[Ptsd & Federal Employment]

Update: Was found unsuitable for the position due to PTSD.

Funny, they give vet preference for disabled vets and then disqualify them.

[Ptsd & Federal Employment]

Thanks for the morale booster USMC_Vet!

Yeah, If I learned anything about being in this process is that hurry up and wait is annoying as hell!

[Voc Rehab Stipend]

Hey All,

Does anyone have a contact number to check on the status of Voc Rehab Stipend(BAH)? I tried emailing and calling my counselor and its like pulling teeth trying to get her to respond.

Thanks!

[Ptsd & Federal Employment]

Have you formally applied for a federal position and then been found "qualified" by the OPM?

Thanks for all the info Berta! Yes I have formally applied and interviewed for the position I applied for. I have been found qualified by OPM as I received a conditional job offer, contingent on me passing all portions of the hiring process (i.e drug screen, medical, background). I have thus far cleared everything but the medical portion of the process.

For a TS then thats different. Your time frame is a bit longer than i would have expected but i have known guys for Secret getting held up for a year over having a Fillipino wife etc. I dont know what to say if its for medical, i have a feeling it is due to your SC for PTSD etc. for TS they are very very very detailed in their investigation. If i had to guess your file has been tossed around to different folks to try and figure out if this will or will not stop you from holding a clearance and if denied what it could mean litigation wise. I would save all correspondence and if denied i would intiate a FOIA request for your SF 86 investigation to see if you were discriminated against.

Its a catch 22, they "want" you to seek help and not hide it. but they also dont want to give you a job if you do seek help. I would have to know (i dont want to know thats personal) what manifestation your ptsd takes, if there has been reports of violence, or abstract behavior that could be the issue. They want to make sure you wont sell information to other countries or use your clearance to access areas you shouldnt because you have an episode. personally i get why they are timid about people like us, however i think it should all depend on how it manifests itself.

USMC_Vet, I don't have a criminal record or any background issues that keep me from holding a position of authority. I have personally cleared 3 background investigations in the past year. Like I stated in my earlier posts, not sure why they ask me to divulge VA disabilities and then keep me on the wire for almost 2 years. I have turned down numerous positions and put my education on the hold for this job because they are known for giving a few weeks notice to report to training. At this point I just want an answer. Sorry for the rant! Thanks for the reply!

[Ptsd & Federal Employment]

I am a Fed employee with a clearance for who had a current rating of 50% opted when I applied for a clearance. Mine took 5 months however I had a clearance 2 years prior do that made mine easier I think. I answered no to the question regarding mental health counseling since 1 I was not receiving treatment (however this has triggered my reduction I think so keep that in mind) and 2 if the treatment or counseling is related to military trauma you are not required to answer yes from what I understand. Mine was granted. We will see in a decade when it's renewed.... hiring wise they cannot discriminate but for clearances they can deny and if your job requires it then that's all she wrote. If they haven't denied it yet I would talk to your congressman. Have you had your interview with the clearance investigator yet? Have they called family and friends? If so did mental health ever come up? Are you married to a foreign born wife? Is your family from the US? Any arrests in your p a st? Not trying to pry but those things can severely hold up a clearance. Was yours secret or ts?

Thanks for the reply USMC_Vet,

I have already cleared my background investigation. It was for a TS. Like you I did not have to divulge for mental health counseling due to it being military related. What I cannot clear is the medical portion. I have been awaiting medical clearance for over a year now.

[Ptsd & Federal Employment]

Thanks for the responses everyone!

In my personal opinion - working in the system 1 of 2 things are happening. You are either being strung through the ringer due to someones beaurcatic BS or they are hoping you decine the position due to the prolonged period. Did you formally apply for this positon through USAJobs? If so do you still have access to the annoucement number? You should be able to file a formal inquiry through the region that processed the staffing request which has to be answered by the person who is staffing the postion - this is also sent through that staffers chain. That is another option.

I recommended a congressional becuase - 1. your not an federal employee and have every right to do so in order to get answers to the questions that you are not reciveing. 2 It will make them bring you on board faster.

CHerv, I believe "they" are hoping that I decline the position. I actually had to attend a job fair to interview for this position. I have my conditional job offer but no announcement number as non was generated. I do have someone looking in on it from the agency that is outside the hiring process. If that doesn't work I will file a congressional inquiry.

I just think it's wrong to ask veterans to furbish disability ratings so they could get priority hiring and then turn it around on them. If I didn't disclose any disability ratings I would have been working in the agency by now.

[Ptsd & Federal Employment]

Thanks for the quick replys. I forgot to mention that I have already cleared the background process. When filling out the SF86 for question 21 I marked "No" because it's strictly military related. The position that I am in the process for is the Federal Protective Service, they are 0080 Security Specialist with Law Enforcement Authority.

I do have points of contacts but beyond them telling me that I am pending medical clearance, I can't get anything else out of them and that's where it gets frustrating. When I do call my POC he states the file is being reviewed or tells me that he'll check on the status and will call me when he does (never does return calls). This has been going on for over a year now. I've cleared security and drug screening 6 months from the date I was hired.

I'm reaching my limit with how unprofessionally I'm being treated. I've seen others without disabilities get hired on within 6 months. My life has been on hold for the past 18 months because I am waiting for an answer from this agency. At this point I do not know how to proceed and am reaching out to anyone that can help.

[Ptsd & Federal Employment]

Thanks T Bird, I did a search of PTSD Discrimination and it brought me here. Just wanted to post something up to see if anyone had a similar experience or can point me in the right direction.

[Ptsd & Federal Employment]

Hello All,

I'm a service connected Marine (70% for PTSD & Tinnitus) and applied to a federal position back in Nov of 2013. I was hired under a special hiring authority for Veterans who are 30% or more Service Connected. I'm still in the process with this agency (DHS) and whenever I call to check on my status they continue to tell me that I am still pending a medical clearance. Its been over 18 months and I have seen those without disabilities get aboard the agency quicker than I have. I haven't been disqualified but I haven't moved on in the process either, is this discrimination? Also am I correct to assume that I cannot be disqualified for PTSD under ADA Title 1?

Thanks in advance