What just happened !? TDRL->Severance->PDRL

Thomaskov

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
I’m so confused. I was put on TDRL last year at %50 DOD Air Force, re-evaluated by the VA and I accepted 60%.

recently I was re-evaluated by the Air Force and my 50% went to 0%. They offered severance pay and I agreed in email and then virtually signed last month. Well, I get an email last night saying “You have been removed off TDRL and put on PDRL” then some stuff about going to DEERS for i.d card update.
I don’t know how that’s possible, my rating is at 0 and my OAC attorney told me I’ll be getting severance. Either at the formal hearing my rating somehow changed with no new evidence and nobody told me or this email from my Peblo was wrong.

I’d wait till Monday and just call my OAC but I’m just really freaking out I was kinda relying on that severance pay bad
 
Please update your status after you inquire on Monday. As you know, PDRL requires 30% or more DoD.

Thank you,
Ron
cc: @chaplaincharlie
 
Please update your status after you inquire on Monday. As you know, PDRL requires 30% or more DoD.

Thank you,
Ron
cc: @chaplaincharlie

Yes sir. So in the grand scheme of things. I’m about 10k in debt from school and other payments. I was offered 10k for severance AND I will continue to collect my VA as usual no recoup since my Air Force rating is at 0%. I feel like I lost out on that money because I don’t owe it back but I guess tri care for life is worth more than my debt and severance combined. I’m 24 so maybe in the end it’s the best
 
Yes sir. So in the grand scheme of things. I’m about 10k in debt from school and other payments. I was offered 10k for severance AND I will continue to collect my VA as usual no recoup since my Air Force rating is at 0%. I feel like I lost out on that money because I don’t owe it back but I guess tri care for life is worth more than my debt and severance combined. I’m 24 so maybe in the end it’s the best
I had a regular retirement in 1991 and have used TRICARE for almost 30 years.

Along the way, I’ve had four cardiac pacemakers; surgery for prostate cancer, multiple hospitalizations, numerous appointments with physicians, etc.

I would not be surprised if my benefits from TRICARE plus Medicare (now) is in excess of $1,000,000. I did not keep a running total.

Good luck,
Ron
 
Wow that’s amazing news, and thank you so much for your help. What I think I should do now isthe VA rated at 30% for anxiety/depression and 30% sinusitis. Since that rating I’ve had an attempted suicide and baker act. My VA psychiatrists are horrible one literally looked at me (I used to compete in bodybuilding years ago) and your a big strong guy and starts talking about women. I’m there for a damn suicide attempt. Maybe with this tri care I can see real doctors and make that 30% go up quite a bit. And It’s truly needed, I’m not doing good to say the least.

Anyways have a blessed day and Merry Christmas to you and anyone who sees this
 
PDRL is infinitely better than severance. Could be a clerical error or perhaps you lucked out at the last minute. If they are actually offering PDRL take it & run; figure out the 10K debt some other way. An annuity that pays immediately, for life, adjusts for inflation yearly, gives you an option for survivors benefits that also adjust for inflation, and provides medical/dental benefits is golden.
 
Re: "An annuity that pays immediately, for life, adjusts for inflation yearly "

I too think having a retirement is more valuable (and agreeing to accept VA compensation).

The quoted remark is accurate, but one should keep in mind that the amount of DoD disability retired pay is reduced by the amount of VA compensation received. Any residual retired pay is kept by the Ch 61 retiree.

This does not address CRSC or CRDP for those eligible.

Ron
 
Re: "An annuity that pays immediately, for life, adjusts for inflation yearly "

I too think having a retirement is more valuable (and agreeing to accept VA compensation).

The quoted remark is accurate, but one should keep in mind that the amount of DoD disability retired pay is reduced by the amount of VA compensation received. Any residual retired pay is kept by the Ch 61 retiree.

This does not address CRSC or CRDP for those eligible.

Ron

True, absent CRSC or CRDP, most of the time VA pay will completely offset DOD at 30%. However, as the law stands currently any VA rating can be reviewed. AFAIK there is no mechanism to lose your PDRL short of committing a (significant) crime. Point being, pending any legislative changes, no matter what you can count on that PDRL & Tricare forever. You may never get rich but a guaranteed monthly income (that adjusts for inflation!) w/healthcare coverage is a very desirable thing.

When it became apparent I was going to be forced from the military I quit contributing to my retirement account; I didn't know what was going to happen and was in limbo for a couple of years (back in the bad ol days). When I finally got out I was all too aware I was behind my peers in investing for the future. I visited a financial planning friend of mine and he ran the numbers on my PDRL (how much to purchase an annuity that pays out immediately, for life, adjusts for inflation yearly, gives you an option for survivors benefits that also adjust for inflation, and provides medical/dental benefits). The price tag to purchase all of that in one annuity package was shocking large. If PDRL comes your way accept it.
 
I am not sure I fully understand your comments,

You said, “If PDRL comes your way accept it.” There is no option to decline PDRL.

One can choose to accept VA compensation which causes a dollar for dollar reduction in retired pay, but that choice does not negate TRICARE and other retirement benefits. In my opinion, choosing to decline VA compensation is not the best choice.

If one’s VA comp was reduced or completely eliminated in later years, the amount of DoD disability pay received increases. In other words, a reduction of VA comp = increase in amount of DoD retired pay disbursed (less waver/offset).

Ron
 
Ron,

I was thinking more in terms of this specific case. All the indicators were severance including the attorney and the SM signing for severance. If it were me I'd speak with the lawyer about the discrepancy & ask him to look into it to make sure everything re: PDRL is correct & I'm not doing anything unethical in any way. If everything is proper and a last second change was made then it's a pleasant Christmas surprise.

What I wouldn't do is demand the attorney try to get the orders rescinded somehow and switched for severance as planned.
 
100% agree with: "What I wouldn't do is demand the attorney try to get the orders rescinded somehow and switched for severance as planned. "

Excellent.

Ron
 
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