I was retired out of the marine Corp on February 28th. Does anyone know when my va pay should come in. I went on ebenefits and it says I was supposed to be paid on April 1st but I didn’t receive anything.
Va pay
- Thread starter whiteperson98
- Start date
If you were discharged 28 February and retired on 29 Feb (Leap Year), your first accrual of VA comp would be for 1-31 March and paid on/about 1 April.
If you were discharged 29 February and retired on 1 March, your first accrual of VA comp would be for 1-30 April and paid on/about 1 May.
"Payment Start Date" is the first day of accrual of VA comp.
Using eBenefits and under "Payment History" my account shows the most recent activity as:
| 04/01/2020 | $x,xxx.96 | Compensation & Pension - Recurring | Direct Deposit |
Ron
So I have called them like 5 times and they tell me I’m on hold but ebenefits tells me my pay should have started April 1st I’ll send in a picture of it.
Hello,
@whiteperson98
Thank you for providing the documents. Your first day in a retired status was 29 February 2020.
The first date possible for accrual of VA compensation was 1 March 2020. That payment would have been made on/about 1 April 2020 for 1-31 March 2020. Incidentally, the documents you provided do not show a payment should be made on 1 April 2020; it shows 1 April 2020 as the effective date of the last change to your VA award.
IF, due to the timing in your case (when certain actions were taken), you received all your DoD disability retired pay for 1-31 March 2020, VA compensation could not be paid.
As you likely know, you retired pay must be reduced dollar for dollar in the amount of VA compensation received. If it has not been reduced, then no VA comp is payable.
The DFAS cutoff for processing pay actions is around the 20-21 each month, just as it was when military pay was processed by each service such the Army for example. Couple that fact with the short month of February and that could have precluded the reduction.
So...the key question is: Did you receive your retired pay for 1-31 March 2020? If so, that is the reason you did not receive VA comp. If not, then you need to continue with your attempt to resolve the matter with the VA. Your documentation shows the last action pertaining to your VA comp is 1 April 2020, that seems to confirm my thought that you received retired pay for March. That 1 April 2020 date would result in a payment of VA comp on/about 1 May 2020.
Ron
This is very helpful. TY Ron. My MSC confirmed as much. For folks retiring/separating, you want to have your last day on the END of any given month, NOT the first. EOM means you will be paid on first of following. If you put your last day as First of month your benefits will not be paid until first of following month.
That is precisely correct.
I used to post that info on another site as the "Month After Law." You might be aware that regular retirees like myself always retire on the first day of a certain month.
That results in the first month for which they would be eligible to accrue VA comp is the first day of the following month.
My example:
Retirement date: 1 August 1991 (discharge date was 31 July 1991)
First date eligible to begin to accrue VA comp: 1 September 1991 if it had an approved effective date of 1 August 1991.
Ron
Yes sir I’m understanding all that but I’m not eligible for dod retired pay. And I never received any type of payment for the month of March. Is it possible to be payed back pay from them?
Yes, if it is for a full month and you did not receive military retired pay. Recommend you contact the VA regarding the matter. Asking a VSO for assistance would be a good move too.
You have said two things that are conflicting:
1. "I was retired out of the marine Corp on February 28th."
2. "...but I’m not eligible for dod retired pay."
If you were retired, you are eligible for DoD retired pay as I showed in a previous post. A DoD rating of 30% or more = retirement.
If you were separated, then you are not eligible for DoD retired pay. A DoD rating of 20% or below = separation
Good luck,
Ron
Yes sir I figured it out I think. Have you ever heard of anyone being temporary retired from the military but permanent and total from the va still.
Hello,
Re: "Have you ever heard of anyone being temporary retired from the military but permanent and total from the va still. "
No, but I am not an expert on the IDES. I have seen many disability retirees who are rated 100% by the VA however.
Perhaps @chaplaincharlie could address your situation.
The VA rates all service connected disabilities. The DoD rates only those disabilities that were the cause for being found unfit for continued service.
Ron
Re: "Have you ever heard of anyone being temporary retired from the military but permanent and total from the va still. "
No, but I am not an expert on the IDES. I have seen many disability retirees who are rated 100% by the VA however.
Perhaps @chaplaincharlie could address your situation.
The VA rates all service connected disabilities. The DoD rates only those disabilities that were the cause for being found unfit for continued service.
Ron