TRANSITIONVA program
Federal Hiring Veterans Preference
Veterans whose service meets the dates in federal law, such as more than 180 consecutive days of active duty in set periods or a campaign badge, get 5 preference points in federal civil service hiring; veterans with a service-connected disability at any rating, or a Purple Heart, get 10. Agencies may appoint a veteran rated 30% or more without competition.
Available to veterans with an honorable or general discharge; 10 points with any service-connected disability or a Purple Heart
Step-by-step guide
What you get
Federal agencies give veterans some preference when they hire, and agencies can hire some disabled veterans without the usual competition. VA does not decide this. VA supplies the letters an agency may ask to see.
What VA describes for preference in federal hiring
- Discharge under honorable conditions or a general dischargeVA's benefits guide says a veteran must have been discharged or released under honorable conditions, or have received a general discharge, to receive preference.
- A disability, or service in a covered period or campaignPreference goes to veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty during certain time periods or in military campaigns. The exact rules come from federal law in Title 5.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
Which path fits your situation?
- Veterans' preference
VA's benefits guide says veterans who are disabled, or who served on active duty in certain periods or campaigns, get preference over others when agencies hire from competitive lists, and in keeping their jobs during a reduction in force.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- 30 percent or more disabled veteran hiring
VA's benefits guide says any federal agency may appoint a veteran with a 30 percent or higher service-connected disability without competition. The appointment starts as temporary and can be converted to a career or career-conditional job, with no grade limit.
- A 30 percent or higher service-connected ratingThis means either retirement from active service with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more, or a VA rating showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil service preference letter A letter you can download from VA.gov to show your preference status. | Your veteran status for civil service preference | Sign in to VA.gov and download it from the VA benefit letters page. | Yes |
| DD214 Your record of separation from active duty. | Your character of discharge and your dates of active duty | Use your own copy, or request it through the VA.gov military records page. | Yes |
| VA benefit summary letter A VA letter listing your service and your disability rating. | Your combined service-connected rating | Sign in to VA.gov and download it from the VA benefit letters page. | Yes |
| VA disability decision letter The letter VA sent when it decided your disability claim. | The rating VA assigned for your service-connected conditions | Sign in to VA.gov and download it from the VA benefit letters page. | Yes |
Papers go to the hiring agency with your application. BeneVets does not ask for copies of them.
Steps, in order
- Have your DD214 ready
Find your DD214, or request a copy through VA.gov. It shows your character of discharge.
Source: VA.gov: request your military service records (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- Download your preference letter
Sign in to VA.gov and download the civil service preference letter from the benefit letters page.
Source: VA.gov: download VA benefit letters (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- Download your benefit summary letter
If you have a VA rating, download your benefit summary letter too. It shows your rating.
Source: VA.gov: download VA benefit letters (opens in new tab)
- Apply directly to the agency
For the 30 percent or more authority, VA's benefits guide says to apply directly to the agency where you want to work.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- For jobs at VA, use VMSTEP
VA's Veteran and Military Spouse Talent Engagement Program helps veterans with federal resumes, the USAJOBS site, and interviews for jobs at VA.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- Get free help with your VA records
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you. For a federal job, a VSO can help you get the VA letters and records the agency asks for.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab)
Good to know
Preference comes from federal law in Title 5. VA's role is to supply records: enrolled veterans can print a preference letter from VA.gov.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: download VA benefit letters (opens in new tab)
VA's benefits guide says agencies can also appoint veterans who meet its rules without competition up to grade GS-11 or the equal grade. After two years of satisfactory work the job can be converted to a career or career-conditional position. Apply directly to the agency.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
VA's benefits guide lists certain widows and widowers of veterans who died in service, spouses of service-connected disabled veterans, and mothers of some veterans.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at /vso-directory. For federal jobs, a VSO can help you get the VA letters and records an agency asks for.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 8, 2026: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: download VA benefit letters (opens in new tab), VA.gov: request your military service records (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab)