Field Examiner

at Veterans Benefits Administration in Fairfield, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Summary The Field Examiner (FE) determines the payee (fiduciary) best suited to the needs and situation of VA beneficiaries, who are incompetent due to legal disability, mental disability, physical disability or minority. The Field Examiner ensures that beneficiaries receive all the benefits they are entitled to and take necessary action to protect their assets. Duties will be performed via mobile work at the following locations in the Fairfield, IL area: Wayne, Clay, Clinton, or Marion IL counties. Responsibilities Specific duties include: Conducting independent field investigations to determine whether adult VA beneficiaries have the mental capacity to manage their own financial affairs, including VA benefits, in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations. Performing on-site fact-finding visits to beneficiary residences and other locations within the regional jurisdiction to inspect the living environment and assess the beneficiary’s social, economic, and functional adjustment. Conducting interviews and taking depositions of beneficiaries, their relatives, legal representatives, and disinterested community witnesses to gather information relevant to capacity determinations and fiduciary oversight. Verifying the identity, existence, and authenticity of information provided by or about beneficiaries; and, in cases involving minor beneficiaries, determining or confirming the existence, identity, and legal custody of the minor. Analyzing evidence gathered during field investigations to formulate independent recommendations regarding fiduciary arrangements, including the appointment, continuation, or removal of a fiduciary, based on the beneficiary’s individual circumstances. Preparing detailed written investigative reports documenting findings, analysis of evidence, and conclusions to support fiduciary program determinations, ensuring reports are accurate, well-organized, and appropriate for review by supervisors and other agency stakeholders. Operating a government vehicle to conduct routine and regular travel throughout the assigned regional jurisdiction in support of field investigation responsibilities, in accordance with federal vehicle operation regulations. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is GS-09 and GS-11. Work Schedule: Full time, 0730-1600 Monday through Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Field Examiner; 36002A and 35902A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required. OGE Form 450 is used to assist agencies and employees to avoid conflicts between duties and financial interest. Requirements Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the Agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents. Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must have a valid, state issued, driver’s license. Financial Disclosure: Ethics-CFD (OGE 450) Required Field Examiner duties are primarily carried out from remote locations outside of an agency office therefore, candidates must have regular access to a reliable source of internet connectivity. Duties will be performed via mobile work at the following location: Fairfield, IL area: Wayne, Clay, Clinton, or Marion IL counties Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:09/05/2026. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves (1) performing fact finding procedures in order to fully assess a situation; (2) Gathering information through observation, analysis of records, and/or performing personal interviews which may be conducted virtually or in person OR (3) Verifying information to ensure accuracy. Education Substitution: You must have a 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 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves (1) performing fact finding procedures in order to fully assess a situation; (2) Gathering information through observation, analysis of records, and/or performing personal interviews which may be conducted virtually or in person; (3) Verifying information to ensure accuracy OR (4) Making determinations of adherence to laws, regulations, and agency policy Education Substitution: You must have at least a 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. Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. Volunteer Experience: 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical compe