For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
Defense bill brings changes
in VA compensationQuestion: The recently passed Defense Appropriations Bill has provisions for elimination of the offset of retired pay and changes in the combat related special compensation pay. I'm confused. Can you explain?
Answer: The two provisions are concurrent receipt, which is the elimination of the dollar-for-dollar offset of military retired pay for each dollar of VA disability compensation, and the expansion of combat related special compensation (CRSC) pay that was approved last year.
The 2004 Defense Appropriations Bill provides for the elimination of retired pay offset for veterans with a 50 percent or higher VA disability rating. This is known as concurrent receipt. The offset will be reduced in increments over the next 10 years.
CRSC is expanded to include all combat- or operations-related disabilities from 10 percent to 100 percent. As approved last year, it only applied to those with disabilities relating to combat or training related to combat rated 60 percent and above.
Both programs go into effect Jan. 1.
All retirees who served long enough to qualify for non-disability retirement (typically 20 years) who have VA disability ratings of 50 percent or higher, except medical disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, are eligible for concurrent receipt. Retirees with 20 years or more of service are also eligible for the special combat compensation. Those who are eligible for both must choose one or the other, whichever is best suited for their situation.
Those eligible for concurrent receipt do not have to apply for it. Defense Finance & Accounting Service will automatically identify you and increase your retired pay appropriately. Disabled retirees eligible for CRSC will need to submit an application to their military service. For more information, or if you need assistance in obtaining the CRSC forms and filling them out, contact the VA at 433-1000 or the State Office of Veterans Services at 433-0420.
Q: With a new year coming, must I reapply for health care enrollment, and will I receive an enrollment confirmation?
A: Your enrollment will be reviewed annually without any action necessary on your part. Depending on your priority group and the availability of funds for VA to offer you services, your enrollment will be renewed. Should there be any change to your enrollment status, you will be notified in writing.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or visit the VA Web site at www.va.gov/hawaii
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin,
can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.