Disability Retirement Support Specialist, LACERA

Job Description

POSITION INFORMATION

This examination will remain open until the needs of LACERA are met and may close without prior notice.

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: Open Competitive Opportunity - We welcome applications from anyone.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION: Examination Number: 9-0790-B, Bulletin Number: 26-12

FILING PERIOD:
The application filing period will begin on Thursday, September 24, 2026 - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

COMPENSATION: $6,092.28 - $8,209.74 Monthly

BENEFITS:
LACERA offers a comprehensive benefits package including a cafeteria benefit plan (14.5% - 17% of monthly base salary), annual leave, a defined benefit retirement plan, a Savings Plan (401(k)) and Deferred Compensation Plan (457), both of which are eligible for an employer matching contribution of up to 4%, 13 paid holidays per year, tuition reimbursement, a hybrid work schedule, and a rideshare program.

ABOUT LACERA:

The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) administers and manages the $93 billion retirement fund for the County of Los Angeles. We provide retirement, disability, and death benefits to eligible County Employees and their Beneficiaries, and collect, deposit, invest, and manage retirement funds collected from the County, Outside Districts, and County Employees. LACERA is one of the largest county retirement associations in the United States with over 200,000 members. Our Membership is comprised of individuals from a diverse range of careers, age groups, and ethnicity - all contributing to the greater welfare of Los Angeles County. LACERA also manages the $4.6 billion OPEB Master Trust whose purpose is to pre-fund OPEB Program medical, dental, and vision benefits for participating employers.
LACERA is located in Gateway Plaza at 300 North Lake Avenue in the beautiful City of Pasadena. The building is easily accessible from the Foothill Freeway (210) and the Metro Lake Station. We offer convenient free parking for staff members in our secure structure adjacent to the building in addition to a robust rideshare program providing commuting alternatives such as ride-matching, vanpool, carpool, parking services and more. Prioritizing health, well-being, and sustainability, Gateway Plaza is a Class “A” office building, LEED Gold Certified and EPA Energy Star Certified. With a Walkability Score of 91, LACERA staff members easily enjoy the approximately 150 shops, food, and dining options that makeup the popular South Lake Avenue District.

Our members dedicate their careers contributing to the welfare of Los Angeles County. For their service, the County contributes to their promised benefits, and LACERA is dedicating to serving them in return throughout their career and their life afterwards.

Our Core Values: I ACT (Integrity, Inclusivity, Innovation, Accountability, Collaboration, and Transparency),serve as our cultural guide and foundation in meeting our mission. As a member-focused government agency, we abide by our core values to ensure the public's trust, operate efficiently and cost effectively, and provide our members with their promised benefits.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The positions are located in the Disability Retirement Services Division (DRS). The DRS Division is responsible for investigating and evaluating disability retirement applications from active, retired, and deferred members of LACERA. Positions allocable to this class make recommendations approving or denying service and non-service-connected disability retirements, under the supervision of the Disability Retirement Specialist Supervisor.

Responsibilities include reviewing application documents, researching, locating, and obtaining employment, medical, workers' compensation and other records required by disability retirement specialists, staff, and attorneys for the timely processing of disability claims and administrative appeal cases. Work requires knowledge of medical terminology and methods for obtaining discoverable records applicable to the processing of disability retirement claims. Incumbents must be proficient in prioritizing a high volume of requests to complete work within time standards.

VACANCY INFORMATION: The current vacancies are in the Disability Retirement Services Division. The resulting eligible register for this examination may be used to fill current and future vacancies, as they occur.

WORK SCHEDULE: This full-time position is required to work a 5/40 schedule (e.g. an eight (8) hour day, Monday through Friday). LACERA offers a hybrid work environment, and this position may be eligible to telework up to three (3) days per week depending on the needs of the Disability Retirement Services Division and LACERA.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

To view the complete job description for this classification, please view here Disability Retirement Support Specialist, LACERA.

REQUIREMENTS

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:
Three (3) years of experience at the level of Senior Typist Clerk, LACERA * or higher maintaining records related to and/or processing workers' compensation, insurance, retirement or related claims.

*Experience at the level of Senior Typist Clerk, LACERA includes performing skilled keyboarding work and highly specialized clerical duties requiring specialized knowledge of a particular function with responsibility for applying proper procedures and carrying out the work with only general direction.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of this classification, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

PHYSICAL CLASS 2 - LIGHT: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
You may still qualify even if your job title isn’t exactly the same as the one listed. What matters is that your experience is at a similar level, meaning your job involves similar responsibilities, requires comparable skills and knowledge, and takes place within a similar organizational structure. Please provide a clear explanation of your experience to demonstrate that it is at the appropriate level.

