An In-Depth of the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP)

An In-Depth of the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP)

The retired pay for retirees with 50%-90% VA-rated disability is restored by the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments on a graduated schedule for ten-year. The concurrent retirement payments usually increase by ten percent annually through 2013. Veterans with a 100% disabled rating by VA can claim full CRDP without necessarily having to be phased in.

The following criteria must be met by a veteran in order to qualify:

  • The veteran must be retired
  • The veteran must have received the retired pay (offset by VA benefits)
  • The veteran must have 20 creditable years or more, reservist age 60, or 20 years of active duty.

The military retirees are allowed by the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay to receive both Veterans Affairs compensation and military retired pay. The retiree’s offset for VA benefits is gradually restored by CRDP since it is a benefits “phase in.” Therefore, this implies that the retired pay of an eligible retiree will gradually increase per annum until the completion of the phase in 2014.

CRDP does not have to be necessarily applied for since the qualified retirees are enrolled automatically. However, to qualify for CRDP, a retiree must have the eligibility for retired pay. The veterans that could be eligible for the pay for military retired even without the disability but have been placed on retirement for disabilities may still be entitled to receive CRDP.

The entitlement CRDP may be awarded under these rules:

  • You are a veteran(s) who has a 50 percent VA disability rating or greater and are a regular/usual retiree
  • You are a veteran(s) who has attained the retirement age, a 50 percent VA disability rating or greater and are reserved retirees having served for 20 qualifying years. (In some cases, reserved retirees are eligible even before turning 60, which is the age of retirement for reservists. The Ready Reserve member may have a reduction in their retirement age by 3 months for every 90 days of the veteran’s active service in a fiscal year.)
  • You are a veteran(s) who has a 50 percent VA disability rating or greater and have retired under the act for temporary early retirement (TERA).
  • You have earned a retired pay entitlement under a provision of law as opposed to solely by disability and you’re a disability retiree with a 50 percent VA disability or greater. At the time you gain the retired pay eligibility you also attain the CRDP eligibility.

You may be retroactive payment eligible, which is an addition to your monthly CRDP payments. The retroactive payment date can date back to January 1, 2004, but might be limited depending on:

  • The retirement date
  • The first time you move to a disability rating of at least 50%
  • Before January 2004, CRDP is not payable

If a military retiree meets all the aforementioned eligibility requirements as well as the ones mentioned below, then he or she is qualified for retired pay and VA disability compensation full concurrent receipt:

  • If rated as unemployable by the VA
  • If Individual Unemployability causes you to receive VA disability compensation
  • By January 1, 2005, you were retroactive
16 Comments
  • Gordon V Brown
    Posted at 05:49h, 08 February Reply

    Hello- I am Medically retired from the Army Reserves with a total of 38 Years combined both active and reserve service. I am 58 years old and contemplating submitting my documents for Gray Area retirement in order to retire before age 60. I am 100% P&T from the VA and have an offset in my Medical Retirement pay due to the fact that it is greater the VA compensation.
    My question is, if I retire in the Gray Area or retired at age 60, will I receive the full military retirement pay that was prior to the VA offset without waving any portion and the VA compensation?

    Thanks

  • Chris Stafford
    Posted at 07:42h, 03 October Reply

    I’m a retired disabled veteran rated at the VA 100% P&T level, issued in March 2019 and dated back to July 2018. I have over a dozen injuries and health issues that are rated at the Permanent and Total level as service connected, with the individual injury percentages taking me to the 100% scheduler level. I am currently 48 years old and retired as an air force reservist with 24+ years of service total with about 11+ years of that being active duty time. I’ve had my 20 year retirement letter for awhile now but as far as I know I am in what they call the “Gray Area Retirement” and not normally eligible for retirement pay until age 60, though I do have some ready reserve active duty time (90 days periods) that should cut my age 60 requirement back to about 56 and a half roughly before I should become eligible for my military retirement.

    So, having said all of that, lately I am hearing and reading that if I am at the VA 100% P&T level that I can also collect CRDP (Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments) currently at the age of 48 without the need to wait until that normal “Gray Area Retirement” mark. Is this information true and what do I have to do to try to apply for this? or am I stuck waiting for the age cutoff previously mentioned regardless of the VA 100% P&T status?

