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Civil Service Examination Credit — Five Points, Ten With a Disability

Extra points on any New York civil service examination under Civil Service Law §85: five for a veteran, ten for a disabled veteran, usable once for appointment and once for promotion. The separate 55-c programme, which fills 500 state posts for disabled veterans without an examination at all, has its own record.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Extra points on any New York civil service examination under Civil Service Law §85: five for a veteran, ten for a disabled veteran, usable once for appointment and once for promotion. The separate 55-c programme, which fills 500 state posts for disabled veterans without an examination at all, has its own record.

What it's worth: Five exam points, ten if disabled — and 55-c, which skips the exam

  • The credit is added to a passing score, so it moves you up the eligible list rather than qualifying you outright.
  • It can generally be used once for an original appointment and once for a promotion.
  • The 55-c programme is the larger opportunity for a disabled veteran: 500 state positions filled without a competitive examination.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You served during a qualifying period.
  • You are applying for a New York civil service position.
  • Your home is in New York.

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: When you apply for the examination
  1. 1Claim the credit on the examination application itself — it cannot be added after the list is established.
  2. 2If you have a disability rating, ask separately about 55-c. It is a different route with no examination and it is not automatic.
File with
NYS Department of Civil Service, or the hiring local authority
Documents you will need
dd214 ny · va rating letter ny
No renewal needed
Worth knowing55-c is the part worth asking about. It sets aside 500 New York State positions to be filled by veterans with a disability without a competitive examination — a fundamentally different route into state employment from adding points to a test score.

Sources

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