employmentstate

Public Employment Preference — Mirrored From the Federal Preference

Honorably discharged members of the armed forces who are given employment preference by the federal government are to be given preference for appointment and employment in every public department and on all public works in the State, so far as practicable.

Verified August 23, 2026

What this benefit is

What it's worth: Preference for appointment and employment in public departments and on public works

The section sets no points and no percentage of its own — it borrows whatever preference the federal government gives.
It is qualified twice by the words "insofar as such preference may be practicable", which is a real limit on what can be insisted on.
A merit-system department is directed to give preferences similar to the federal ones, again so far as practicable.

Who is entitled to it

The preference runs to the discharged member.
You were honorably discharged.
Your home is in South Carolina.

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

1Claim the preference on the application rather than raising it after a decision. The section does not create an appeal.
2Take the DD Form 214. The threshold test is an honorable discharge and eligibility for the federal preference.
3Read the section before arguing about a physical requirement: age, loss of limb or other physical impairment which does not in fact incapacitate shall not be deemed to disqualify, provided you have the skill and knowledge for the post.
4Expect an agency to point at "practicable". The statute qualifies the preference in those words, and agencies rely on them.
5Ask the agency what its merit system does. Departments operating on a merit system are directed to mirror the federal preferences, which may be more concrete than the general clause.

Form: The employer’s own application, claiming the preference
File with: The hiring public department or agency
Documents you will need: dd214
No renewal: Once granted it does not need renewing.

CorrectionGuides commonly describe a five- and ten-point scoring preference here. §1-1-550 sets no points of its own; it directs public departments to mirror the federal preference so far as practicable. Any points come from the hiring authority’s own rules, which were not read this session.

Known gapThe section says nothing about a spouse or a surviving spouse. Whether any agency extends the preference to them was not established.

Sources

authority · statuteS.C. Code §1-1-550 — preference for honorably discharged members in public departments and on public works

Why only one source type: The section is the whole of the general preference. The state human resources division’s own hiring guidance refused connection from this session, so no points table is described here.

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