U.S. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Standard Form 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference
Claim your federal hiring edge — get 10-point veteran preference on the books.
What is SF-15 used for?
Standard Form 15 lets veterans with qualifying disabilities — and their spouses, widows, widowers, and mothers — apply for 10-point preference in federal hiring, giving them extra points in civil service scoring and special placement protections.
Lock in 10-point veterans' preference with OPM so you receive extra points in federal civil service scoring and strong placement protections when competing for government jobs.
Submitting inaccurate VA documentation or claiming a category for which you don't qualify can void your application and may trigger federal penalties. VA disability statements must be dated 1991 or later. Widows and widowers who have remarried (without annulment) are ineligible.
Time, difficulty & who this form is for
Average time
15–30 minutes to complete the form; allow extra time to gather VA and military documents
Difficulty
moderate
Best for
Veterans with service-connected disabilities and their qualifying family members applying for federal government jobs
What do I need before I start?
- DD-214 or official military separation document showing honorable or general discharge
- VA statement (dated 1991 or later) certifying service-connected disability and percentage
- For spouse/widow/widower/mother claims: marriage certificate and veteran's death certificate if applicable
- For Item 6 (10%+ disability): official VA or military document certifying the disability percentage
- For Item 9 mother claims: physician statement about your husband's disability (if applicable)
How the walkthrough is organized
Who Is Applying
Identify yourself (the person claiming preference) and provide your home address.
Veteran Information
Record the veteran's name exactly as it appears on military service records, and the branch and dates of active duty service.
Type of 10-Point Preference
Select which of the five preference categories (Items 5–9) applies to your situation. Answer the eligibility sub-questions that appear under your chosen category.
Documentation of Veteran's Inability to Work (Section H — Item 7 Only)
For spouses claiming Item 7: answer questions about the veteran's current and past occupation, federal employment history, and any civil service retirement pension.
What happens after I complete it?
Answer the questions, review your document, then follow its official signing and delivery instructions. Downloading does not submit the form.
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