The va disability and military retirement pay calculator is a tool for military veterans to calculate their VA disability benefits and any retirement pay they may be eligible for.
The amount of your monthly pension will depend on a combination of your military disability rating and your number of dependents. It also depends on whether you qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) or Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC).
How it works
A VA disability and military retirement pay calculator is one of the most helpful tools in determining what your retirement and disability compensation will look like. It can help you understand what your monthly payments will be, and when the amount has changed.
It also helps you determine whether or not you qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP). This is a program that allows eligible military retirees to receive both their military retired pay and their VA disability compensation.
CRDP is a benefit that can be very important to military retirees, because it provides them with a substantial income that they may not have had when they first retired. It can also give them a safety net when they are injured or have a serious health problem that will require additional support for them and their families.
Unlike active-duty members, military retirees do not receive their retirement pay right away upon their separation from service. Rather, they receive it on the 1st of each month after leaving the service.
Eligibility
If you’re a military veteran with a permanent disability, you may qualify for VA disability and military retirement pay. Your eligibility depends on four factors: presumptive service connection, a medically documented service-connected disability, adequate proof of your service and financial need.
The basic requirements for disability and military retirement pay are that you must have served at least eight years in the military and that your disability is a result of a military injury or illness. In addition, you must be unable to work or do any substantial gainful activity because of a condition that is connected to your military service.
The Defense Department has a Concurrent Receipt of Disability and Retirement Payments (CRDP) program that allows retirees with 20 or more years of service and disabilities rated 50 percent to 100 percent that are not combat-related to get full retired pay and VA disability compensation retroactive to Dec. 31, 2004.
Rates
Unlike Social Security and private pensions, military retirement pay and VA disability compensation are not taxed. As a result, these two forms of payment typically provide more income than the average income of comparable veterans without a service-connected disability.
Depending on their specific retirement plans, military retirees may receive retired pay at the rate of 2.5 percent of their base pay for each year they served up to 30 years or a higher percentage based on their disability rating. This formula applies to the High-36 and BRS retirement plans, as well as REDUX.
Those with an assigned VA disability rating of 50% or more can choose to receive both their full military retirement pay and a fully-reduced VA disability pension through Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP). This option is currently being lobbied by several military organizations and lobbying groups, but it has yet to be approved. Until then, veteran who choose to receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation must offset or waive part of their service retired pay. This subtraction is called the “VA Waiver.”
Filing a claim
If you’re a veteran who has an injury or illness that is related to your service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. This is a tax-free monthly benefit that can help you pay for health care and other costs.
If your condition has been diagnosed, it’s a good idea to file a claim as soon as possible. This will make it easier for the VA to review and decide on your claim.
The VA will need to see your medical records and any other evidence you include with your application. They will also need to review the VA’s rules regarding your claim, and they may need to contact you for additional information.
If you have a disability, it’s usually best to start your claim while you are still in the military. This will make it easier to get a 0% disability rating and it’s less likely that you’ll have to file a supplemental claim later if your condition worsens (which could lead to a higher disability rating).
