Veterans Services Veterans Services FAQs

There are basically three types of preference eligibles, disabled (10 point preference eligible), non-disabled (5 point preference eligible) and sole survivorship preference (0 point preference eligible).

The SF-50 is the Notification of Personnel Action. It contains certain employment information useful to the applicant or if applying for another federal job. It is used by current and former federal employees.

A 10 point preference eligible is a veteran or eligible family member of a veteran who served at any time, was discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions and:

1. has a compensable service connected disability,
2. has a present service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs OR
3. has received a Purple Heart.

The veteran must have been discharged under an honorable or general discharge. Note: Certain spouses, widows, widowers, or parents of veterans may also be entitled.

No. There is no limit to the number of times you can use veterans’ preference.

You can request ‘certification’ through your Military Personnel Office. 

A 5-point preference eligible is a veteran whose discharge or release from active duty in the armed forces was under honorable conditions and service meets the following criteria:

1. During a war; or
2. During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; or
3. 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
4. During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992; or
5. 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
6. In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including Afghanistan (Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF), Iraqi Freedom (OIF)), Bosnia (Operations Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, and Joint Forge), Global War on Terrorism, Persian Gulf, and others may qualify for preference.

The veteran must have been discharged under an honorable or general discharge.

It depends. If the applicant is eligible for both appointing authorities he or she should indicate their desire to receive consideration under both appointing authorities. However, the criteria for 30% or more disabled appointing authority are different from Schedule A Persons with Disabilities appointing authority. For additional information on the eligibility criteria visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/index.aspx.

Maybe.  Eligibility for veterans’ preference in Federal employment is dependent on military service dates or service-connected disability and having served honorably.  The Feds Hire Vets website (www.fedshirevets.gov) provides guidance on veterans’ preference and special hiring authorities for veterans.

Preference eligibles are divided into five basic groups as follows:

1. CPS - Disability rating of 30% or more (10 points)
2. CP - Disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30% (10 points)
3. XP - Disability rating less than 10% (10 points)
4. TP - Preference eligibles with no disability rating (5 points)
5. SSP - Sole Survivorship Preference (0 points)

These codes are used to designate on rating sheets and certificates the category of veterans’ preference to which an applicant is entitled.

No.  Veterans' preference does not apply when the agency is using merit promotion procedures to fill a position.

No. Your veterans' preference does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements

Yes. 

In 1978, the Civil Service Reform Act amended the employment preference for retired officers by denying it to those retiring at the rank of major (O-4) and above.

0-point preference is a category for veterans released or discharged from active duty from the armed forces, after August 29, 2008, by reason of a “sole survivorship discharge.”  No points are added to the passing score or rating of a veteran who is the only surviving child in a family in which the father or mother or one or more siblings:

1. Served in the armed forces, and
2. Was killed, died as a result of wounds, accident, or disease, is in a captured or missing in action status, or is permanently 100 percent disabled or hospitalized on a continuing basis (and is not employed gainfully because of the disability or hospitalization), where
3. 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.

The veteran must have been discharged under an honorable or general discharge.