Reader Question: Can I Get Partial Retirement Pay?
I received a reader question this week:
Hi Ryan,
Let’s say an Individual put in 15 years active duty, then separated from the Army at his own request with a less than Honorable Discharge. What would his entitlements be for the time he served in on Active Duty? Is he entitled to Partial Retirement Pay? Or does he have to put in the 20 years to receive retirement pay?
Thanks,
A.T.
Veteran, US Army
Hello A.T. – Thanks for your service to our country.
In most cases one needs to serve 20 years to qualify for military retirement pay and benefits, except in some cases such as disability. If you are looking to get paid, here are your options:
Join the Guard or Reserves. Your 15 years will count toward retirement through the Guard or Reserves. You would then need to complete 5 more years of service before you would be eligible for retirement pay. Keep in mind that you will not be eligible to receive retirement pay until age 60. Here is more information about the Army Reserves.
File a disability claim. Assuming you have a qualifying disability and it gets approved, you may receive a monthly disability compensation check and possibly health care benefits as a result of your disability. Keep in mind you need to file your claim shortly after leaving military service and you will need your medical records. I highly recommend visiting your local VA representative for assistance with completing the paperwork for your claim. Here are the current disability rates. The rates receive an annual increase for cost of living.
You should still be eligible for other veteran benefits such as the VA Loan, GI Bill, Military Scholarships, or other veteran benefits (check with your state or the VA for more information.
Good luck.
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November 19th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Ryan you are right there is no partial retirement. I like the way you think about the disability and other VA benefits and applying for them but there is a problem. Some of those benefits require an HONORABLE discharge for you to be eligible. Unfortunately your reader points out that he does not have an honorable discharge. Also depending on the type of discharge he may not be able to enlist in the reserves.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Jarhead: Very true – some benefits require an Honorable discharge, but the majority simply require any discharge higher than Dishonorable. I believe that all military members are eligible for disability regardless of which type of discharge the receive.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I think that the suggestion of Reserve/Guard service is a great one, if indeed the reader is eligible to lead him/herself back into the military that way. It would be a great way to enjoy the benefits of service (GI Bill, insurance availability, etc.) on a part-time basis without sacrificing those 15 years for nothing.
Jerry
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:31 am
[...] Reader Question: Can I Get Partial Retirement Pay? See what Military Finance Network says! [...]
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Ryan, USMC Officer that may be involuntarily separated if I do not make it to next rank. I will only have 14 years on active duty as an 04 by the time I may be separated. Is there a rank limitation to joining the Reserves?
February 4th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
ADA: Thanks for contacting me. I don’t know the specific requirements, but I believe you may be able to transfer into the USMC Reserves if you are required to separate because of high year of tenure requirements. For a firm answer, I recommend speaking with your personnel officer or calling the USMC Reserves Prior Service Recruiting Office at 1-800-627-4637.
Best of luck to you, and thanks for your service.