WITHHOLD INFORMATION:
No withhold will be allowed. Required experience and education must be fully met at the time of filing and clearly indicated on the application.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience obtaining, researching, and managing medical, employment, workers’ compensation, legal, and other confidential records in support of disability retirement, workers’ compensation, disability insurance, health insurance, or similar claims-based programs.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating with physicians, medical providers, government agencies, employers, and other entities to request, obtain, track, and follow up on records and reports; ensuring all requested documentation is received and complete.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing, analyzing, and verifying the completeness, accuracy, and applicability of records required to evaluate disability retirement, workers’ compensation, leave management, occupational injury, or other benefit-related claims, including medical, personnel, workers’ compensation, health and safety, and occupational health records.
• Demonstrated experience organizing, indexing, maintaining, and safeguarding confidential records and case files, including the use of electronic records management systems and databases.
• Demonstrated experience communicating with applicants, employees, attorneys, physicians, medical providers, and other stakeholders regarding documentation requirements, missing records, and claim status while maintaining confidentiality and providing a high level of customer service.
• Demonstrated experience preparing correspondence, reports, case summaries, administrative records, or other documents requiring a high degree of accuracy, attention to detail, and adherence to established procedures and deadlines.

To receive credit for the above desirable qualifications, your application must clearly describe your experience.

KNOWLEDGE OF: State and Federal laws, codes and regulations related to disability, workers' compensation; policies and procedures related to records management; knowledge of disability applications; correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary; interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy; customer service skills; principals and applications of the Microsoft Office Applications including Word and Excel; computer software databases; organizational, time management, and document management concepts.
ABILITY TO: Learn and interpret specific rules, laws and policies and apply them in a variety of procedural situations; perform effective decision making that includes accurate situation analysis and ability to adopt an effective course of action; communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and internal staff; locate, assemble, and reconcile information from various source documents and records utilizing analytical and arithmetic reasoning; manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously and complete tasks as assigned; exercise punctuality and dependability; understand and follow oral and written directions; exercise initiative and independent judgment within defined policies and procedures; perform responsibilities with minimum supervision; interpret written and oral instructions and carry them out; plan and organize their work to meet set deadlines; learn a new document management system; and operate a personal computer utilizing Microsoft applications such as Word and Excel.

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

Part I:
A qualifying evaluation of training and experience based upon application information, desirable qualifications, and supplemental questionnaire.
This assessment type will evaluate the training, experience, and education you list on your application and supplemental questionnaire and assign a score based on a standardized scoring system.

Applicants must receive a passing score of 70% or higher on Part I to proceed to Part II.
Only the most highly qualified applicants as determined under Part I will be invited to continue in the examination process under Part II.

Part II:
An Appraisal (Oral) Interview weighted 100%.
The appraisal interview will assess the applicant's knowledge, experience, and general ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

The appraisal interview may assess the following competencies and qualifications:

• Attention to Detail and Accuracy
• Analytical and Judgment Skills
• Clerical and Administrative Support Skills
• Written Communication Skills
• Oral Communication Skills
• Customer Service and Interpersonal Skills

Applicants must receive a passing score of 70% or higher on the assessment to be added to the eligible register.

Passing this examination and being placed on the eligible register does not guarantee an offer of employment. Candidates who are determined eligible for hire under the Los Angeles County Civil Service Rules may be invited to participate in a selection process, which may include one or more selection interviews and/or other job-related assessments.
EXAMINATION NOTIFICATIONS
All notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address.

Please add [email protected] , and [email protected] , to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail. Test scores/results cannot be given over the telephone.

DO NOT select "Off" under Email Preferences within your profile or click "Unsubscribe" on our notices if you would like LACERA to notify you regarding your application status, test schedules, and other important information pertaining to your candidacy for this position.

LACERA will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.

Please note, if you opt out of receiving emails, you can visit governmentjobs.com, log into your profile and check your inbox. The inbox retains a copy of all emails sent, for your records. To ensure that our emails are filtered into your "junk" or "bulk" folder, please add governmentjobs.com and lacera.gov to your list of trusted senders.
ELIGIBLE INFORMATION
Applicants who passed the assessment are placed on an eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION
Application must be submitted online. Applicants can check the status of their applications at any time by logging into their account on www.governmentjobs.com.

