The House passed the Major Richard Star Act, sending the bill to the Senate. It would let combat-wounded, medically retired veterans collect full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation at the same time, with no offset, The Hill reported.
Key Facts
- What it does: Ends the offset that reduces military retirement pay for affected veterans who also receive VA disability compensation.
- Who it covers: Combat-wounded veterans who were medically retired from the military.
- How it reached the floor: Democrats collected 218 signatures on a discharge petition, the number needed for a majority of the House. The petition forced the bill to the floor.
- What's next: The bill now goes to the Senate. It is not law unless the Senate passes it and it is signed by the president.
- Related programs: The bill touches the rules governing concurrent receipt and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC), the programs that determine when retirees can receive both payments.
Background
Under current law, military retired pay is generally reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of VA disability compensation a retiree receives. Concurrent receipt programs, including CRSC, carve out exceptions for some retirees. Some medically retired veterans remain subject to the offset.
A discharge petition lets a majority of House members bring a bill to the floor over the objection of leadership. It is a relatively uncommon procedural route. The Hill reported that the Star Act reached the floor this way.
What It Means For You
If you were wounded in combat and medically retired, the bill could change how much you take home each month. It would restore retirement pay that is currently reduced by your VA disability payment.
Nothing changes yet. Until the Senate acts and the bill is enacted, current offset rules still apply, and retirees should not expect any change to their pay or VA payments.
Service members facing a medical separation or retirement can estimate their military retirement pay to see how their retired pay compares with their VA compensation under current rules.
GovWire.org will track the bill's progress in the Senate.
Source: The Hill