To request a fee waiver for an open-competitive or promotion exam, you should select “Veteran Exam Fee Waiver” on the payment page in the OASys application system when you are applying for an exam. DCAS requires the following forms of documentation to approve the fee waiver:

• Copy of your DD-214; or
• Statement of Service letter on official Department of Veteran’s Affairs letterhead; or
• Deployment order on US Armed Forces letterhead along with your OASys application receipt

You can submit the required documentation for the veteran fee waiver either by email to OASys@dcas.nyc.gov or mailed to DCAS at One Centre Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10007 Attn: Application Processing Unit

Yes, your spouse/domestic partner qualifies for a one-time exam fee waiver through the veteran fee waiver program. DCAS requires one of the forms of documentation in Question #1, AND proof of marriage or domestic partnership to the veteran identified in the documentation provided. These documents should be submitted via email or mail to the address in Question #1.

To qualify for the Veteran or Disabled Veteran Credit you must meet the following requirements by the date of appointment or promotion:

• Be a resident of New York State; and
• Be a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residency; and
• Received an honorable discharge or release under honorable conditions from the Armed Forces of the United States. The “Armed Forces of the United States” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, including all components thereof, and the National Guard when in the service of the United States pursuant to call as provided by Law; and
• Have served on full‐time active duty, other than active duty for training.

Veteran Credits should be requested at the time of application but must be requested before the date the eligible list is established. If you request Veteran Credits after an application for an exam has been submitted, you must contact DCAS via e-mail at LMACustomerService@dcas.nyc.gov

In order to qualify for the Disabled Veteran Credit, in addition to the requirements above, you must have been found to have a service-connected disability which has been rated at least 10 percent by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“V.A.”). If the V.A. has not certified the disability as permanent, it must have been rated at least 10 percent by a V.A. physician. If you have incurred a disability after the list is established, you may request the Disabled Veteran Credit by contacting DCAS via e-mail at LMACustomerService@dcas.nyc.gov

All claims for Veteran Credits will be investigated by FDNY Candidate Investigation Division (“CID”) and you will be required to produce documentation, such as your DD-214, to prove that you are eligible for the credit.

If you have need to claim Veteran or Disabled Veteran Credits after the list has been established, you must contact DCAS at LMACustomerService@dcas.nyc.gov using the subject line Request for Veteran Credit or Request for Disabled Veteran Credit.

You may use Veteran or Disabled Veteran Credits only once for appointment or promotion from a City, State, or County civil service in the State of New York.

In general, when applying for an exam, if both Veterans Preference and Disabled Veterans Preference credits are claimed, both sets of points will be applied to that exam and cannot be used again. Once DCAS investigates the use of disabled veteran’s credits, those points will be applied for that exam.

However, if only Veterans Preference is claimed (and used) for an exam, then Disabled Veterans Preference credits can be claimed and used for a later exam. This applies if you become disabled after already receiving veteran’s preference credits for a permanent appointment.

Generally, in order to qualify for the Firefighter title, you must be at least 17½ years of age by the end of the application period and, you must not have reached your 29th birthday by the beginning of the application period. However, if you engaged in qualifying military duty, you may be eligible to deduct the length of service from your actual age. The maximum deduction is six years.

For CPAT: If you received a notice to attend CPAT but cannot attend due to military service, you may be eligible to attend the next scheduled CPAT. Upon discharge, you must contact DCAS to request a make-up test. After you have made a request for a make-up examination, DCAS will notify you whether your request is granted or denied. If DCAS grants your request, you will receive an Admission Notice from DCAS containing the address, date, and time of the test.

If you need to schedule a make-up test, you must contact DCAS by e-mail at testingaccommdations@dcas.nyc.gov, using the subject line Request for Special Make-up Test.

For the Background Investigation / Medical: If you received a notice to attend an intake or medical appointment with the FDNY but cannot attend due to military service, you must contact CID via e-mail at cid@fdny.nyc.gov and request a reschedule. Please include your full name, exam/ list number and the last four digits of your social security number in your e-mail.

You may be added to a special military list if you performed military service, were honorably discharged, and you achieved a passing score, and if based on your score you would have been considered for appointment after you entered military service. The special military list will remain in existence for a period of no more than two years from the date you were added to the special military list. If appointments to the title are made, you will be considered before candidates on the original list or other subsequent promotion, open competitive, or preferred lists.

If your name would not have been reached for consideration during the time that you were on military service and prior to when you were officially notified of your score, you will be added to the regular eligible list if the list is still in existence.

If you missed an opportunity to apply for an examination or applied for an examination and missed all or part of it due to military service, and the military service could not have been rescheduled, you must request a make-up test by contacting DCAS. The request must meet the time deadlines below:

• Candidates eligible for Promotion - within 60 days of after the termination of military service and being restored to your City position.
• Candidates on an Open Competitive Exam - within 90 days after the termination of military service.

If you are appointed or promoted from a special military list, you will be entitled to retroactive seniority. Subject to DCAS’ review and approval, a retroactive seniority date may be used for the purpose of computing seniority credit and training and experience credit for promotion, date of membership in the retirement system, and seniority in the event of suspension or demotion. This seniority may be credited as actual City service in meeting the eligibility requirements for promotional examinations.

GI Bill1 benefits help you pay for college, graduate school, and training programs by covering all or some of the costs for school or training. Once you have been appointed, you can inquire about enrollment at the Fire or EMS Academy.

You can contact the NYC Fire Pension Fund by calling the general number at (929) 436-0099 or contacting the Pension coordinator indicated in the contact list.

You can contact Nancy Beetstra, Senior Community Liaison, at 904-625-5992 or nbeetstra@woundedwarriorproject.org