Veterans with disabilities seeking employment in New York state should be aware of the Governor’s Programs to Hire Persons/Veterans with Disabilities, also known as the “55-c Program.”
Section 55-c of the New York State Civil Service Law allows the Civil Service Commission to fill up to 500 entry-level state employment positions with qualified disabled wartime veterans. These positions would normally be filled through a competitive examination process, but for qualified 55-c applicants, no written or oral examinations are required. However, a medical evaluation may be necessary to certify your eligibility for the program.
“Wartime veterans” refers to veterans of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces who served full-time active duty during a designated time of war. These designated periods are:
Vietnam War
February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975
Persian Gulf Conflict
August 2, 1990 – the date upon which such hostilities end
Hostilities in Lebanon
June 1, 1983 – December 1, 1987
Hostilities in Grenada
October 23, 1983 – November 21, 1983
Hostilities in Panama
December 20, 1989 – January 31, 1990
Eligibility for the program also requires that the applicant have a disability certified by the Employee Health Service (EHS) of the Department of Civil Service. The veteran may be required to undergo a no-cost physical examination by an EHS physician or an outside consultant. The disability need not be service-related in order for the veteran to qualify.
Recipients of Purple Heart medals and those who have been assigned a disability rating of at least 20 percent by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs automatically qualify for the program.
Disabled veterans seeking State employment are encouraged to apply for 55-c eligibility. Visit http://www.cs.ny.gov/dpm/c55.cfm to download an application or call the NY Department of Civil Service toll-free at 866-297-4356 if you have any questions.
For more information on elder law or veterans benefits, visit www.elderlawnewyork.com.
Source: http://www.cs.ny.gov/dpm/c55.cfm