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  2. Retired Military & Annuitants
  3. Plan for Retirement
  4. Types of Retirement

    Types of Retirement

    There are several types of retirement:
    • Regular Retirement
    • Reserve Retirement
    • Temporary Disability Retirement List
    • Permanent Disability Retirement List
    • Temporary Early Retirement Authority

    Type of Retirement

    Basic Eligibility

    Determination Criteria

    Regular Retirement

    Completed 20 years of active service

    • Based on salary and service information submitted by member’s Branch of Service

    Reserve Retirement

    Reservist with 20 years of active service who has reached age 60

    • Based on salary and service information submitted by member’s Branch of Service

    Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL)

    Temporary disability rating, placed on retirement rolls by member's Branch of Service (max of 5 years)

    • Based on Disability Determination by Branch of Service
    • Based on salary and service information submitted by member’s Branch of Service

    Permanent Disability Retirement List
    (PDRL)

    Permanent disability rating, placed on the retirement rolls by member's Branch of Service

    • Based on Disability Determination by Branch of Service
    • Based on salary and service information submitted by member’s Branch of Service

    1993-2001 Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA)

    At least 15, but less than 20 years of active service between 1993 and 2001. This program ended effective September 2002 and any future use must be approved by Congress.

    • Based on number of soldiers needed to maintain force readiness
    • Based on salary and service information submitted by member's Branch of Service
    • Based on the legislation governing this special program

    2012-2018 Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA)

    At least 15, but less than 20 years of active service between 2012 and 2018. This program is expected to end Dec.31, 2018. Any future use will have to be approved by Congress.

    • Based on number of soldiers needed to maintain force readiness
    • Based on salary and service information submitted by member's Branch of Service
    • Based on the legislation governing this special program

    Related Links:
    Eligibility requirements

    Veterans' Entitlements
    In addition to the four standard types of retirement, if you sustained an injury in the course of your active service, even if you are not receiving a disability pension from DFAS, you may be eligible for a disability related entitlement through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

    In order to be eligible for VA disability entitlements, you must receive a disability rating from the VA. This is different from the disability determination made by your Branch of Service and you must secure this rating through the VA.

    Related Link:
    VA Contact Information

    Veteran's Affairs and Branch of Service Offset
    If you receive disability payments from the VA, your military retirement pay from DFAS may be reduced by the amount of your VA disability compensation. We refer to this reduction as an offset.

    Though DFAS and the VA communicate regarding joint ratings and offset levels, it is important to inform DFAS if you have a VA disability rating, if that rating changes, or if the amount of your VA benefit changes.

    If you do not keep DFAS Retired and Annuitant (R&A) Pay informed, your account could go into an overpaid status, in which case you will incur a debt that will need to be repaid.

    Contact DFAS R&A Pay

    CRDP
    If:

    1. You are receiving disability retirement pay through DFAS,
    2. You are receiving disability pay from the VA, and
    3. Your pay from DFAS is being offset for the amount you are receiving from the VA

    You may be eligible for another form of retirement pay.
    Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) is a program designed by Congress to compensate service members for the VA/DFAS offset.

    Read more about CRDP

    CRSC
    If you have a combat-related injury and are rated by the VA, you may be eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC).

    Read more about CRSC

    Page updated May 3, 2012