Veterans Preference Points Checker for Federal Jobs

How to do it

1. 1
   Choose your service

   Select whether you served during a war, a campaign or only in peacetime.

2. 2
   Choose your discharge

   Honorable or general under honorable conditions counts; other types generally do not.

3. 3
   Choose your disability status

   Pick none, under 30 percent, 30 percent or more, or total.

4. 4
   Add Purple Heart or family status

   Tick a Purple Heart and choose a family relationship if it applies.

5. 5
   Read the result

   See the points, the likely code and the documents to attach.

About this tool

Veterans preference adds points to a veteran's score in federal hiring or gives priority in a layoff. The preference is 5 points for most veterans who served in a war or campaign, and 10 points for veterans with a service-connected disability or a Purple Heart and for certain family members. This checker uses your answers to show the likely category, the number of points and the documents that prove it. It is a screening aid; the hiring agency decides.

Who this is for Veterans and military spouses preparing federal applications on USAJOBS, career counselors and anyone helping them choose what to attach to an application.

The categories Five points (TP) go to veterans who were discharged under honorable conditions and served on active duty during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal was issued, or during certain periods defined in the law. Ten points go to veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10 percent or more or who received a Purple Heart (XP, CP and CPS categories), to the spouse of a veteran who cannot work because of a service-connected disability, to the widow or widower of a veteran who died in service or of a service-connected cause and has not remarried, and to the mother of a deceased or permanently disabled veteran under conditions. Veterans with a rating of 30 percent or more are in the compensable categories, which have additional hiring advantages.

Discharge requirement Veterans must have been separated under honorable conditions, which includes an honorable discharge and a general discharge under honorable conditions. Family-member preference has its own conditions.

Documents For 5 points, the DD-214 (member 4 copy) showing the dates and character of service is the usual proof. For 10 points you also submit the SF-15 form and the supporting letter, for example a VA letter showing the rating, or proof of the Purple Heart. Family members submit proof of the relationship and of the veteran's status. The tool shows the likely list.

Worked example A veteran who served on active duty during the Global War on Terrorism and was honorably discharged qualifies for 5 points. If the same veteran has a 40 percent disability rating, the category becomes 10 points. A veteran with a general discharge under other than honorable conditions would have no preference, but a spouse of a disabled veteran can still qualify for 10 points.

Limits Preference rules have detailed periods and exceptions. The agency checks your documents. This tool is an educational screen, not an official ruling.

Worked example

An honorably discharged veteran who served during a war period qualifies for 5 points; adding a 40 percent disability rating makes it 10 points with the SF-15 and VA letter as proof.