Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) and

Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

CONCURRENT RECEIPT BECOMES A REALITY.   A provision through Legislation allowing certain combat-disabled retirees to receive BOTH military retired pay, based on length of service, as well as VA disability compensation, under specific guidelines, became effective May 31, 2003.

The law is called Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and will be paid retroactively to qualifying retirees to June 1, 2003. Eligibility under the law includes:  (1) retirees with at least 20 years of active duty and a disability rating of 10% or more that is associated with the award of a Purple Heart for injuries suffered in combat, (2) Retirees with at least 20 years active duty with a combined VA disability rating for all combat related disabilities that is at least 60% disabling.

Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP)
No application required.  The benefit is automatic.

Provides a 10-year phase-out of the offset to military retired pay due to receipt of VA disability compensation for members whose combined disability rating is 50% or greater . Members retired under disability provisions must have 20 years of service.

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
Download application:  http://www.dior.whs.mil/forms/DD2860T.PDF

Pays added benefits to retirees who receive VA disability compensation for combat-related disabilities and have 20 years of service .

Veterans must apply to their own branch of Service for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) benefits. Applicants are urged to contact their own branch of Service for additional information. Find the link to your service on the Dept. of Defense Website:  CRDP and CRSC

Additional Information (Concurrent Receipt):

In a major breakthrough for disabled military retirees, House Majority Whip
Roy Blunt (R-MO) yesterday announced a compromise agreement which will
provide full concurrent receipt to approximately 200,000 disabled retirees.
The provision will be included in the FY 2004 National Defense Authorization
Act.

At a meeting in  Congressman Blunt's House office, representatives
of military and veterans service organizations heard details of the landmark
plan, which ends a long-standing policy of discrimination against our
disabled and retired heroes. Under the plan, ALL disabled retirees (EXCEPT
those who retired under Chapter 61 of Title 10 with less than 20 years of
service) with a 50% or higher rating will receive full concurrent receipt,
phased in over a 10-year period. The provision is expected to be effective 1
January 2004. Beginning in the first year, all eligible retirees rated 50%
to 100% will receive a monthly check, ranging from $100 to $750 . The offset
will be then reduced by 10% each year between 2005 and 2014, at which point
disabled retirees rated 50% or higher will receive full retired pay and
disability compensation. Additionally, the combat-related special compensation
 provisions enacted last year will be extended to ALL retirees with combat related
disabilities.
Currently, only those with a 60% CRSC rating are eligible. Retirees who
qualify for both CRSC and retired pay (concurrent receipt) will be given the
option to choose the program which is best for them. Also, Purple Heart
recipients who currently receive full concurrent receipt will continue to do
so.  The plan also extends coverage to include Reserve Component retirees
who qualify with 20 years of service, thus eliminating the 7200 point
requirement.

The provision will also establish a 13-member blue ribbon commission to
study the disability and death compensation system. 7 of the commission
members will be veterans who have been awarded a Silver Star or higher
combat decoration. The commission will report its findings to the President
within a 15 month period.  The $22 billion package is the culmination of years
of grassroots and legislative efforts of TREA and the Military Coalition, as
well as other organizations. We are especially grateful to Congressman Mike
Bilirakis (R-FL), who has championed the cause for almost 20 years. Other key
lawmakers include Mr. Blunt, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Chairman of the
House Armed Services Committee; Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the
House Veterans Affairs Committee; Sen. John Warner (R-VA), Chairman of the
Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chairman of
the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  We cannot forget the hard work and
dedication of Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), who has been at the forefront of the
fight for concurrent receipt. Also, Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA), whose
discharge petition has been a catalyst to encourage movement on this issue.
The conference report on the FY 2004 NDAA is expected to be completed and

sent to the President for his signature within 2 weeks.