National Guard Retirement Pay Date

B

BamaBoyGus

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Good Afternoon,

I was recently medically retired from the Army National Guard and placed on the PDRL. I did not reach 20 years of service (11) and I have a ways to go before I hit age 60. In a normal reserve/Guard retirement, I'm under the understanding that you have to wait until you are 60 years old before you can start receiving the DOD retirement pay. With a medical retirement does the payment also begin at age 60 or is it reduced to a younger age?

I did read the following on the HRC gray area retirement site but I don't see any specifics on what the reduced age retirement is:

Reduced Age Retirement

To be eligible for Reduced Age Retirement also known as "Early Age Drop", you must first be able to meet the qualifications of outlined in National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, NDAA FY 2014, and mobilized after 29 January 2008.

Additional Information on Reduced Age Retirement.

Required documents for submitting Reduced Age Retirement request: Permanent Disability Retired List / Temporary Disability Retired List or Retired Reserve Orders; DD Form 214 (if applicable DD Form 215); Mobilization Orders; 20 year NOE; Point Statement; Leaves & Earning Statement

Thanks for any help!
 
Hello @BamaBoyGus

DoD disability retired pay begins immediately; one does not have to wait for age 60.

However, the retired pay is reduced dollar for dollar in the amount of VA compensation received.

CRSC can replace some or all of the reduced / waived retirement pay.

See A Supplement to CRSC Information <——link

Ron
 
RonG said:
Hello @BamaBoyGus

DoD disability retired pay begins immediately; one does not have to wait for age 60.

However, the retired pay is reduced dollar for dollar in the amount of VA compensation received.

CRSC can replace some or all of the reduced / waived retirement pay.

See A Supplement to CRSC Information <——link

Ron
Click to expand...
Thanks. I thought the DoD pay started immediately. I called DFAS to find out when my pay would begin. They told me to call HRC to get my high 36 to speed up the process. HRC told me to call the Disability Rating Agency. When I called, the person I spoke to told me I am a Grey area retiree and payment would not begin until I hit 60.

The DoD is important as I was 50% DoD, 0% VA for my referred conditions.
 
BamaBoyGus said:
Thanks. I thought the DoD pay started immediately. I called DFAS to find out when my pay would begin. They told me to call HRC to get my high 36 to speed up the process. HRC told me to call the Disability Rating Agency. When I called, the person I spoke to told me I am a Grey area retiree and payment would not begin until I hit 60.

The DoD is important as I was 50% DoD, 0% VA for my referred conditions.
Click to expand...
Hello @BamaBoyGus

I am not sure I understand. You received a 50% DoD rating and a zero VA rating?

The reduction of retired pay by the amount of VA compensation is not limited to the VA rating that pertains to the referred conditions.

The "referred conditions" rating by the VA would make a difference only when considering recoupment of severance pay (which is not retired pay).

Bottom line: Irrespective of what conditions were approved for VA compensation, the total amount of VA compensation will be used to reduce your retired pay.
If you declined to accept VA compensation (which is not a good idea in my opinion), you would receive your retired pay without reduction.

Ron
 
RonG said:
Hello @BamaBoyGus

I am not sure I understand. You received a 50% DoD rating and a zero VA rating?

The reduction of retired pay by the amount of VA compensation is not limited to the VA rating that pertains to the referred conditions.

The "referred conditions" rating by the VA would make a difference only when considering recoupment of severance pay (which is not retired pay).

Bottom line: Irrespective of what conditions were approved for VA compensation, the total amount of VA compensation will be used to reduce your retired pay.
If you declined to accept VA compensation (which is not a good idea in my opinion), you would receive your retired pay without reduction.

Ron
Click to expand...

Ron,

I was medically retired for a back condition which has resulted in 5 surgeries over the years. I had filed for VA disability for my back in 2019. The VA denied my condition as existing prior to service and not permanently aggravated by service.

In 2020, my MEB began with my back and radiculopathy as my referred conditions. When the MEB began (IDES), the VA was only able to rate me for DoD purposes because they had previously denied the condition as not service connected and I did not have any new evidence to provide. I was found unfit and the DoD determined the condition was permanently aggravated by service. The VA rated my conditions for the DoD at 40%, 10%, 10%, for a DoD rating of 50%. My VA rating for this condition remains not service connected with no percentage showing.

While my MEB was ongoing, I was bit by a brown recluse during drill, had c diff, and now have a bunch of intestinal issues. The VA gave me a 30% rating for this condition. I have been receiving VA pay for this condition for a couple months.

