OPM Acts - when it can

[factfinder]

Imagine my happy surprise this morning when I received the following text (in response to an e-mail to OPM):

We have reviewed your Veteran’s preference documentation and you have been awarded 5 point Veterans’ preference. A new Notice of Results will be issued reflecting your final score with the addition of 5 points veteran’s preference points added.



Sincerely,



Administrative Law Judge Program Office

Well, they issued the new NOR within minutes of this. From this, I believe they will fix mistakes if they are administrative in nature. If it requires an exercise in discretion, I have no idea.

In addition, I was one of those who agreed to the two judge interview. Quite frankly, I believe if you know what you are talking about, this is a good deal.

In retrospect, OPM has also been handed a raw deal - they are expected to run a unique program with minimal resources where a bunch of prima donas (like me) on one end and a very demanding agency - SSA on the other. Perhaps the whole thing is a miracle.

[bartleby]

I am glad things are working out for you. I am not sure where you get the information that OPM is working with minimal resources.. Some of the terminology I have seen would lead one to believe that they may be working with substandard resources, but I have not seen aything about minimal..

[mountainman]

Factfinder: My NOR does not list my 5 veterans points. It says "0" and NV which I surmise means "non-veteran"
To whom at OPM did you address the issue? By email, phone call ? I wish to make them aware of what I blieve is an error that should be corrected.
Glad they took care of you.
thanks.

[factfinder]

ALJ Application Help Desk [[e-mail]]

Tell them simply what occurred. I believe they want to do right.

[hilltopper]

Factfinder,

Had the same thing happen. Received NOR - no indication of 5 points Vet. credit.

Immediately sent an email appeal per procedures and explained in simple terms need to adjust score as DD-214s were submitted with application. Attached additional copies of DD-214s.

Next day saw your posting so I sent an email explaining situation and requesting administrative adjustment. also attached DD-214s.

That was one week ago. No response. No action. Any more ideas? Cert will be going out. Did okay and will make it, but want Vet credit to be considered. How do you get OPM to respond??

[whateverhappens]

May 18, 2010 22:14:07 GMT -5 hilltopper said:

Factfinder,

Had the same thing happen. Received NOR - no indication of 5 points Vet. credit.

Immediately sent an email appeal per procedures and explained in simple terms need to adjust score as DD-214s were submitted with application. Attached additional copies of DD-214s.

Next day saw your posting so I sent an email explaining situation and requesting administrative adjustment. also attached DD-214s.

That was one week ago. No response. No action. Any more ideas? Cert will be going out. Did okay and will make it, but want Vet credit to be considered. How do you get OPM to respond??

I too was contemplating an appeal when I saw that my points weren't credited even though proper documentation was submitted originally. When I saw Factfinder's post, I immediately sent an email to the help desk with the DD-214 and have gotten no response. I thought that maybe they got backlogged with inquiries by then, but now I'm just hoping it's not because they're too busy preparing the cert to get to the requests. My score is borderline and the points may make a difference.

[factfinder]

I think the problem is they do not really tell anyone how to verify their 5 or 10 point preference. thus folks do not do anything or do it late. You just have to take the bull by the horns and send the stuff to them - before the NOR is posted. Not sure if they have an obligation to make corrections after the fact.

With me, they already had my DD 214 stuff on file (it could be brought up on Application Manager) and they just omitted the points. Could be they are backed up and I just got to them first.

[hilltopper]

Like you were on the 14th, I was pleasantly surprised this morning to receive a nice note from OPM letting me know that an award of Veteran's preference points was not one of the appealable basis (in response to my first email) but that they were treating it as an administrative correction and awarding me 5 points, since I had submitted my DD 214s with the original application.

Thanks for your advice.

There are a handfull of fellow ALJ bloggers like you, who provide excellent advice ... all the time. It is much appreciated.

[jaglawyer]

Congrats on the much earned credit. I assume from the conversation that the score which I received is, in fact, the total score with my vet credit built into it already despite the confusing language in the NOR?

[ladyatlaw]

Question: When receiveing scores from OPM to create the CERT, do the agencies also see that 5 or 10 points have been added due to Veterans Preference (VP) for those who qualified for them?

i.e.

a) ALJ Hopeful - ## points (includes 5 added VP points) -or-
b) ALJ Hopeful - ## points

Thanks!

[chinook]

I believe that an agency receiving a cert knows who has Veterans preference and whether it is a 5 point of a 10 point preference because the preference also impacts the rule of three selection process.

[privateatty]

May 19, 2010 12:57:54 GMT -5 chinook said:

I believe that an agency receiving a cert knows who has Veterans preference and whether it is a 5 point of a 10 point preference because the preference also impacts the rule of three selection process.

Affirmative. They know.

[okeydokey]

From my experience (not with the ALJ process), selecting officials are notified whether an applicant is in the following groups:

1. 10 point 30% or greater disabled veteran
2. 10 point less than 30% disabled veteran
3. veteran

Agencies need to know at least 1 and 3 in order to ensure they give a veteran the rights he/she is entitled.

[ladyatlaw]

Great info! Thanks to the three of you for your posts.