Administrative Law Judge (Licensing and Benefits)

These positions are located in Disability Adjudication, Hearings Hubs nationwide. The incumbent is subordinate to and accountable to the direction and supervision of the Commissioner of Social Security. The incumbent holds hearings and makes and issues decisions on appeals from determinations on claims filed under Titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended. The incumbent is responsible for managing a policy compliant docket in a high volume caseload environment.

Duties

• Under agency regulations that implement Titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Act, the incumbent holds hearings and issues timely and legally sufficient decisions in a high volume caseload environment and may:

• 1) dismiss a request for hearing and rule on a request for an extension of time;

• 2) identify issues to be resolved; 3) analyze the evidence;

• 4) determine whether there are other parties to be joined in the case;

• 5) issue subpoenas and rule on petitions to revoke subpoenas;

• 6) consider and resolve conflicting evidence;

• 7) hear testimony and rule on all motions, petitions, or exceptions involving questions of law, procedure, and the admissibility of evidence;

• 8) hold pre-hearing conferences with the claimant, representative, or both;

• 9) make the evidence of record available to the parties and inform them of any evidence or expert testimony required in connection with the hearing;

• 10) administer oaths and affirmations;

• 11) govern the conduct of the parties at the hearing, and in general regulate the course of the hearing;

• 12) control the examination and cross-examination of witnesses;

• 13) introduce into the record documentary and other evidence deemed necessary for the completion or full development of the record;

• 14) hear oral argument, and receive and consider briefs that are submitted;

• 15) evaluate the credibility of witnesses, and resolve conflicts in lay and expert evidence;

• 16) consider and dispose of proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law submitted by the claimant;

• 17) make findings of fact in accordance with the Act, the agency's regulations, rulings, and policy on each issue, giving reasons therefore, and render conclusions of law;

• 18) fully consider all the evidence of record, issue timely and legally sufficient final decisions within the requirements of the Act, and which are individually signed or individually approved by the incumbent prior to issuance; and

• 19) entertain petitions for representative fees and issue orders designating the amount of fee authorized.

• 20) Exercise effective docket management including schedule cases for hearing; hear and decide cases in a high volume environment; timely move cases toward dispositions; and issue timely, decisive, and legally defensible dispositions.

Salary

• $154,168 - $209,600/year

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Background and/or security investigation required
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results

Qualifications

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered. Visit the 'Required Documents' section below for more information.

Licensure: Applicants must be licensed and authorized to practice law under the laws of a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territorial court established under the United States Constitution throughout the selection process, including any period on the standing register of eligibles. Judicial status is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States that prohibit sitting judges from maintaining "active" status to practice law. Being in "good standing" is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States where the licensing authority considers "good standing" as having a current license to practice law.

Experience: Applicants must have a full seven (7) years of experience as a licensed attorney preparing for, participating in, and/or reviewing formal hearings or trials involving litigation and/or administrative law at the Federal, State or local level.

Cases must have been conducted on the record under procedures at least as formal as those prescribed by sections 553 through 559 of Title 5, U.S.C.

Qualifying litigation experience involves cases in which a complaint was filed with a court, or a charging document (e.g., indictment or information) was issued by a court, a grand jury, or appropriate military authority, and includes:

• participating in settlement or plea negotiations in advance of trial;
• preparing for trial and/or trial of cases;
• preparing opinions;
• hearing cases;
• participating in or conducting arbitration, mediation, or other alternative dispute resolution approved by the court; or
• participating in appeals related to the types of cases above.

Qualifying administrative law experience involves cases in which a formal procedure was initiated by a governmental administrative body and includes:

• participating in settlement negotiations in advance of hearing cases;
• preparing for hearing and/or trial of cases;
• preparing opinions;
• hearing cases;
• participating in or conducting arbitration, mediation, or other alternative dispute resolution approved by the administrative body; or
• participating in appeals related to the types of cases above.

Non-qualifying Experience
Experience involving cases with no formal hearing procedure and uncontested cases involving misdemeanors, probate, domestic relations, or tort matters is not qualifying.

Education Applicants must possess a JD. TRANSCRIPTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO SUBSTANTIATE POSSESSION OF THE REQUIRED AND CLAIMED EDUCATION. UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS (INCLUDING SCREEN PRINTS FROM YOUR SCHOOL'S WEB PORTAL) ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR INITIAL APPLICATION; HOWEVER, YOUR TRANSCRIPT MUST SHOW A DEGREE AND CONFERRED/AWARDED DATE PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. SELF-PREPARED TRANSCRIPTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation 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 a conventional/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, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications (ed.gov) In addition, when reviewing an applicant's transcripts, assumptions will not be made. Applicants MUST state which coursework is relevant. Other Information Please note: The Entrance on Duty (EOD) date for these positions will be late March or early April 2027. Mandatory in-person training will begin shortly after EOD. ENTRANCE ON DUTY AND TRAINING DATES WILL NOT BE NEGOTIATED. Additional selections may be made for this vacancy at a future date if additional positions become available. Relocation expenses may be authorized in accordance with agency policy. Required Documents

The following documentation/information must be provided:

1. Resume documenting at least seven (7) years of relevant litigation or administrative law experience. Per OPM's new resume guidance, resumes must be limited to 2 pages only.
2. Proof of Active Bar Membership
3. Transcripts
4. Veterans Documentation (if applicable)

RESUME: You may create a resume in USAJOBS or upload one of your own. Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/DD/YYYY-MM/DD/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name; position title; Federal grade level(s) held for each Federal position, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full-time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties. Please refer to 'How You Will Be Evaluated' for further details regarding the information you should provide in your resume.

PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP: You will be required to provide the state(s) in which you are licensed, your license/bar number (if applicable), and month/year of your licensure as part of the online assessment questionnaire. You may also upload documentation that reflects your active bar membership, but this is optional and must be in addition to providing the information requested on the assessment. In order to be eligible for consideration, you must be an active member in good standing of a Bar of a State, Commonwealth or Territory of the United States or District of Columbia and authorized and eligible to practice law. Judicial status is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States that prohibit sitting judges from maintaining "active" status to practice law. Being in "good standing" is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in States where the licensing authority considers "good standing" as having a current license to practice law.

TRANSCRIPTS: Transcripts are required to substantiate possession of the required and claimed education. Unofficial transcripts (including screen prints from your school's web portal) are acceptable for initial application; however, your transcript must show a degree and conferred/awarded date prior to the closing date of this announcement. Self-prepared transcripts will not be accepted. Official transcripts are required at the time of appointment.

NOTE: Failure to submit the required documents or information above with your application package may result in your application being removed from consideration.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.

Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.

For more information visit the Vet Guide.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Resume documenting at least seven (7) years of relevant litigation or administrative law experience. Per OPM's new resume guidance, resumes must be limited to 2 pages only.
2. ALJ Assessment Questionnaire
3. Verification of active bar membership (see 'Required Documents' for more information)
4. Transcripts
5. Veterans Documentation (if applicable)

The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 09/11/2026.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact ALJ Applicant Mailbox at hr.alj.applicant@ssa.gov or 4109650000.

Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories

Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.