Dear [nwlivewire],
Thank you for contacting me to share your views about Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay (CRDP). It is an honor to serve as your Senator, and I appreciate hearing from you.
As someone who once worked in the Department of Defense, I am keenly aware of the debt of service we owe to our veterans. I am pleased that over the past five years there have been steady advances made in extending concurrent receipt authorization to many retired veterans. For example, the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act authorized CRDP phased in over a 10-year period for retirees with at least a 50% disability. In 2005, retirees rated at 100% were entitled to no offsets effective January 1, 2005. And most recently in 2008, expanded concurrent receipt eligibility to retirees rated at 100% due to individual unemployability and Chapter 61 retirees who retired due to combat-related physical disability prior to completing 20 years of service. [I bolded this part]
As you know, the President's budget included a provision to extend eligibility to non-disability military retirees and all other Chapter 61 retirees. Although there is currently no legislation pending before the U.S. Senate which would enact this change, please know I will keep your views in mind should this issue come before the full Senate.
Thank you again for sharing your views with me, and please continue to keep me informed about issues that concern you most.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
For some reason, I thought a Servicemember had to have a 20 year letter - no matter what - in order to apply for CRDP.
Is the Senator correct?
If a Servicemember does not have a 20-year letter, and is eligible (like Senator Merkley's letter implies), where is the source document that tells me about this and any other qualifications needed under this less than 20 year scenario?
Thank-you for your response in advance - one and all!
v/r,
nwlivewire
Thank you for contacting me to share your views about Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay (CRDP). It is an honor to serve as your Senator, and I appreciate hearing from you.
As someone who once worked in the Department of Defense, I am keenly aware of the debt of service we owe to our veterans. I am pleased that over the past five years there have been steady advances made in extending concurrent receipt authorization to many retired veterans. For example, the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act authorized CRDP phased in over a 10-year period for retirees with at least a 50% disability. In 2005, retirees rated at 100% were entitled to no offsets effective January 1, 2005. And most recently in 2008, expanded concurrent receipt eligibility to retirees rated at 100% due to individual unemployability and Chapter 61 retirees who retired due to combat-related physical disability prior to completing 20 years of service. [I bolded this part]
As you know, the President's budget included a provision to extend eligibility to non-disability military retirees and all other Chapter 61 retirees. Although there is currently no legislation pending before the U.S. Senate which would enact this change, please know I will keep your views in mind should this issue come before the full Senate.
Thank you again for sharing your views with me, and please continue to keep me informed about issues that concern you most.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
For some reason, I thought a Servicemember had to have a 20 year letter - no matter what - in order to apply for CRDP.
Is the Senator correct?
If a Servicemember does not have a 20-year letter, and is eligible (like Senator Merkley's letter implies), where is the source document that tells me about this and any other qualifications needed under this less than 20 year scenario?
Thank-you for your response in advance - one and all!
v/r,
nwlivewire