As of now, I have not received my first retirement check (retirement date was 24JUN21). Looking at your last response, it looks like I will only receive the residual DoD pay after the VA pay offset even though the VA is not paying me for the condition I was retired? I do have an appeal ongoing with the VA for my back with all my MEB documents, retirement orders, etc. I'm hoping they can look at those documents, see what all the physicians wrote during the process, and change their determination for service connection.
 
Hello @BamaBoyGus

Re: "As of now, I have not received my first retirement check (retirement date was 24JUN21). Looking at your last response, it looks like I will only receive the residual DoD pay after the VA pay offset even though the VA is not paying me for the condition I was retired? I do have an appeal ongoing with the VA for my back with all my MEB documents, retirement orders, etc. I'm hoping they can look at those documents, see what all the physicians wrote during the process, and change their determination for service connection."

You are correct that your retired pay will be reduced by the amount of the VA compensation that you received and if any retired pay is remaining (residual), you get to keep it.
This will occur even though the VA did not include the referred/unfit conditions in the VA rating.

Perhaps this might explain the process better. I did not receive a medical retirement; it is a regular retirement (i.e., 20 years+ AD). I did not go to a MEB/PEB.
My retired pay is reduced by the amount of VA compensation received and fortunately for me, CRSC replaces the waived/offset retired pay.

Good luck,
Ron

Edited to add:
Retired pay is generated after it accrues. The payment I receive for 1-31 July 2021 CRSC (the replacement for my waived retired pay) will be available at the end of this month since
1 August 2021 is on a weekend.
 
RonG said:
Hello @BamaBoyGus

Re: "As of now, I have not received my first retirement check (retirement date was 24JUN21). Looking at your last response, it looks like I will only receive the residual DoD pay after the VA pay offset even though the VA is not paying me for the condition I was retired? I do have an appeal ongoing with the VA for my back with all my MEB documents, retirement orders, etc. I'm hoping they can look at those documents, see what all the physicians wrote during the process, and change their determination for service connection."

You are correct that your retired pay will be reduced by the amount of the VA compensation that you received and if any retired pay is remaining (residual), you get to keep it.
This will occur even though the VA did not include the referred/unfit conditions in the VA rating.

Perhaps this might explain the process better. I did not receive a medical retirement; it is a regular retirement (i.e., 20 years+ AD). I did not go to a MEB/PEB.
My retired pay is reduced by the amount of VA compensation received and fortunately for me, CRSC replaces the waived/offset retired pay.

Good luck,
Ron

Edited to add:
Retired pay is generated after it accrues. The payment I receive for 1-31 July 2021 CRSC (the replacement for my waived retired pay) will be available at the end of this month since
1 August 2021 is on a weekend.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your assistance!
 
@RonG

Ron, could you answer one last question?

After doing some research, I was under the impression that my DoD pay would be 50% (DoD rating) x my highest 36 months of basic pay. For a while I was trying to calculate what that figure would be by taking the highest 36 basic pay from my drill pay, annual trainings, time on AD, etc., over the nearly 11 years I was in. I just received my first retirement check which included some back pay to the date of my retirement. I then received my second check and the amount is well over what I had calculated.

My orders show: Basic Pay: 10 Years, 11 Months, 05 Days; Disability Retirement: 02 Years, 08 Months, 01 Days

I found the following online:

What is My Retired Pay Base?​

High-3: If you entered active or reserve military service after September 7, 1980, your retired pay base is the average of the highest 36 months of basic pay. If you served less than three years, your base will be the average monthly active duty basic pay during your period of service.

Because I was under 3 years disability retirement on my orders, am I getting paid the 50% of the average monthly AD pay? That figure appears really close to what I am receiving.

I'm trying to avoid being paid incorrectly and then having to pay for it in the future.
 
Reference:
"High-3: If you entered active or reserve military service after September 7, 1980, your retired pay base is the average of the highest 36 months of basic pay. If you served less than three years, your base will be the average monthly active duty basic pay during your period of service.
Because I was under 3 years disability retirement on my orders, am I getting paid the 50% of the average monthly AD pay? That figure appears really close to what I am receiving.
I'm trying to avoid being paid incorrectly and then having to pay for it in the future."

If your take your gross retired pay on the RAS (pay statement) that does not include any retroactive payment and divide it by the DoD disability percentage (I believe you said 50%), the result would be the high three (or other rate) that is used for the base.

