DISABILITYVA program
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP)
Allows military retirees with a combined VA rating of 50% or more to receive both military retired pay and VA disability compensation without offset. It covers retirement for years of service, including early retirement under TERA, and Reserve or Guard retirement once retired pay starts at retirement age. The phase-in ended December 31, 2013.
Available to military retirees with a 50%+ VA rating who retired for years of service (including TERA) or from the Reserve or Guard at retirement age
Step-by-step guide
Who CRDP covers
- Military retired payRetired pay for years of service, including under Temporary Early Retirement Authority, or Reserve or Guard retired pay with 20 years of service for retirement, starting at retirement age, which in most cases is 60.
- A combined VA rating of 50 percent or moreOne service-connected condition, or a combination of them, rated 50 percent or more under the VA rating schedule.
Source: M21-1 VI.ii.4.A (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.750(b)(1) (opens in new tab)
How your retirement type changes CRDP
- Retired for years of service, or from the Reserve or Guard
CRDP lets a military retiree receive retired pay and VA compensation at the same time, instead of having retired pay reduced by the VA amount. It covers retirees with a combined VA rating of 50 percent or more who retired for years of service, including under Temporary Early Retirement Authority, and Reserve and National Guard retirees with 20 years of service for retirement once they reach retirement age. The phase-in ended on December 31, 2013, so CRDP now restores the full amount for these retirees.
Source: 38 CFR 3.750(b)(1) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.750(c)(1) (opens in new tab); M21-1 VI.ii.4.A (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- Retired for disability (Chapter 61)
With 20 or more years of service, CRDP covers only the part of retired pay based on years of service. The part above that is still reduced by VA compensation, and a waiver of retired pay is still needed. With fewer than 20 years, CRDP does not apply, and retired pay is reduced by the VA compensation you receive.
- 20 or more years of serviceA disability retiree needs 20 or more years of creditable service for CRDP.
Source: 38 CFR 3.750(b)(2) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.750(b)(3) (opens in new tab); M21-1 VI.ii.4.A (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your VA decision letter The VA letter that shows your service-connected ratings and your combined rating. | Your combined VA rating | VA mails it after each decision. You can download decision letters and a benefit summary letter on VA.gov. | Yes |
| Retirement orders and DD214 Your retirement orders and your DD214. | How you retired, and your years of service | Your branch issues them. VA checks your DD214, your VA claim, and its own records to see whether you receive retired pay. | Yes |
| Retired pay questions on VA Form 21-526EZ The part of the VA claim form that asks whether you get military retired pay, and your retired status. | That VA has to account for retired pay | You answer it on the form. Filing counts as a waiver of retired pay equal to the VA compensation awarded; if concurrent receipt applies, this waiver does not, except that a disability retiree still waives any retired pay above the years-of-service amount. |
CRDP needs no application. Your retired pay center applies it, and BeneVets does not ask for any of these records.
Steps, in order
- Get free help with the VA side
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you. CRDP itself needs no application; a VSO helps with the VA claims your rating comes from.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); M21-1 VI.ii.4.A (opens in new tab)
- Check your combined VA rating
CRDP starts at a combined VA rating of 50 percent. Your VA decision letter shows it, and you can download decision letters on VA.gov.
Source: 38 CFR 3.750(b)(1) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: download VA benefit letters (opens in new tab)
- Check how you retired
CRDP covers retirement for years of service, including under Temporary Early Retirement Authority; Reserve or Guard retirement with 20 years of service for retirement, once you reach retirement age; and disability retirement with 20 or more years, for the part of retired pay based on years of service. Disability retirement with fewer than 20 years is not covered.
Source: 38 CFR 3.750(b)(2) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.750(b)(3) (opens in new tab); M21-1 VI.ii.4.A (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- Tell VA about retired pay on your claim
VA Form 21-526EZ asks whether you get military retired pay. Filing counts as a waiver of retired pay equal to the VA compensation awarded; if concurrent receipt applies, this waiver does not, except that a disability retiree still waives any retired pay above the years-of-service amount.
Source: VA Form 21-526EZ (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.750(c)(3) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.750(b)(2) (opens in new tab)
- Let the pay center apply CRDP
No CRDP application is needed. Your retired pay center figures the amount and starts payment.
Source: M21-1 VI.ii.4.A (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- If CRSC also applies, choose one
CRDP and CRSC are not paid together. If you can get both, you choose one during the open season, using the election information DFAS sends each December, or the Coast Guard each February.
Good to know
CRDP needs no application. Retired pay centers figure the amount and start payment, coordinated with VA.
Source: M21-1 VI.ii.4.A (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
CRSC is a separate monthly payment for disabilities your service branch finds combat-related, and you apply for it. A retiree who can get both receives one and chooses during the open season: DFAS sends election information each December, and the Coast Guard each February.
CRDP is treated like retired pay. Taxes, child support or alimony, garnishments, and government debts can reduce it.
Under a combined rating of 50 percent, retired pay is reduced by the VA compensation you receive, and filing a VA claim counts as that waiver. The claim form notes that VA compensation is not taxable.
Source: 38 CFR 3.750(c)(1) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.750(c)(3) (opens in new tab); VA Form 21-526EZ (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 1, 2026: 38 CFR 3.750(b)(1) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 3.750(b)(2) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 3.750(b)(3) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 3.750(c)(1) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 3.750(c)(3) (opens in new tab), M21-1 VI.ii.4.A (opens in new tab), VA.gov: download VA benefit letters (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), VA Form 21-526EZ (opens in new tab), VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)