Retirement and disability

CRDP: Military Retired Pay and VA Disability Together

Retirees rated 50 percent or more can collect full military retired pay and full VA compensation at the same time.

The problem it fixes

By law a military retiree must waive part of gross retired pay, dollar for dollar, by the amount of VA disability compensation. This is called the VA waiver or VA offset. Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) pays back the waived amount so you are not losing money.

Who qualifies

You are entitled to both military retired pay and VA disability compensation, and
VA rates your service-connected disability (or combined disabilities) at 50 percent or higher.
If you retired for disability under Chapter 61, you need 20 or more years of creditable service. Chapter 61 retirees with fewer than 20 years are not eligible and must waive retired pay dollar for dollar.

CRDP eligibility

service-connected disability: 50 percent; Chapter 61: 20 or more years; phase-in: 1 January 2004; full concurrent payment: 1 January 2014.DFAS: Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay · Page reviewed September 2026.

How much and since when

CRDP started 1 January 2004 as a phase-in. Since 1 January 2014 qualified retirees get full concurrent payment, meaning full retired pay and full VA compensation.

How to get it

You do not have to apply. When DFAS is told about your VA compensation and you are eligible, DFAS processes and pays CRDP.
If it is not happening, DFAS says you may submit a written claim on DD Form 827 by mail or fax (DFAS fax 1-800-982-8459).
Make sure VA has your rating and that DFAS has your VA file number.

1You do not have to apply. When DFAS is told about your VA compensation and you are eligible, DFAS processes and pays CRDP.

2If it is not happening, DFAS says you may submit a written claim on DD Form 827 by mail or fax (DFAS fax 1-800-982-8459).

3Make sure VA has your rating and that DFAS has your VA file number.

Trap: CRDP or CRSC, not both

You may qualify for both Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC), but DFAS says you can receive only one. CRSC is not automatic: you must apply to your branch of service. If your disability is combat-related, ask DFAS which pays you more.

Where to call and where to go

Phone

DFAS Retired Pay: 800-321-1080 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern; from DFAS SBP page). Source: DFAS CRDP page
VA: 1-800-827-1000. Source: va.gov/contact-us

Official pages

Free accredited help

Find an accredited representative (attorney, claims agent or Veterans Service Organization representative)

Sources

Related: Dividing retired pay in a divorce? What a judge can and cannot do with VA disability is on military divorce and retired pay.

Related: Retroactive pay can touch more than one agency. See which agency owes you back pay (VA, DFAS or the Department of Labor).