u/EASypEASylmonsquEASy

I’m in the final stages of selection for an initial EAS appointment. I know with govt jobs there isn’t usually much flexibility for pay negotiation. But some googling turns up some material that with EAS, there is some for specifically the initial appointment to EAS within the range of the grade you’re appointed into. Essentially, hiring manager discretion of up to the middle of the grade range based on qualifications, and higher than that with upper level approval.

Is this actually a thing in practice though? Especially these days?