Comments for Financial Frontlines® http://moaablogs.org/financial Devoted to financial planning and education. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Setting the Record Straight on CRSC and CRDP by Shane Ostrom, CFP® http://moaablogs.org/financial/2011/01/myth-busting-on-crsc-and-crdp/comment-page-2/#comment-4758 Shane Ostrom, CFP® Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:36:00 +0000 http://moaablogs.org/financial/?p=582#comment-4758 There are two types of concurrent receipt; non-combat CRDP or combat CRSC. CRDP requires both a 20-year retirement and a 50% or greater VA rating. Only the combat-related version, CRSC, allows less than a 20-year retirement for eligibility. But CRSC also requires disabilities/illnesses directly related to combat activities. CRSC is not limited to a specific disability rating, VA or Service; it accepts all ratings. However, you have to apply to the Service and the Service has to rate the portion of your disabilities specifically related to combat action and that Service combat rating determines the amount of CRSC. It's not unusual for the CRSC rating to be less than the Service medical retirement disability rating and the VA rating because when considering only the combat portion of disabilities, they may be less than the reasons for all disabilities combined. MOAA continues to fight on the Hill to make everyone with disabilities eligible for some form of concurrent receipt. Shane There are two types of concurrent receipt; non-combat CRDP or combat CRSC. CRDP requires both a 20-year retirement and a 50% or greater VA rating. Only the combat-related version, CRSC, allows less than a 20-year retirement for eligibility. But CRSC also requires disabilities/illnesses directly related to combat activities. CRSC is not limited to a specific disability rating, VA or Service; it accepts all ratings. However, you have to apply to the Service and the Service has to rate the portion of your disabilities specifically related to combat action and that Service combat rating determines the amount of CRSC. It’s not unusual for the CRSC rating to be less than the Service medical retirement disability rating and the VA rating because when considering only the combat portion of disabilities, they may be less than the reasons for all disabilities combined. MOAA continues to fight on the Hill to make everyone with disabilities eligible for some form of concurrent receipt. Shane

]]> Comment on Setting the Record Straight on CRSC and CRDP by Stephanie http://moaablogs.org/financial/2011/01/myth-busting-on-crsc-and-crdp/comment-page-2/#comment-4755 Stephanie Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:03:57 +0000 http://moaablogs.org/financial/?p=582#comment-4755 I was in the Air Force for 8 years 7 months. I was placed on TDRL for 2 years with 80% Disability and got permanent retirement at 60%. This whole time I have been receiving 100% (service connected, not from physical involvement in war) VA Disibility. As soon as I was permanently retired they stopped or "waived" my retirement pay (I was certainly not expecting this because when I went through TAPS I was told that if you recieve 100% from the VA you get both) I had called and talked to the retirement pay personnel and was told that there was nothing I could do because I did not complete 20 years, I was not in direct combat and I do not have 100% Disibility through the AirForce. Is this person right, do I fall under the glitch in the system or should I be trying something else? I am at a loss because I can't get a job due to my conditions because I have a good amount of doc appointments to attend and I am almost always sick or in pain. Thanks, Stephanie I was in the Air Force for 8 years 7 months. I was placed on TDRL for 2 years with 80% Disability and got permanent retirement at 60%. This whole time I have been receiving 100% (service connected, not from physical involvement in war) VA Disibility. As soon as I was permanently retired they stopped or “waived” my retirement pay (I was certainly not expecting this because when I went through TAPS I was told that if you recieve 100% from the VA you get both) I had called and talked to the retirement pay personnel and was told that there was nothing I could do because I did not complete 20 years, I was not in direct combat and I do not have 100% Disibility through the AirForce. Is this person right, do I fall under the glitch in the system or should I be trying something else? I am at a loss because I can’t get a job due to my conditions because I have a good amount of doc appointments to attend and I am almost always sick or in pain.