    Thanks in advance for any guidance you can assist with!

  • Angel O Avilés
    Posted at 19:10h, 08 November Reply

    Greetings,
    I was recently medically retires with 70% from the Air Force and I hace a 100% permanent disability from VA. I server 24 years with the Air National Guard from which 17 of those we’re as an active Guard title 32. Do I qualify for CRDP?

  • James Parke
    Posted at 01:30h, 09 January Reply

    I was medically retired with 17 years. Have active duty retiree card. I am 100% VA rated since 2016. I also collect CRSC. Do I qualify for this? Whom can I ask to find out?

  • James
    Posted at 20:12h, 18 December Reply

    Awesome Terry! Congrats and thanks for your service!

  • Donna
    Posted at 08:42h, 10 November Reply

    Tony you have to have a retirement of 20yrs or more to receive two checks.

  • Terry
    Posted at 23:28h, 02 October Reply

    I have 32 good years in the Air National Guard and retired honorably and receive my military pension every month, also was recently rated at 100% by VA. But the VA states in my rating letter that I am not eligible for a CRDP. I do not understand how the VA works as it seems to be they did not even check if I was 100% disabled.

    Terry Hassell

    • Terry
      Posted at 10:32h, 06 October Reply

      If only I had read the letter a little closer then I would’ve understood it would be DFAS that automatically audits the VA on whether or not I am eligible for CRDP. As I was just awarded 100% a week ago I need to have a little more patience

      • John
        Posted at 21:16h, 07 March Reply

        Hello, I retired in 2014 but I only get my VA disability and no one has ever been able to explain why i cant get retirement and my retired pay! Does anyone know who I can talk to get this changed? I would appreciate any help.

  • Matt
    Posted at 21:52h, 26 September Reply

    Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) are only available for those who have completed the number of years required for a regular retirement. In some cases, those released on an “early out” option, e.g. TERA may be eligible for CRDP.

    Medical discharge that happens before you reach regular retirement qualification will not qualify you for CRDP. If your medical discharge amount is higher than the amount your receive from the VA, you will receive the remainder of that amount as a second smaller check in addition to your full monthly VA check. If your medical discharge amount is lower than the monthly VA check, the VA amount will completely offset the medical discharge amount and you will only receive one check per month which will come from the VA. Note – Even though you may not receive a monthly medical discharge check, you should apply for the Survivor Benefit Plan and pay the premiums so your beneficiaries will receive a monthly benefit if you are deceased.

  • AJ
    Posted at 19:51h, 03 September Reply

    I am finalizing my medical retirement as a SFC with 18.5 years in. I got VA rating of 100% and Army rating of 90%. I know how much I am getting through the VA but do I qualify for CDRP and if so how much?

  • Michael
    Posted at 19:42h, 27 August Reply

    When CRDP was implemented I was in the understanding that people with 100% disability with less than 20 years would be phased in. I have 17 years, 1 month and 22 days of military service. I am 100% permanent and total disability. I feel that I deserve to be phased in for CRDP. Am I correct?

  • Tony
    Posted at 00:09h, 13 July Reply

    I received a medical retirement rated at 60% with two years of service. I am also rated at 100% permanent and total through the VA. I don’t get both checks, only the one from the VA. Should I be able to get both?

  • Steven Hansley
    Posted at 00:16h, 10 November Reply

    My name is Sfc Steven Hansley,i have 20yrs of service.i suffered 2 strokes I am rated 100% i have been wondering how can i apply for cdrp

    • B L Smith
      Posted at 00:22h, 17 December Reply

      I found SFC Steven Hansley’s posting and I also had a brain stroke while on active army. So as he, I am 100% + rated by the VA and my eligibility letter states, I may be entitled to CRDP but have never received it. I also retired from the Army National Guard and received by retirement letter and then whent back to the active army, but they pushed me to medical retired. I have 30 years of good service, but never received a retirement?

  • Kevin
    Posted at 12:52h, 23 September Reply

    My disability rate was reduced to 40%, I was receiving CDRP for 11 years rated at 50%. Will I lose that now?

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