CRSC replaces some or all of waived retired pay.
One has to be in receipt of retired pay (or eligible for it if already waived) in order to receive CRSC and waive retired pay dollar for dollar in the amount of VA comp.
The earliest date a regular retiree could receive CRSC is for the month following the month he/she entered into a retired status. It is associated with receipt of VA comp and waiver of retired pay.
--Regular retirees enter a retired status
only on the first day of a particular month. Consequently, the first date that retirees could accrue VA compensation is the first day of the following month (if the VA comp was effective the day the retiree entered into a retired status). EXAMPLE: My last day of active duty was 31 July 1991...I entered into a retired status on 1 August 1991 and my VA comp was effective the same day, albeit retroactively. The first month for which I accrued VA comp was for 1-30 September 1991 which would have been paid on 1 October if in real time. The first period of eligibility for CRSC was for the period 1-30 September 1991.
--CH 61 retirees can retire any day of a month. Therefore, CH 61 retirees can begin to accrue VA comp on the first day of the month following last date of active duty even if that following month was only a few days distant. EXAMPLE: Doe retires on 28 July 1991; he/she can receive an effective date of 28 July and begin to accrue VA comp for 1-31 August (note the difference between CH 61 and regular retiree). CRSC would follow suit if approved for the 28th of July.
Month After Law
Ref: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/5111
"... payment of monetary benefits based on an award or an increased award of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension may not be made to an individual for any period before the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the award or increased award became effective as provided under section 5110 of this title or such other provision of law."
Ron