Thanks,
Stephanie

]]> Comment on GenXers’ Stand Against Baby Boomer Financial Advisers by John Clark http://moaablogs.org/financial/2012/01/genxers%e2%80%99-stand-against-baby-boomer-financial-advisers/comment-page-1/#comment-4749 John Clark Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:46:57 +0000 http://moaablogs.org/financial/?p=1162#comment-4749 "Don't spend $$ you don't have, on things you don't need, to impress people you don't even know or like!" “Don’t spend $$ you don’t have, on things you don’t need, to impress people you don’t even know or like!”

]]> Comment on Setting the Record Straight on CRSC and CRDP by Shane Ostrom, CFP® http://moaablogs.org/financial/2011/01/myth-busting-on-crsc-and-crdp/comment-page-2/#comment-4747 Shane Ostrom, CFP® Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:02:58 +0000 http://moaablogs.org/financial/?p=582#comment-4747 Steve, it's too bad these programs have to be so complicated. It seems pay issues should be pretty straight forward. To become eligible for CRDP or CRSC, you have to receive VA disability compensation. VA compensation is subtracted from military retired pay. CRDP/CRSC are designed to replace all or a portion of your military retired pay reduced by the receipt of VA comp. If you don't have VA disability comp, your military retired pay isn't reduced and there's no need for CRDP/CRSC. To receive VA disability comp, you have to apply for a disability rating to the VA. The VA reviews your claim to determine if your disability was caused by your service in the military and determines the nature and degree of severity of the disability. Once approved, the VA assigns a disability rating and the rating determines the amount of compensation. Here are the ratings and levels of compensation: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm. To apply to the VA for disability comp, you should work with a Veteran Service Office (VSO). VSOs are authorized and trained to handle VA cases--services are free. For your local VSOs look here: http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm andhttp://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm and http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/compensation/ and http://www.va.gov/opa/newtova.asp. Best wishes...Shane Steve, it’s too bad these programs have to be so complicated. It seems pay issues should be pretty straight forward. To become eligible for CRDP or CRSC, you have to receive VA disability compensation. VA compensation is subtracted from military retired pay. CRDP/CRSC are designed to replace all or a portion of your military retired pay reduced by the receipt of VA comp. If you don’t have VA disability comp, your military retired pay isn’t reduced and there’s no need for CRDP/CRSC.

To receive VA disability comp, you have to apply for a disability rating to the VA. The VA reviews your claim to determine if your disability was caused by your service in the military and determines the nature and degree of severity of the disability. Once approved, the VA assigns a disability rating and the rating determines the amount of compensation. Here are the ratings and levels of compensation: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm. To apply to the VA for disability comp, you should work with a Veteran Service Office (VSO). VSOs are authorized and trained to handle VA cases–services are free. For your local VSOs look here: http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm andhttp://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm and http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/compensation/ and http://www.va.gov/opa/newtova.asp.

Best wishes…Shane

]]> Comment on Setting the Record Straight on CRSC and CRDP by Steve http://moaablogs.org/financial/2011/01/myth-busting-on-crsc-and-crdp/comment-page-2/#comment-4746 Steve Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:50:48 +0000 http://moaablogs.org/financial/?p=582#comment-4746 Shane- First of all, I am so lucky at having found these discussions. Thank you for all that you do for all of us mis-informed VETS. My question is does everybody get paid a VA Comp when they are disabled? I've seen the term several times in these posts. If someone is retired with over 20 years of active service and receiving CRDP at the 100% rate should they also receive some type of VA Comp? I'm just asking because there is still mush that I do not understand. Shane- First of all, I am so lucky at having found these discussions. Thank you for all that you do for all of us mis-informed VETS.

My question is does everybody get paid a VA Comp when they are disabled? I’ve seen the term several times in these posts. If someone is retired with over 20 years of active service and receiving CRDP at the 100% rate should they also receive some type of VA Comp? I’m just asking because there is still mush that I do not understand.

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