Summary

Allows certain military retirees who are eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation to receive both their military retired pay and VA disability compensation without a reduction in retired pay. The bill changes and clarifies the legal language in Title 10 (including a new definition of “qualified retiree”), makes conforming edits, and sets the amendments to take effect January 1, 2021.

Key Points

• Amends Title 10 to allow certain retirees to receive both military retired pay and VA disability compensation.
• Adds a statutory definition of "qualified retiree" to identify who may receive concurrent payments.
• Makes wording, heading, and table-of-sections edits and a conforming cross-reference change.
• Congressional findings state retired pay should not be reduced because a retiree is eligible for VA disability compensation.
• Changes take effect January 1, 2021; implementation requires DoD and VA administrative updates.
• This is a policy change expanding benefits eligibility rather than an appropriations measure.
• Likely increases net income for affected disabled retirees and imposes administrative tasks on benefit offices.

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