomplish claim documentation; but must ensure claim quality and production standards are met.
• Make judgments or finding of fact regarding the way impairments impact the applicants’ ability to perform specific work-related activities based on the presence of medically determinable physical or mental impairments and submit these documents for Medical Consultant review.
• Make judgments regarding the accuracy of the treating physicians’ opinion as to the severity of the applicants’ impairment, comparing the physicians’ supporting medical evidence to the opinion rendered.
• Initially assist agency medical and psychological consultants to establish residual functional capacity (ability of an applicant, given their current physical condition, age, education, and work history, to function in the workplace) and findings of fact regarding age, education, and vocational background to determine eligibility for benefits, eventually completing a designated percentage independently upon experience.
• Prepare analysis and make decisions as to eligibility for benefits on a medical basis alone or remaining functional capacity of applicants to perform work.
• Utilize federal database to make judgments as to what occupations would be appropriate given the remaining functional capacity, relevant work skills, age, and education, if the claimant is not eligible for benefits.  
• Prepare a formal determination of eligibility for benefits based on regulations for Title XVI of the Social Security Act, court orders, rules, and regulations.

• High school diploma and 6 years of professional experience.

• A bachelor's degree or an associate's degree may be substituted on a one for one year of required years of professional experience.

• Individuals selected for positions with the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department's Disability Determination Service (DDS) will go through a complete federal background investigation. A suitability determination by the Social Security Administration is necessary to determine whether an employee can be issued credentials in order to have access to Social Security disability data, records, and systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  

• Interpersonal relations skills
• Basic typing skills
• Competency in electronic applications
• Knowledge of casework practices and interview techniques.
• Knowledge of investigative techniques and practices,
• Ability to analyze case data and make appropriate decisions.

• BA with 2 years of professional experience.
  

The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
 
The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• Paid parental leave
• Flexible work schedules
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs