What are my Alabama Military and Veterans Employment Benefits?

Alabama State Employee Leave of Absence for Military Service:

State employees receive 21 working days leave of absence per calendar year for military service, without loss of pay, time, annual vacation or sick leave.

Who is eligible for Alabama State Employee Leave of Absence for Military Service?

State employees that are active members of the Alabama National Guard or Reserves, on orders for training or active duty.

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Alabama State Employee Job Status and Reemployment Rights:

When called into or entering military service, State employees in the unclassified service, have the same Anniston Army Depotrights and privileges to reemployment as employees in the classified service. (Ala. Code 36-26-33) State employees that are called to active service during a national emergency have protection of job status and reemployment rights. (Ala. Code 36-8 Sections 1-6)

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Alabama State Employee Veterans’ Hiring Preference:

Alabama offers state employment hiring preference to eligible Veterans, disabled Veterans, Spouses and Surviving Spouses. Preference is given as points added to examination scores when applying for state employment.

Who is eligible for Alabama State Employee Veterans’ Hiring Preference?

• Honorably discharged Veterans receive 5 points
• Veterans that are receiving disability compensation from the VA receive 10 points
• Spouses of disabled Veterans that are unable to work due to their disability receive 10 points
• Surviving Spouses of Service members killed in the line of duty receive 10 points

When reductions in force are being made employees eligible for military preference must be the last to be discharged, dropped, reduced in rank or salary. The employee must have a good record and their efficiency rating must be equal to or greater than other employees in competition. (Ala. Code 36-26-15)

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Alabama Private Employment Veterans’ Preference: Private employers are authorized to have a written Veterans hiring preference policy. Learn more about Alabama Private Employment Veterans’ Preference

Federal Employment Veteran's Hiring Preferences:

By Federal law, Veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over non-Veterans in hiring into the Federal civil service and in retention during reduction in force. Veterans may be entitled to 5 or 10 points included in any scoring process for examination or interviews.

5-point Hiring Preference:

Five points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served:

• During a war; or
• During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; or
• For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or
• During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; or
• For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001 and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or
• In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference.

10-point Compensable Disability (CP) Preference:

Ten points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30%.

10-Point 30% Compensable Disability Preference (CPS):

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

10-Point Disability Preference (XP):

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of:

• A Veteran who served at any time and has a present service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the VA but does not qualify as a CP or CPS; or
• A Veteran who received a Purple Heart.

10-Point Derived Preference (XP):

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of Spouses, Surviving Spouses, or Mothers of Veterans. This preference is usually referred to as "derived preference" because it is based on service of a Veteran who is not able to use the preference. Both a Mother and a Spouse (including Surviving Spouse) may be entitled to this preference based on the same Veteran's service if they both meet the requirements. However, neither may receive preference if the Veteran is living and is qualified for Federal employment. Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of the Spouse of a disabled Veteran who is disqualified for a Federal position along the general lines of their usual occupation because of a service-connected disability. Such a disqualification may be presumed when the Veteran is unemployed and

• Is rated by appropriate military or VA authorities to be 100% disabled and/or unemployable; or
• Has retired, been separated, or resigned from a civil service position because of a disability that is service-connected in origin; or
• Has attempted to obtain a civil service position or other position along the lines of their usual occupation and has failed to qualify because of a service-connected disability.

Preference may be allowed in other circumstances but anything less than the above warrants a more careful analysis. A campaign medal holder or Gulf War Veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982 and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. The 24-month service requirement does not apply to 10-point preference eligible Veterans separated for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or to Veterans separated for hardship or other reasons under 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173.

Learn more about Federal Employment Veteran's Hiring Preferences

Membership in Employees'/Teachers' Retirement Systemof Alabama (RSA) Benefits for Service Members:

State employees and teachers who enter the U.S. Armed Forces and return to state employment can keep their RSA benefits and may receive credit for up to 4 years of military service. Retirement System of Alabama

Who is eligible for Membership in Employees'/Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama Benefits for Service Members?

A member of the RSA that enters the U.S. Armed Forces and continues to make contributions, and then returns to state employment within one year after being honorably discharged is eligible to keep their RSA benefits. Additionally, the Veteran can purchase service credit for each full year of military service. Service credit may increase state retired pay or allow RSA members to receive retired pay sooner. The cost to purchase military service credit is 4% of the average salary paid to a state employee during each claimed year, plus 8% interest, compounded from the last date of service to the date of payment. (Ala. Code 36-27-4 (d) - (f) and 16-25-3(d) and (e))

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Alabama Peace Officers Credit for Military Service:

Any peace officer that is a member of the Alabama Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund, enters into the U.S. Armed Forces, and returns to work as a peace officer within 6 months after discharge can receive service credit for service in the military (not to exceed 5 years). Service credit may increase retired pay or allow Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund members to receive retired pay sooner (Ala. Code 36-21-69) Learn more about Alabama Peace Officers Credit for Military Service

Alabama Reduced Cost Business and Occupational Licenses for Disabled Veterans :

Eligible disabled Veterans are charged a reduced fee of $25 for state/county/municipal business or occupational license taxes.

Who is eligible for Alabama Reduced Cost Business and Occupational Licenses for Disabled Veterans?

To be eligible Veterans must:

• Be an Alabama resident that served during a wartime period
• Be rated 25% or more disabled by the VA (the disability does not need to be service-connected)
• Be self-employed and have no more than 1 employee.

Veterans whose property (both real estate and personal property) is valued at $5,000 or more or whose net annual income is $2,500 or more are not eligible. (Ala. Code 40-12 Sections 340-352)

Learn more Alabama Business and Occupational License Exemptions for Disabled Veterans

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act:

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects civilian job rights and benefits for Veterans and members of Reserve components. USERRA also protects Service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law, improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding Federal Government employees to those employees already eligible to Ft Rucker receive Department of Labor assistance in processing claims.

Absence from Work for Military Duty:

USERRA establishes the cumulative length of time that an individual may be absent from work for military duty and retain reemployment rights for five years. Exceptions to the five-year limit, include initial enlistments lasting more than five years, periodic National Guard and Reserve training duty, and involuntary active duty extensions and recalls, especially during a time of national emergency. USERRA establishes that reemployment protection does not depend on the timing, frequency, duration, or nature of an individual's service as long as the basic eligibility criteria are met.

Disability Accommodation:

USERRA provides protection for disabled Veterans, requiring employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate the disability. Service members recovering from injuries received during service or training may have up to two years from the date of completion of service to return to their jobs or apply for reemployment.

Return to Work without Loss of Seniority:

USERRA provides that returning Service members are reemployed in the job that they would have attained had they not been absent for military service, with the same seniority, status and pay, as well as other rights and benefits determined by seniority. USERRA also requires that reasonable efforts (such as training or retraining) be made to enable returning Service members to refresh or upgrade their skills to help them qualify for reemployment. USERRA also provides that while an individual is performing military service, they are deemed to be on a furlough or leave of absence and are entitled to the non-seniority rights accorded other individuals on non-military leaves of absence.

Extension of Health and Pension Plans:

Health and pension plan coverage for Service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium. For military service of less than 31 days, health care coverage is provided as if the Service member had remained employed. USERRA clarifies pension plan coverage by making explicit that all pension plans are protected.

Who is eligible for USERRA benefits?

Veterans, Reservists, or National Guard members who leave a position for training or active military service are eligible. The Department of Labor, through the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), provides assistance to all persons having claims under USERRA, including Federal and Postal Service employees.

VETS Regional Office Locations

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