SF 15: Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference

What is SF 15?

Standard Form 15 is OPM's application for 10-point veterans' preference, the extra points and hiring priority that eligible people receive when applying for Federal jobs. It's used by veterans and by relatives of veterans: a veteran with a service-connected disability, a Purple Heart or a VA disability pension, the spouse of a disabled veteran who can't work because of the disability, a veteran's widow or widower, and the mother of a disabled or deceased veteran in the circumstances the form lists.

You tick the type of preference you're claiming, answer its questions, and attach the documentation the form lists by letter on page 2, such as a DD-214, a VA letter dated 1991 or later, or a death certificate. Spouses and mothers of disabled veterans also answer section H about the veteran's inability to work. The form points out that eligibility is governed by 5 U.S.C. 2108, 2108a and 5 CFR part 211, and that not every condition fits on the form.

FileIt pre-fills your name from your vault, shows only the questions that apply to your claim, and fills OPM's own SF 15 (Revised October 2013). It saves the finished form in your vault folder. The form has no signature line; you send it with your application and documents yourself.

Who files: Disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and eligible spouses, widows, widowers and mothers of veterans.
Pages: 2: the claim, then the documentation list and section H.
Signature: None. The form has no signature or date line.
Documents: Photocopies of the documents listed for your claim (A to H); the form says they won't be returned.
Edition: Standard Form 15, Revised October 2013 (OMB 3206-0001); all other previous editions are unusable

Who needs to fill out SF 15?

Veterans with a non-compensable service-connected disability, a Purple Heart, or a VA disability pension (item 5).
Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more, or a disability retirement (item 6).
Spouses of living veterans who can't qualify for a Federal job or any other position because of a service-connected disability (item 7).
Widows and widowers of veterans who haven't remarried (item 8), and mothers of disabled or deceased veterans who meet the form's conditions (item 9).

When to use SF 15

When you apply for a Federal job and want to claim 10-point veterans' preference.
When a hiring agency asks for SF 15 and its supporting documents with your application.

What you need before you start

Your name and home address.
The veteran's name exactly as on the service records, the branch of service, and the dates entered and left active duty.
The documents for your claim, for example a DD-214 or other separation document, a VA or service statement dated 1991 or later certifying the disability, a Purple Heart citation, or a death certificate.
For spouses and mothers of disabled veterans: the veteran's work history for section H, including any Federal or D.C. Government job and civil service annuity number.

What’s on SF 15

The 2013 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 4 parts:

Person applying for preferencePerson applying for preference
Veteran informationPerson applying for preference
Type of 10-point veterans' preference claimedPerson applying for preference
H. The veteran's inability to work because of a service-connected disability (page 2)Person applying for preference

How to fill out SF 15, step by step

1 Person applying for preference

Items 1 and 2: your name (last, first, middle) and home address.

2 Veteran information

Item 3, the veteran's name exactly as on service records, and item 4, the branch of service and the dates entered and separated from active duty.

3 Type of preference claimed

Tick one of items 5 to 9 and answer its questions. The Required Documentation column tells you which documents (A to H on page 2) to attach.

4 Section H: inability to work

For items 7 and 9 (disabled veteran): whether the veteran works now, their occupations before service and at separation, any Federal or D.C. Government job, whether they left it because of the disability, and whether they receive a civil service retirement pension.

Common mistakes to avoid

Ticking more than one type of preference.
Leaving out the documents your claim needs, or sending originals: the form asks for photocopies because they won't be returned.
Using a VA statement dated before 1991 where the form asks for one dated 1991 or later.
Giving the veteran's name differently from the service records in item 3.
Skipping section H as a spouse or as the mother of a disabled veteran.

After you fill it out

Gather photocopies of the documents the form lists for your claim.

Submit the form and documents with your Federal job application, following the job announcement's instructions.

FileIt keeps the filled form in your vault folder so you can reuse it for later applications.

Fill out SF 15 online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 29 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start SF 15 now — it’s free

SF 15: frequently asked questions

Who can use SF 15?

Veterans with a service-connected disability, a Purple Heart or a VA disability pension, and certain relatives: the spouse of a disabled veteran unable to work because of the disability, a veteran's widow or widower, and the mother of a disabled or deceased veteran who meets the conditions in item 9.

Does SF 15 need a signature?

No. The form has no signature or date line.

What documents do I need?

It depends on the item you claim. The Required Documentation column points to page 2, which lists documents A to H, such as a DD-214 (A), a VA statement of a disability dated 1991 or later (B or C), a death certificate (D) or an annulment decree (G).

Can a widow who remarried claim preference?

The form says that if you have remarried (not counting annulments), you're not eligible for preference under item 8.

Where do I send SF 15?

The form doesn't name an address. Submit it with your Federal job application as the job announcement instructs.

Is this the current edition?

The form on OPM's site is Standard Form 15, Revised October 2013, and it says all other previous editions are unusable.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM): https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.opm.gov/forms/standard-forms/
Edition shown on this page: Standard Form 15, Revised October 2013 (OMB 3206-0001); all other previous editions are unusable (checked 2026-10-01).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-01.