SSA's Hiring Initiative

Veterans Hiring Authorities

BACKGROUND

Veterans represent a loyal and dedicated workforce that Federal agencies tap into as they seek to successfully meet their goals and missions.  Federal agencies may hire veterans under the following three authorities:

• Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA)
• 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
• Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA)

REQUIREMENTS

Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) – Allows Federal agencies to appoint veterans to positions for which they qualify up to the GS-11 level.  After they have satisfactorily completed 2 years of service, the veteran will be converted noncompetitively to a career-conditional appointment.

The following may be eligible for this appointment:

• Disabled veterans;
• Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized;
• Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded; and
• Veterans separated from active duty within the past 3 years..

30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans – Allows Federal agencies to appoint veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more without competition.  Eligible candidates may be appointed to any position for which they are qualified, at any grade level.  Initial appointments are time-limited, however, the individual may be noncompetitively converted to permanent status at any time during the time-limited appointment.

The following may be eligible for this appointment:

• Disabled veterans who were retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more; and
• Disabled veterans rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) (within the preceding year), the preceding year as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) – Allows eligible veterans to apply for vacancy announcements when a Federal agency is accepting applications beyond its own workforce under merit promotion procedures.  Eligible veterans are not granted preference in the selection process but they are allowed to compete for job opportunities that are not open to the general public.  A VEOA eligible who is selected will be given a career or career-conditional appointment.

The following may be eligible for this appointment:

• Veterans who are preference eligible;
• Veterans who separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Veterans who were released shortly before completing a 3-year tour may also be eligible.

To apply under VEOA, eligible veterans should look for announcements on USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov) that are limited to “status candidates.”  Status candidates include current and certain former Federal employees, and veterans eligible under VEOA.  Although veterans are given the opportunity to apply for positions, it is important to note that there is no entitlement to a position or guarantee of being selected.

VETERANS NON-PAID WORK EXPERIECE PROGRAM

This program is one aspect of the Coming Home to Work Initiative under the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) early outreach efforts to provide eligible veterans with the opportunity to obtain training and practical job experience concurrently.  Under this program, VR&E eligible service members facing medical separation from active duty at major military treatment facilities can gain or sharpen civilian job skills through work experience at a point in their recovery when they are deemed "work-ready" by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.  Participants obtain unpaid work experience to expand their employment histories and hone skills developed under their vocational rehabilitation plan.  While participants do not receive any salary or benefits from the Federal agency, the VA will pay them a monthly subsistence allowance.

WOUNDED WARRIOR TRANSITIONAL PROGRAMS

The Social Security Administration works with the Wounded Warrior transitional programs by providing employment opportunities for wounded and disabled veterans to positions consistent with their level of skills and abilities.  SSA provides reasonable accommodations so that employees with disabilities have the opportunity to perform the duties of their positions.