Example: Gross retired pay (no back pay) of 2500 on RAS and DoD of 50% :
2500/0.50 = 5000 base
another
Gross retired pay (no back pay) of 1500 on RAS and DoD of 70% :
1500/0.70 = 2142.86 base

Ron
 
Addendum:

b. The retired pay base for a member with less than 36 months of active service is the member’s basic pay for the entire period of the member’s active service added together divided by the number of months (including any fractions thereof) of the member’s active service. In the case of a Reserve component member, this is the total amount of basic pay to which the member was entitled or to which the member would have been entitled if the member had served on active duty during the entire period before being retired. Divide the total pay by the total time expressed as months and days, count days that are less than 30 as 1/30th of a month. Round the result to the nearest cent.

DoD 7000.14-R Financial Management Regulation Volume 7B, Chapter 3
0302

Ron
 
This is the weirdest Guard medical retirement I think I have seen on these forums. The DOD is typically stingy one and the VA covers so much more than referred conditions. I would use the DOD rating and rationale as your "new evidence" to submit to the VA. If the DOD says it's service connected, it is service connected. That alone should be enough evidence for the VA to change their rating. You also might consider finding your local VA rep to help with the appeal. This is garbage.

On a side note, if you went through the IDES / MEB for a DOD related condition connected to title 10 service, you should be receiving retired pay immediately IF you didn't waive it in lieu of VA pay. If you had a U.S.C Title 10, Chapter 61 medical retirement, it is no different than an active duty retirement as far as benefits. The only factor is your DOD percentage to determine pay.

I hope you find some resolution to this because you are getting hosed. Fortunately for you, back pay for benefits withheld due to DOD error is an option if you file an ABCMR. It will take years... but it is an option.

Godspeed!
 
RonG said:
Addendum:

b. The retired pay base for a member with less than 36 months of active service is the member’s basic pay for the entire period of the member’s active service added together divided by the number of months (including any fractions thereof) of the member’s active service. In the case of a Reserve component member, this is the total amount of basic pay to which the member was entitled or to which the member would have been entitled if the member had served on active duty during the entire period before being retired. Divide the total pay by the total time expressed as months and days, count days that are less than 30 as 1/30th of a month. Round the result to the nearest cent.

DoD 7000.14-R Financial Management Regulation Volume 7B, Chapter 3
0302

Ron
Click to expand...
Thanks. If I'm reading this correctly then it makes more sense to me now. Because I have fewer than 36 months of AD time, the retired basic pay is defaulting to the AD basic pay table and I am receiving 50% of that figure. I did not realize the High 36 was based off AD pay only, and not a combination of IDT/AT/AD. Had it been based on the highest 36 months from what I actually received, the amount I would be receiving would have been about 40% of the pay which is now being sent.
 
Last edited:
Guardguy11 said:
This is the weirdest Guard medical retirement I think I have seen on these forums. The DOD is typically stingy one and the VA covers so much more than referred conditions. I would use the DOD rating and rationale as your "new evidence" to submit to the VA. If the DOD says it's service connected, it is service connected. That alone should be enough evidence for the VA to change their rating. You also might consider finding your local VA rep to help with the appeal. This is garbage.

On a side note, if you went through the IDES / MEB for a DOD related condition connected to title 10 service, you should be receiving retired pay immediately IF you didn't waive it in lieu of VA pay. If you had a U.S.C Title 10, Chapter 61 medical retirement, it is no different than an active duty retirement as far as benefits. The only factor is your DOD percentage to determine pay.

I hope you find some resolution to this because you are getting hosed. Fortunately for you, back pay for benefits withheld due to DOD error is an option if you file an ABCMR. It will take years... but it is an option.

Godspeed!
Click to expand...
There have definitely been some frustrating times but I am now receiving the retired pay as of a few days ago. I do think the DoD has treated me fairly and I've had no issues there, just with the VA.

I did send my medical retirement paperwork (originally the NARSUM, DBQs, and the proposed DoD rating which was provided by the VA) to the VA but they denied my supplemental claim.

I have since sent the retirement orders and opened another supplemental claim a few weeks ago. The VA scheduled me for additional x-rays and another appointment with the nurse practitioner who wrote the statement which the VA has used to continually deny my claim. I spoke to the DAV and they mentioned the VA wants the examiner to clarify information from his original exam
 
Good to hear that you are receiving pay now. Now we just need to get your VA stuff taken care of because that is tax free money out the window each month.
 
Guardguy11 said:
Good to hear that you are receiving pay now. Now we just need to get your VA stuff taken care of because that is tax free money out the window each month.
Click to expand...
Update: As of today, my eBenefits was updated to reflect the condition I was medically retired for as being service connected. It took the initial filing and 3 appeals but I am happy to say the fight with the VA is finally over!
 
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