Fill Out Standard Form 15 (SF-15) Online
Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Claims 10-point veteran preference in federal hiring.
Reviewed July 2026
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Standard Form 15 (SF-15), the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, is used by veterans and certain family members to claim 10-point preference when applying for federal jobs. The form documents the basis for the preference, such as a service-connected disability or an award of the Purple Heart.
You can fill out the SF-15 in the Universal PDF editor, attach it to your federal application package along with the required supporting documents, and download a clean PDF copy for your records.
What is SF-15 used for
Veteran preference gives eligible veterans an advantage in federal competitive hiring. Five-point preference generally does not require this form, but 10-point preference does: the SF-15 identifies which category of 10-point preference is being claimed and lists the documentation that must accompany it.
Common bases include a service-connected disability documented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, receipt of the Purple Heart, and derived preference for certain spouses, widows or widowers, and mothers of veterans who are deceased or severely disabled.
Who files SF-15
The form is completed by the applicant claiming the preference and submitted with the federal job application to the hiring agency, not to OPM itself:
- Veterans with a service-connected disability or Purple Heart claiming 10-point preference.
- Spouses of veterans who cannot work because of a service-connected disability.
- Widows or widowers of certain deceased veterans who have not remarried.
- Mothers of veterans who died in service or are permanently and totally disabled.
How to fill out SF-15
Enter the veteran's identifying information and service details, then check the box for the specific 10-point category being claimed. Each category on the form lists the documents you must attach, such as the DD Form 214 showing character of discharge and an official letter documenting the service-connected disability.
If a family member is claiming derived preference, the form asks for information about both the veteran and the applicant. Incomplete documentation is the most common reason a preference claim is not adjudicated, so match the attachments to the checklist for your category. Copies of military records can be requested with Standard Form 180 if you no longer have them.
Frequently asked questions
No. The SF-15 is only for claiming 10-point preference. Five-point preference is typically claimed with your DD-214 alone as part of the application.
Submit it with your application to the hiring agency for the specific job announcement. It is not mailed to OPM.
It depends on the category claimed. Typical attachments include the DD-214 and an official letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or a branch of the armed forces documenting the service-connected disability. The form lists the required proof for each category.
In limited cases, yes. Certain spouses, unremarried widows or widowers, and mothers of deceased or permanently disabled veterans can claim derived 10-point preference using the SF-15.
No. Preference gives eligible applicants an advantage in competitive hiring, but applicants still must meet the qualification requirements for the position.
Related forms
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