Reserve Income Replacement Program (RIRP) Fact Sheet

The Reserve Income Replacement Program (RIRP) was developed to provide specific payments to eligible members of the National Guard and Reserve who are involuntary serving on active duty (the term active duty includes full-time National Guard duty) and who are experiencing a monthly active duty income differential of more than $50.00, as determined by the member’s Service Secretary.

An active duty income differential is the difference between the average monthly civilian earned income of the member before mobilization and the member’s total monthly military compensation while involuntarily mobilized, when the member’s average monthly civilian income exceeds the total monthly military compensation.

RIRP is an entitlement that must be paid to all eligible service members.  To be eligible for RIRP payments, the member must be currently serving on active duty in an involuntarily status and have:

• Completed 18 consecutive months of active duty, or
• Completed 24 months of active duty during the previous 60 months, or
• Been involuntarily mobilized for 180 days or more within six months of the previous involuntary period of active duty of more than 180 days

RIRP is effective as of August 1, 2006, the first full month following the 180-day period after enactment of P.L. 109-163.  Income replacement payments will be made only for full months of qualifying involuntary active duty performed from August 2006 through December 2009.

The first RIRP payments for eligible service members will occur in September 2006, for duty performed in August 2006 (the first full month authorized for payments).  RIRP payments will be made to an eligible member on a monthly basis.  RIRP payments may not exceed $3,000 per month. 

For more detailed information about RIRP or assistance in determining/verifying your RIRP eligibility, please visit the additional sections within this website.