Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) - Increase your take home pay VA Comp and Retirement

Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) allows military retirees to receive both military retired pay and Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation. This was prohibited until the CRDP program began on January 1, 2004. CRDP is a "phase in" of benefits that gradually restores a retiree's VA disability offset.

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Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payment (CRDP):
This program provides a 10-year phase-out of the offset to military retired pay due to receipt of VA disability compensation. Qualified individuals are those who are retired active or age 60 retired reserve members who also have a combined VA disability rating of 50% or greater. Members retired under military disability provisions (Chapter 61 to title 10 United States Code) must have at least 20 years of service. Today, more than 310,000 retirees are receiving CRDP payments of over $427 million per month.

Effective January 1, 2004: Initial entitlement under the program began on January 1, 2004. Payments were made to nearly 150,000 qualified retirees on February 2, 2004.

Effective January 1, 2005: The 10-year phase-out was eliminated for those individuals actually rated 100% disabled by the VA and they became eligible to receive all of their formerly offset military retired pay.

Effective October 1, 2008: The 10-year phase-out was eliminated for those individuals not rated 100% disabled by VA, but who are paid at the 100% level as "Individual Unemployables" (IUs), and they become eligible to receive all of their formerly offset military retired pay retroactive to January 1, 2005.

Initial Rates: CRDP is part of retired pay and cannot exceed the amount that would be otherwise offset. During CY 2004, CRDP was paid to qualified retirees up to the following maximum amount based on the current monthly VA disability rating:

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[FernandoBowen-]

I'm 54 and my wife and I are VERY worried about our future, gas and food prices rising daily. We have had our savings dwindle with the cost of living into the stratosphere, and we are finding it impossible to replace them. We can get by, but can't seem to get ahead. My condolences to anyone retiring in this crisis, 30 years nonstop just for a crooked system to take all you worked for.

[rickfloyd]

This is great information! Thanks for taking the time to share. This week I was notified that I was awarded 80% disability. I was previously receiving 30% after having served 24 years active duty Air Force. I received this rate for a few years until I realized I needed to increase my rating. There's a lot of confusing information floating around out there. This confusion is something that most people get caught up in, and they end up losing out on what they should be getting due to inaction caused by this confusion.

[jmoseby]

Super info. I finally learned the basics of retirement. I received two checks one military retirement and one healthy VA check. Of course after 23 active duty i believed i earned it.

[Nobamaable]

You are correct about being more disabled for a long time in service. I retired in October after 30+ years and was recently rated @ 100% P&T, but my body feels very broken when I wake up in the morning until it warms up a bit. I'm kind of like an old, beat up, carbureted muscle car that requires a lot of idling to warm up each day. Thx for the great work you do each day for veterans.

[michaelodom]

CRDP is different if retired from the Coast Guard. You can file for it if you are disabled as a result of Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, A rescue Swimmer, or a Diver and your disability is related. Although the word Combat is in the title its not just for combat disabilities anymore. They changed it in 2016 and 2021.

[johnpatti]

Think about it, if you are lower than 50 percent rated. You are penalized and can only receive no more than your military retirement and the disability it’s reduced from your military retirement and a smaller amount is taxed. If you are 50 percent and above you get both payments. What moron thought of this? And it actually was approved. All disabled vets, no matter what their disability percentage is should be receiving both payments.

[daveartmusic]

I’ve been told for several years I wouldn’t receive my military pension if my VA rating went to 100%. I think the confusion is the phase out process that was being done when the rules changed. I’m a veteran with 37 total years, 28 of them were active. I received a 50% rating from the VA and felt I should pursue a higher rating. I worked with another organization and received an increase then stopped pursuing the PACT Act claim for fear of losing my pension IF it went to 100%. I have talked to the organization that helped me with an increase, but no one seems to know for sure if my pension would be reduced or totally replaced if my rating were to reach 100%. Your video is clearing up a lot of confusion I and many others I know that were told erroneous information. If there an organization you would trust over another to help me with further claims? Thank you for all you do! David

[richardstewart]

Another group of Veterans are not being compensated and paid their VSI Voluntary Separation Incentive Program Pay along with their VA Disability Pay even though they are rated at higher than 50% by the VA. I separated from the USAF with over 16 years of service and was supposed to receive 32 years of payments starting back in 1991 under the VSI program. Since I have become VA disabled at rate higher than my VSI payments, I no longer receive my VSI payments which were promised to me by the USAF and is stated on my DD Form 214? I know that the 20-year retirees have now been compensated by receiving both VA Disability and their Retirement Pay. They forgot to include veterans like me who no longer get our promised VSI Separation Payments (which are payments for our years of service the same as a Military Retiree being paid for their years of service. It is an entitlement that we no longer receive due to receiving VA Disability Pay amounting to more than our annual VSI payments, both are for our service and should be paid the same as Retired Pay to be fair! What is being done to resolve this? Thanks for your work to help veterans, and God Bless!

[benjaminpazrosas]

I'm at 19, getting close to retirement. Thanks for the helpful info. We deserve as muchbas we can get, not everyone makes it to retirement in the military.

[remembertheblacksabbath]

When are us Chapter 61 disabled retirees with less than 20 years going to be eligible for CRDP???

[rcbenavides]

i have 21 years in the guard. Im going to be over 50% here soon, I already qualify to get my retirement at 57 years old from the Army since i served three years in combat zone. Im 51 years old now.
Can i get CRPD? I already plan on get help from vet help services.

[mikebensch]

Retired Navy Officer with high VA disability rating. Is CRDP safe with legislative folks in DC? Thank you!

[tamid]

I wish I could have retired! But, I had to take care of myself and kids.

[RddyRd]

So I was retired (medically) from the military at 11 years….received a 90% service connected VA rating. My first check is schedule for October 1st. Am I entitled to receive both a retirement check and disability check? I’m just curious because trying to understand all this has been overwhelming the way they word stuff and just trying to understand it and If I’m not entitled to an retirement check from DFAS as well it’s no biggie I’m just thankful by the grace of God that I am at least receiving something for what my body and mind endured. I just wanna make sure I’m covering all basis.

[RichardAllenCramer]

I just received rating of 40% back in May, LOD service connected. Just had my 7652 form signed by the BC and waiting for med board. So I I am medically retired, I could file the CRDP and get a separate check? A medically retired and VA rating?

[dathoang]

so, i need to get over 50% to get both paycheck?

[bobcat.carley]

I recently medically retired from Army National Guard after 15yrs, been on 100% VA disability since 2016. According to DOD my medical retirement is 70%, the highest is 75%. Will i be getting a retirement check on top of my VA disability. I know military says "Hurry up and wait", but, this is ridiculous. Been let go from service on 27th of July, retirement started 28th of July, still haven't received a check yet. What do i need to do?

[Rican_Road_King]

I’m over 21 years, was forced through a MEB due to combat related and retired. Was rated 70% DoD and 100% VA yet DFAS has my retired pay with a VA Offset. How can I get this fixed?

[danbowen]

I am an army/coast guard vet that just completed my med board which rates me at 70%. I’m easily expected 100% with the Va… it is combat related. At the time of me getting out, I will have 19.5 years in service. What do you recommend

[vangoughpicasso]

Those hands movements had me thinking you were a Jedi 😂