I can't help but to wonder, when you talk about VA disability, people seem to think (by asking) about the percentage by paygrade... (percentage is the same regardless of paygrade)

Additionally, they seem to think the VA disability percentage is taken from their current pay amout.. once again.... wrong

Paygrade has nothing to do with the VA Disability Compensation Amount....

With that said, I'll let the CMC's spread the word. I'm sure they are "in the know" concerning this....

Wray....

Latest word from DFAS

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) have finalized the plans to provide eligible retirees with their “complete” DoD military retirement entitlement to Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and/or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and /or DVA disability compensation entitlement. Potential retroactive pay is due for more than 100,000 retiree accounts


http://www.dod.mil/dfas/retiredpay/combat-relatedspecia...ofcrscandorcrdp.html


From the link:
QUICK FACTS
To be eligible, you must:
Be a military retiree (Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps).

Meet all the requirements for either CRSC or CRDP eligibility

Have received payment(s) of either CRSC on or after
June 1, 2003; and/or CRDP on or after January 1, 2004.

Awarded one or more increase in your percentage of disability by the VA on or after June 1, 2003.

What will happen?
Retirees need take no action to claim any funds.

DFAS and DVA will use existing records to identify recipients.

Recipients will be notified by letter of additional funds due.

Retirees may be eligible for payment from DFAS as a restoration of retired pay or from DVA as a part of disability compensation.

In cases where retirees are due money from DFAS and DVA, DFAS will provide information to DVA as needed. Retirees need take no action.

When things will happen:
The first DFAS retroactive payments were made in September 2006.


Due to the large number of cases, the payment process could take up
to a year.



Once all eligible retirees have been identified, DFAS will publish a
general schedule on this Web site.



All retirees who may be eligible for additional money are expected to be
identified by October 1, 2006.

I have been in contact with 5 other Coast Guard retirees the word we all seem to get from PSC is there is no plan to do anything for us at this time.

quote:

I have been in contact with 5 other Coast Guard retirees the word we all seem to get from PSC is there is no plan to do anything for us at this time.

What am I missing???? The Coast Guard really has nothing to do with this anyway... it's all a 'VA thing'....

Case in point: my daughter turned 18 in Jan... so the VA tells topeka to reduce my rate... all Topeka does is what they are told by the VA...

So, I am now in the process of submitting a 21-674b to the VA. instead of me getting $40 for her, I will now get $135 or something like that, retro active to her birthday.

The botttom line is, the CG has nothing to do with what we receive from the VA... other than dish it out.... They can not change things. The will do what the VA says, ----> end of story.. That is how my daughters problem was explained to me from Topeka... & the VA.

Wray....

Wray,

This is a cooperative effort between the two. I think if you look into it the CRSC and CRDP come from the services not the VA. That is why all the info I've posted is coming from DFAS websites. They are the ones running the show for the DOD people.

Here are 2 key paragraphs.

"Retirees may be eligible for payment from DFAS as a restoration of retired pay or from DVA as a part of disability compensation.

In cases where retirees are due money from DFAS and DVA, DFAS will provide information to DVA as needed. Retirees need take no action."


Your example is how the CG adjust your pay for your daughter still being in school after turning 18. Not quite an true example to this situation.

Well, time will tell I guess... but that isn't the way I understand things from my "pay specialist" at Topeka..... The imperession I am given is , what ever the VA says, the CG will go along with... who knows.....

Wray...

If you received va pay and the concurrent retirement pay for the past 4 years . most likly your due back pay. Im 80% service connected and 100% unemployable. retired in 93 E7 my pay today should be about 1500.00 per month. fy 2006 950.00, fy 2005 775.00, fy 2004 700.00 . the word I got was it was a done deal they just needed something in black and white so they could proceed. I think Im due over 20 grand. let them work

So, you have you been getting some extra $$$... I have as well, but not expecting anything that large.... but.... I'll take what ever they figure I am due....

Wray...

Wray, im with you. I cant figure out how im due any additional money. Oh well, cant be too greedy.

Bill, it will take the VA a while to get it all worked out... I don't think I will ever get up to your retirement level, but, I think with my CR I did hit the 0-5 level for the year that I retired... That makes me feel good...

From what I am being told, all now days are aware of their VA benefits... I sure hope so....(but doubt it...)

Wray...

Wray and Oceanstation,

Have you been receiving CRDP from the start of the program in Jan 2004? If you have you may not be due any backpay. I didn't start until getting CRDP until late 2005. My VA award was back dated to OCT2002. So they owe me from Jan 2004 to late 2005.

johnthemethodist,

You are dealing in a different set of circumstances being I/U. Here is a good link if you have any questions. Although most of the same stuff applies.

http://p203.ezboard.com/bvetbenefits

yes, but only part of it..

Wray....

http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2132486.php



DFAS to begin notifying vets on retro disability pay


DFAS says veterans eligible for the payments must be military retirees, must meet all requirements for either CRSC or CRDP, and have received payments from either pay program on or after June 1, 2003, according to DFAS.

Eligible recipients must also have been awarded at least one increase in their percentage of disability by the Department of Veterans Affairs on or after June 1, 2003.

Retirees need not do anything to claim the pay, and recipients will be notified by letter if additional funds are due them, according to DFAS.


Wray..

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wray,

I've been in contact with several people the Coast Guard is choosing to ignore. Has anyone received any "retro pay" or at least been told they are getting some?

I'm not sure they are choosing to ignor the issue.... I believe they just don't have a clue about it...

I haven't been told anything by anyone...

Wray...

quote:

Retirees need not do anything to claim the pay, and recipients will be notified by letter if additional funds are due them, according to DFAS.

The way I read it is you have to be 50% or above.

That's the way I read it as well.....

Wray...

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:
I'm not sure they are choosing to ignor the issue.... I believe they just don't have a clue about it...

I haven't been told anything by anyone...

Wray...

Wray,

They are ignoring the people that leave voice mail messages with questions. PSC voicemail is a 60% message blackhole, 60% of the messages left there are never seen again. They are ignoring what DFAS (DOD) is doing with the other 4 services. They ignore request for things in writing, like their guidelines or laws they are using to base their decsions.

This is from the DFAS website:

QUICK FACTS
To be eligible, you must:
Be a military retiree (Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps).

Meet all the requirements for either CRSC or CRDP eligibility

Have received payment(s) of either CRSC on or after
June 1, 2003; and/or CRDP on or after January 1, 2004.

Awarded one or more increase in your percentage of disability by the VA on or after June 1, 2003.


To be eligible for CRDP you must have a disability rating of 50% or higher by the VA. I don't know what the % requirement is for CRSC.

The official PSC stance is you had to be 100% disabled and they have completed all payments.

I'm sure it wasn't a very complicated process for the Coast Guard, I'd be surpised if there were more than a dozen 100% disabled Coasties who also met the other eligibility requirements.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: EMC_,

I have been unable to get any answers from any of the retired pay personnel that I have spoken with at PSC. I believe that it might be a few months before we even get an acknowledgement that action is being taken. I worked at PSC for 6 years and none of this surprises me.

quote:

They are ignoring the people that leave voice mail messages with questions.

Why not send an e-mail to the CO? I'm sure if you mentioned your next letter was going to the Navy Times you would get a reply....

Perhaps you guys are directing your questions to the wrong people... maybe they could/would be answered by the VA. ... only a possibility...

Wray...

Wray,

I contacted the VA over a month ago, their response was to have me contact PSC. All this contacting people takes a lot of time. PSC should be making some calls to DFAS to figure out how to correct their mistake.