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5% on the Exam, 10% If Disabled — and If They Do Not Hire You, They Must Tell You Why

Nebraska adds 5% to a veteran's passing examination score for state and local government jobs, and a further 5% for a disabled veteran. Where there is no examination, the preference operates among equally qualified candidates. The provision worth knowing is procedural: a veteran not hired gets NOTIFICATION WITHIN 30 DAYS AND APPEAL RIGHTS. It applies to initial employment, reassignment, transfer and non-disciplinary return, so it is not only about getting in the door. Spouses are included.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Nebraska adds 5% to a veteran's passing examination score for state and local government jobs, and a further 5% for a disabled veteran. Where there is no examination, the preference operates among equally qualified candidates. The provision worth knowing is procedural: a veteran not hired gets NOTIFICATION WITHIN 30 DAYS AND APPEAL RIGHTS. It applies to initial employment, reassignment, transfer and non-disciplinary return, so it is not only about getting in the door. Spouses are included.

What it's worth: 5% added to a passing exam score, 10% if disabled

  • 5% added to a PASSING examination score. The preference does not turn a failing score into a passing one.
  • A DISABLED VETERAN receives an additional 5%, so 10% in total.
  • WHERE NO EXAM IS USED, the preference operates among equally qualified candidates.
  • It applies to INITIAL EMPLOYMENT, REASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER, and non-disciplinary return — not only to getting hired.
  • A veteran not hired must be NOTIFIED WITHIN 30 DAYS, WITH APPEAL RIGHTS.
  • Spouses are included.
  • It binds the State of Nebraska and its governmental subdivisions.
  • The residency test is not established from the sources reviewed.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are in one of the groups the preference reaches.
  • The discharge meets the test.
  • You are applying for a public position.
  • Nebraska public employment.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

Deadline: Notification within 30 days if not hired
  1. 1Claim the preference on the application. It is not applied unless claimed.
  2. 2Attach the DD214, and the VA letter if you are a disabled veteran — that is the difference between 5% and 10%.
  3. 3If you are not hired, expect notification within 30 days. If it does not come, ask for it.
  4. 4Ask about the appeal route at the same time. The right is only useful inside its window.
  5. 5Claim it for transfers and reassignments too, not just new hires.
  6. 6Spouses should claim on their own applications.
Form
Claimed on the application
File with
The hiring state agency or subdivision
Documents you will need
dd214 · va benefit summary letter
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingThe 5% is added to a passing score. A veteran who does not pass the examination is not lifted over the line by the preference.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.