Defense Authorization finally accepted
The FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill initially rejected by President Bush, in a last minute "pocket veto." has finally been approved.
The President, in his State of the Union Address referenced the Administration's concerns over freezing Iraqi assets were now met, and said the Bill would be signed.
Now that the Defense Authorization signed by the President, the Pentagon's Compensation Policy office should give direction to process thousands of CRSC applicants.
VETSPAC forums will report updates from OSD (C&P) as we receive them.
Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) provides tax-free monthly payments to veterans with combat-related injuries. With CRSC you can receive both your full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation, if the injury is combat-related.
Officially, “combat related” disabilities are as a result of armed conflict; while engaged in hazardous service such as flight, diving or parachute duty; in the performance of duty under conditions simulating war; or through an instrumentality of war, such as combat vehicles, weapons or Agent Orange.
Each year the Services process at least 3,500 Servicemembers who will be eligible for this new benefit, and about 30,000 disabled military retirees who will soon be eligible to apply for CRSC.
Financing the implementation of this effort will challenge the Pentagon as the Service accounts will have to allocate resources to this new requirement and unlike the Defense Contractors there are few lobbyist to bring attention to the administrative funding support.
CRDP Unemployability (IU) back pay fixes will come slowly as an inefficient and expensive Lockheed contract is expanded
CRDP/Unemployability delays are likely, and there is little chance of improvement in the coordination between the Pentagon, DFAS and Veterans Affairs.
Retirees hoping for fast enactment of the FY 2008 retroactive Unemployability fix will have to wait until DOD, the Services and DFAS find a way to fund for and apply multiple fixes.
These "fixes" could easily take one year, and Lockheed, the DFAS implementation contractor leaves the Pentagon without choices but to pay for a costly implementation.
Our forums will be updated as we confer with OSD Compensation Policy, and DFAS on CRDP back pay issues.
National Military Family Association gets top rating
ABC news featured ratings of Veterans fundraising efforts and the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) report gave it's top rating to the National Military Family Association (NMFA).