New Jersey SAME Program

The SAME program was established to enable New Jersey state agencies to hire, promote, retain, and advance qualified individuals whose physical or mental impairments impact their abilities to participate in the competitive hiring and promotion process within the State workforce. This program uses a fast-tracking process to ensure that people who are eligible for the program are offered an opportunity to participate in interviews when applying for unclassified, non-competitive permanent and temporary positions.

To participate in the fast-tracking process under the SAME Program you need to follow three steps:

   Step 1. Determine Eligibility
   Step 2. Obtain Proof of Disability
   Step 3. Apply to applicable NJ State Jobs

Step 1. Determine Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for State employment under the SAME Program Fast Track Process you must meet ONE of the criteria listed below.

If you answer YES to any of the questions, you are eligible to participate in the SAME Program and should scroll down to STEP 2.

• Are you a former or current client of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development?
• Have you been deemed eligible by Social Security Administration to receive Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits?
• Have you been deemed eligible by Social Security Administration to participate in the federal Ticket to Work program?
• Have you been deemed qualified for an appointment under the federal Schedule A program under the US Office of Personnel Management?
• Have you been deemed qualified to receive services under a state agency that serves people with disabilities (Scroll to Step 2 for list of applicable state agencies)?
• Have you been deemed eligible for services for disabled veterans administered by the United States Department of Veterans Administration or the State?
• Have you been deemed eligible for services and supports by a NJ state child study team at a NJ high school?
• Have you been deemed eligible for services and supports by an office rendering disability services at a New Jersey public college or university?
• Do you have a significant disability that is or can be affirmed by a NJ licensed medical provider?

Step 2. Obtain Proof of Disability

If you meet ONE of the eligibility criteria listed in Step 1, next, you will need to get proof of eligibility.

You will need to contact a qualified representative as listed below to verify that you are eligible to participate in the SAME Program fast tracking process. The qualified representative can verify eligibility by signing an approved eligibility document and returning it to you so that you can include the documentation with subsequent job applications for up to three years. You only need ONE form of eligibility. The five types of eligibility that will be accepted and that you may select from include the following:

• Schedule A federal hiring letter
  • What is this letter? This letter serves as certification that an individual can be considered for employment under the Schedule A federal hiring authority 5 CFR 213.3102 (u) for people with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities or psychiatric disabilities. Click the Forms Link on this page to access the Template for the Schedule A Letter.
  • Who Can Sign Off on this type of Proof of Eligibility? Federal and state vocational rehabilitation counselors, medical providers and Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program specialists.
• Schedule B NJ Letter for NJ Designated State Agencies
  • What is this letter? This letter serves as certification that an individual can be considered for employment under the NJ State as a Model Employer Program as indicated in P.L.2021, c.466 (A-5296) and P.L.2021, c.465 (A-5294). Click the Forms Link on this page to access the Template for the Schedule B Letter for State Agencies
  • Who Can Sign Off on this type of Proof of Eligibility? A designated representative from a:
    • child study team affiliated with a NJ high school; or
    • office of Disability Services at a public college or university
    • designated state agency. These include New Jersey:
      • Division for Vocational and Rehabilitation Services (DVRS); or
      • Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD); or
      • the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI); or
      • the Division of Disability Services (DDS); or
      • the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH); or
      • the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS); or
      • the Division of Disability Services (DDS)
• Schedule B NJ Letter for NJ Licensed Medical Providers
  • What is this letter? This letter serves as certification that an individual can be considered for employment under the NJ State as a Model Employer Program as indicated in P.L.2021, c.466 (A-5296) and P.L.2021, c.465 (A-5294). Click the Forms Link on this page to access the Template for the Schedule B Letter for Medical Providers
  • Who Can Sign Off on this type of Proof of Eligibility? NJ Licensed medical providers
• Social Security Administration (SSA) Approved Eligibility Letter
  • What is this letter? This letter is provided directly from SSA to an applicant for SSA benefits. It certifies that an individual meets the eligibility requirements to receive Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income.
  • Who Can Sign Off on this type of Proof of Eligibility? The Social Security Administration provides this letter as part of the process for applying for benefits.
• United States Department of Veteran Affairs Service Connected Approved Eligibility Letter
  • What is this letter? This letter is provided directly from United States Department of Veteran Affairs to a veteran to indicate eligibility of benefits related to a service connected disability or disease.
  • Who Can Sign Off on this type of Proof of Eligibility? The United States Department of Veteran Affairs provides this letter as part of the process for applying for benefits.

Step 3. Apply to applicable NJ State Jobs

The SAME Program fast tracking process can be used to apply to non-competitive and unclassified job postings. Visit the Civil Service Commission (CSC) website to find eligible job openings and application instructions.

You will still need to apply for the job using the direction provided on the job announcement. Applying for eligible state jobs using the SAME Program fast track process, requires one additional step for the applicant. When you submit a resume, include the signed copy of your approved SAME Program eligibility documentation.

Applicants under the SAME program who require Text Only Job Vacancy Postings, please click here. Kindly send your resume and all required supporting documents directly to the email address on each job vacancy posting. Please do not email the Civil Service Commission your resume and supporting documents.

Feel free to email CSC-Same@csc.nj.gov for any assistance or information, or call us at 609-292-4144, option 3.

Once these documents have been submitted, the agency that you are applying to will review. The reviewer will assess to ensure that the proof of eligibility documentation is signed by an appropriate representative as indicated in Step 2. AND that it is dated within 3 years prior to the date of application. If it is determined that you have provided necessary proof of eligibility to use the SAME Program fast tracking process, the agency that you are applying for will reach out to you directly to schedule an interview.