Careers at SSA: Veterans

Opportunities for Veterans

At Social Security we offer several career options for people who have proudly served our country. With so many diverse career fields available in our agency, your solid military experience and willingness to selflessly serve can avail you a rewarding career in public service.

To learn more about opportunities for veterans, visit FedsHireVets.gov, or select a topic below.

Special Hiring Authorities

There are special hiring authorities designed specifically for veterans. For consideration under the special non-competitive hiring authorities for veterans, send a resume, discharge document (DD214), veterans preference document (SF15), and disability documents to dchr.ope.veterans.employment@ssa.gov.

To learn more about opportunities for veterans, visit FedsHireVets.gov, or select a link from the following list to shortcut to the program of your choice:

Veterans Preference

Veteran’s preference gives eligible veterans preference in hiring. Preference is given in competitive appointments as well as special noncompetitive appointments. Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for veterans’ preference.

There are basically three types of preference eligible:

  • Disabled, regardless of the rating (10 point preference)
  • Non-Disabled (5 point preference) and
  • Sole survivorship preference (0 Preference)

The preference eligible are divided into five basic groups:

  • CPS - Disability rating of 30% or more (10 points)
  • CP - Disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30% (10 points)
  • XP - Disability rating less than 10% (10 points)
  • TP - Preference eligibles with no disability rating (5 points)
  • SSP – Sole Survivorship Preference (0 points)

For more information on the types of Veterans’ preference, visit the Feds Hire Vets Veterans’ Preference webpage.

Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA)

VRA allows for the appointment of eligible veterans, without competition from non veterans. This hiring authority can be used for positions up to GS-11 or equivalent. Veterans are hired under excepted appointments to positions that are otherwise found in competitive service. After the individual satisfactorily completes 2 years of service, the veteran may be converted non-competitively to a career or career-conditional appointment.

Eligibility under the VRA hiring authority applies to any of the following veterans:

  • Disabled veterans; or
  • Veterans who served in active duty in the Armed Forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; or
  • 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; or
  • Recently separated veterans (within 3 years); and
  • Separated from the Armed Forces under honorable or general discharge.

If you are interested in applying for employment under this special hiring program, please visit OPM's Veterans Employment Initiative.

30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans

The 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans authority enables the appointment of an eligible candidate to any position for which he or she is qualified without competition. Unlike the VRA, there is no grade-level limitation. Initial appointments are time-limited, lasting more than 60 days; however, individuals can be non-competitively converted to a permanent status at any time during the time-limited appointment.

Eligibility applies to the following categories:

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

If you are interested in applying for employment under this special hiring program, please contact us at DCHR.OPE.Veterans.Employment@ssa.gov.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA)

This flexibility gives preference eligible and certain eligible veterans access to jobs that otherwise only would have been available to status employees. In VEOA appointments, preference eligible and veterans are not accorded preference as a factor, but they are allowed to compete for job opportunities that are not offered to other external candidates. A VEOA eligible who is selected will be given a career or career-conditional appointment.

VEOA eligibility applies to the following veterans:

  • A preference eligible or Veteran separated from the Armed Forces after 3 or more years of continuous active service under honorable conditions or who were released shortly before completing a three year tour.

For more information go to FedsHireVets Special Hiring Authorities webpage.

Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program

Disabled veterans eligible for training under the Veterans Administration (VA) vocational rehabilitation program may enroll for training or work experience at an agency under the terms of an agreement between the agency and VA. While enrolled in the VA program, the veteran is not a Federal employee for most purposes, but is a beneficiary of the VA.

Training is tailored to the individual's needs and goals, so there is no set length. If the training is intended to prepare the individual for eventual appointment in the agency rather than just provide work experience, the agency must ensure that the training will enable the veteran to meet the qualification requirements for the position.

Upon successful completion, the host agency and VA give the veteran a Certificate of Training showing the occupational series and grade level of the position for which the veteran trained. The Certificate of Training allows any agency to appoint the veteran non-competitively under a status quo appointment which may be converted to career or career conditional at any time.

For more information go to FedsHireVets Special Hiring Authorities webpage.

Additional Information