Unlike other job candidates, veterans sometimes have an advantage when searching for employment, especially in the federal sector. Veterans’ Preference gives eligible veterans priority in appointment over other applicants. It applies to all new placements in the competitive service and many in the excepted service. While Veterans’ Preference doesn’t guarantee jobs or apply to internal agency actions (like promotions), it can provide a helpful advantage for veteran candidates when properly utilized.
Understanding how Veterans’ Preference works can be a challenge. In accordance with Title 5, United States Code, Section 2108 (5 USC 2108), Veterans’ Preferenceeligibility can be based on dates of active-duty service, awarding of a campaign badge, receipt of a Purple Heart, or a service-connected disability. Please know that not all active-duty service may qualify for Veterans’ Preference.
Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for Veterans’ Preference. Under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, an individual with reason to believe s/he will be entitled to Veterans’ Preference upon discharge may apply for a position before the discharge and receive consideration as preference eligible. This applies if the service member can provide a certification that s/he is expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days from the date of the certification. The circumstances of the discharge are verified at the time of actual appointment.
If you are a retired member of the armed forces, you are not included in the definition of preference eligible unless you are a disabled veteran or retired below the rank of major or its equivalent.
There are three types of preference eligibility: sole survivorship (0-point preference eligible), non-disabled (5-point preference eligible) and disabled (10-point preference eligible).
0-Point Preference
You are 0-point preference eligible if you were released or discharged from a period of active duty from the armed forces after August 29, 2008, by reason of being the only surviving child in a family in which the parent or one or more siblings:
- Served in the armed forces, and
- Was killed, died as a result of wounds, accident or disease, is in a captured or missing in action status, or is permanently 100% disabled or hospitalized on a continuing basis (and is not employed gainfully because of the disability or hospitalization), and
- The death, status or disability did not result from the intentional misconduct or willful neglect of the parent or sibling and was not incurred during a period of unauthorized absence.
5-Point Preference
You are 5-point preference eligible if your active-duty service meets any of the following:
- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010, the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or
- During the Gulf War, between August 2, 1990, and January 2, 1992, or
- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976, or
- Between April 28, 1952, and July 1, 1955, or
- In a war, campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or badge has been authorized.
10-Point Preference
You are 10-point preference eligible if you served at any time, and you:
- Have a service-connected disability, or
- Received a Purple Heart.
Preference Categories
Now that we have discussed your preference eligibility and the associated points let’s discuss preference groups. Preference eligibles are divided into five basic groups as follows:
- CPS – Disability rating of 30% or more (10 points)
- CP – Disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30% (10 points)
- XP – Disability rating less than 10% (10 points)
- TP – Preference eligible with no disability rating (5 points)
- SSP – Sole Survivorship Preference (0 points)
How Preference is Applied
In the competitive service, when agencies use a numerical rating and ranking system to determine the best-qualified applicants for a position, an additional 5 or 10 points are added to the numerical score of qualified preference-eligible veterans (preference eligibles).
When an agency uses a category rating system, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more (CPS, CP) are placed at the top of the highest category on the referral list (except for scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). XP and TP preference eligibles are placed above non-preference eligibles within their assigned category.
For positions excepted from the competitive service by the President or OPM, agencies must follow one of the options laid out in 5 CFR, part 302 of OPM’s regulations, unless the position is not only in the excepted service but also exempt from part 302 procedures. For positions excepted from the competitive service by statute, agencies must follow any rules that Congress imposes.
Documentation
You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation may be one of the following:
- A copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.
- A written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active-duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.
- A Standard Form (SF-15 [PDF]) Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference. If you are claiming 10-point preference, you must submit an (SF-15 [PDF]).
You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center or online.