We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, email, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” button at the top of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer’s name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements, class specification, or Desirable Qualifications as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

Applications submitted without complete work history and supplemental questions completed in their entirety will be rejected as incomplete. “See application,” “See resume,” or copying and pasting work experience is not sufficient or qualifying.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application or supplemental questionnaire.
EDUCATION:
In the space provided for education, include the names and addresses of schools attended, and number of credits, degree, and/or certificate(s) earned.

To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your diploma, transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution, or email it to [email protected] or [email protected] within ten (10) calendar days of filing your application. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards if not listed in the International Handbook of Universities or World Higher Education Database. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending them to the exam analyst. Please include the examination title and number on the documentation. Failure to provide the appropriate documentation may result in your application being rejected as incomplete and will be removed from consideration.
ACCREDITATION INFORMATION:
Accredited institutions are those listed in publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE)

WORK EXPERIENCE:
Your employment history should be listed in order beginning with the most recent.

For each job held, provide the name and address of your employer, your job titles, beginning and end dates, description of work performed, salary earned, and reason for leaving.

If you have worked in more than one position for one employer, please list each job title and/or area of assignment separately to demonstrate your experience in various assignments/occupational areas.

Part-time experience will be evaluated based on its fractional equivalent of a 40-hour workweek. All required experience must be paid.
All required experience must be paid.

This position may require working evenings, weekends, and holidays.

TO APPLY ONLINE GO TO: www.lacera.gov and click on the Careers link, or www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacera . Faxed, emailed, or hard copy (paper) applications will not be accepted.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

Candidate(s) who complete examination process with acceptable results will be considered by the Department hiring authority. Upon a conditional offer of employment, a comprehensive background investigation will be conducted, which includes verification of experience, and/or education, credit history, and fingerprinting through the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT. Utilizing verbiage from the Classification Specification, Selection Requirements, and/or Desirable Qualifications serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED. Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination process.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)
Upon a conditional offer of employment, a comprehensive background investigation may be conducted, which may include verification of experience and/or education, credit history, and fingerprinting through the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

LACERA is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. LACERA will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job and will consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

Requests for accommodation: [email protected]
Teletype Telephone: (800) 899-4099
Department Contact Name: Sharon Norton
Department Email: [email protected]

The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) recognizes excellence and performance by providing comprehensive and competitive benefit programs to its staff members. Emphasis is directed toward offering you and your family a variety of benefits that help meet your needs and balance your career with your personal life. The main theme of all of the programs is flexibility.

These types of programs are made possible through Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code and allows you to choose between nontaxable benefits, taxable cash and the best plan for you and your family. In addition, the County pays you a monthly "benefit allowance" to pay for these benefits.

LACERA offers three (3) cafeteria benefit plans. Each plan has different benefits and rates.

1. Options Benefit Plan - for Staff Members represented by SEIU Local 721.

2. MegaFlex Benefit Plan - for eligible Non-represented Staff Members.

3. Flexible Benefit Plan - for eligible Non-represented Staff Members.

As a participant of one of the above plans, you may elect the following benefits:

• Medical Coverage

• Dental Coverage

• Group Term Life Insurance

• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

• Health & Dependent Care Spending Accounts

• Medical Coverage Protection

• Long-Term Disability

• Short-Term Disability – for MegaFlex participants only

Part-time staff members (except workers in student positions) who work an average of 30 hours or more per week during a period of three consecutive months may be eligible to enroll in a medical plan. To learn more about the benefits offered to eligible part-time staff members, contact the human resources office.

Depending upon your employment status, the following retirement plans are provided:

Defined Benefit Retirement Plans - to learn more about these plans, contact us at (800) 786-6464.

Defined Contribution Retirement Plans – Three (3) voluntary supplemental retirement plans for full-time permanent employees. These plans are governed by IRS code Section 401k and 457. To learn more about these plans call (800) 947-0845.

Deferred Compensation & Thrift Plan (Horizons, 457 plan) for all full-time permanent staff members.

Savings Plan (401k) for all full-time staff members.

Pension Savings Plan (457 plan) for temporary and seasonal staff members.

Rideshare Benefits - Monthly transit subsidy (up to $145.00), pass purchase program, monthly vanpool subsidy (up to $145.00), $80.00 commuter choice subsidy.

Tuition Reimbursement subject to availability of funds.