Fillable Form SF-15
SF-15 is a Form used by federal agencies to determine whether or not a veteran is eligible to receive a 10 point veteran preference. These points are added to a passed examination of the veteran for a Federal job to give them special consideration
What is SF-15?
Officially Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15, or simply SF-15 is a form that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and federal agencies use to verify an individual’s eligibility for veteran’s benefits. Veterans and their relatives may complete and file the form.
The Veterans’ Preference Act of 1994 is a United States federal law that honors and recognizes the veterans’ service, sacrifice, and skill by requiring the federal government to favor them when hiring new employees when they return. Aside from employment purposes, veterans may use SF-15 to claim benefits for service-related disability and physical and psychological injuries and diseases. Congress determines the eligibility for the preferences for a veteran under the United States code. This means that applying veterans must indicate the type of preference in the form.
Eligibility for veterans’ preference is subject to approval based on set requirements. The purpose of SF-15 is the confirmation of a veteran’s qualification. An individual may be eligible for a 10-point preference if he or she has a present service-connected disability rated at 10% or more; is receiving disability compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension; received a Purple Heart; is a spouse or mother of a veteran who died in service or is unfit or incapable to work due to a service-connected disability. A 5-point preference may be eligible for a veteran who served on active duty during a war, armed conflicts declared by Congress as war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized.
In terms of federal jobs, according to Section 2108, of Title 5 of the U.S. Code, for a veteran to be qualified for federal civilian employment, he or she should have served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or received an honorable or general discharge from military service, or expects to be discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after applying for a position. If he or she is a retired veteran, with a rank higher than 0-4, he or she is not qualified for preference, unless he or she is disabled or a reservist who will not begin drawing military retired pay until age 60. In addition, unless the veteran is disabled, active duty for training for National Guard or Reserve soldiers does not qualify as “active duty” for preference.
How to Fill Out SF-15?
To complete SF-15, provide the information applying for preference and a veteran’s personal information. Follow the guide below.
Page 1
Person Applying for Preference:
Name asks for the full legal name of the applicant.
Home address asks for the address of the applicant.
Veteran Information:
Veteran’s name asks for the full legal name of the veteran as it appears on Service Records.
Periods of service asks for the veteran’s branch of service, the date he or she entered active duty, and if applicable, the date the veteran was separated or released from active duty.
Type of 10-Point Veterans’ Preference Claimed:
This section has checkboxes to indicate a veteran’s preference claim; some boxes have questions that require further information. Every veterans’ preference has required documentation, for a more detailed relevant to documentation, you may refer to the instruction page of SF-15.
Page 2
1 asks if the veteran is currently working.
2 asks the veteran’s present occupation if he or she is currently working.
3 asks the veteran’s occupation before military service if applicable.
4 asks the veteran’s military occupation at the time of separation.
5 asks if the veteran has been employed or is currently employed by the Federal civil service or D.C. Government.
A asks for the most recent or current title and grade of the position of the veteran.
B asks for the name and address of the veteran’s agency.
C asks for the dates of employment.
6 asks if the veteran has resigned from, been disqualified for, or separated from a position in the Federal civil service or D.C. Government along the lines of his or her occupation due to a service-connected disability.
7 asks if the veteran is receiving a civil service retirement pension. If yes, provide the Civil Service annuity (CSA) or Federal employee retirement annuity number.