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Program Specialist - Survivor Assistant & Memorial Support Specialist (SAMSS)
Veterans Health Administration · Posted 3 days ago
On-site Washington, DC $71K – $92K Apply by Jul 22, 2026 Miscellaneous Administration And Program ENTJESFJESTJISTJ
Apply for this job → About the Role
The position serves as a Program Specialist assigned to the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS). Program under the Chief, Social Work or Social Work Executive at the VA medical facility as a primary person responsible for the facility SAMS Program. SAMS's focus is to provide personalized, supportive services to families, caregivers and survivors at the end of a Veteran's life and ensures Veterans without identified family receive dignified burials to honor their service.
What You'll Do
- →MAJOR DUTIES Program Administration - 60% With minimal supervisory oversight, the position: Advises Veterans and their NOK of burial benefits.
- →Helps Veterans and NOK prearrange burial, interment, cremation, as desired by Veteran.
- →Advises surviving relatives about burial benefits and other potential benefits provided by VA.
- →Reviews eligibility and entitlement of burial and death allowances and advises on the process for applying for those benefits.
- →Refers surviving relatives with specific benefit inquiries to a VBA point of contact, not the toll-free telephone number.
- →Informs Veteran, caregiver and NOK of available supportive services within the medical facility, such as Chaplaincy, and Social Work, to provide support at end of life and immediately following death.
- →Reviews daily death notifications.
- →Submits completed death certificates to designated Funeral Director and County Registrar's Office.
- →Ensures Veterans with no relatives (unclaimed remains) are provided a dignified funeral and burial at VA (contract or purchase order) expense.
- →Collaborates with VA offices to locate NOK when not readily known.
- →Views, as required, the deceased Veteran's unclaimed body and/or remains to confirm VA funds are executed as intended in the burial purchase.
- →Requests any clinical staff involved with care prior to death contact the survivor within 24 hours of the pronouncement of death.
- →Identifies, in collaboration with designated facility staff, a responsible funeral home for the unclaimed remains and prepares a purchase order and/or contract to this effect.
- →Completes required VA authorizations to release personal effects and any remaining funds in the patient's account to NOK or designated party.
Requirements
- ✓You must be a U.S.
- ✓Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
- ✓In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.
- ✓The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
- ✓Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment.
- ✓A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
- ✓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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-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.
- ✓Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) 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.
- ✓Applicants may substitute Education for the required Experience.
- ✓A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Personality Fit
Job ID: 9055f2de-8db1-4612-bb28-06c5c31fc361
Posted via USAJobs