When a soldier is placed on the temporary disability retirement list (TDRL) or Permanent Disability Retirement List (PDRL), he is given the same benefits as if he had served for twenty years or more. A medical retirement or medical discharge is always honorable (unless there were other circumstances involved other than the medical).
Pay
For soldiers now, the pay is based on the High 3 method. This is the average of the three highest base pay rates received. While on TDRL, a soldier must receive a minimum of 50% of the high 3 regardless of the disability rating. If on PDRL, the pay is based on the disability rating. A disability rating of 30% would equate to retirement pay of 30% x the high 3 average whereas 60% rating would equate to retirement pay of 60% x the high 3 average and so on. If the soldier had twenty years of service, he will receive the higher of the regular retirement rate or his disability retirement rate. Retirement pay from the Army is taxable. From the time my husband was medically retired until we received his first retirement paycheck was about six weeks. Also, keep in mind that his final active duty paycheck will likely be delayed to double check for any inaccuracies before paying him.
Health Insurance
Retired soldiers and their family are still entitled to TRICARE benefits including dental insurance. If the soldier chooses TRICARE standard, there is no monthly or annual premiums but you are subject to co-pays and deductibles. If the soldier chooses TRICARE Prime, there is an annual enrollment fee that can be paid annually, quarterly or monthly. This fee can also be set up as an allotment from retirement pay. It is less than $40/month for family coverage.
Dental insurance can be set up on an allotment as well. The amount varies based on the type of coverage but it is considerably more than active duty premiums.
ID Cards
The soldier and his dependents will keep their ID cards and maintain commissary, PX and other post privileges. New ID cards will have to be made to show either the TDRL or PDRL status. My husband always gets strange looks when he shows a retired military ID at the age of 29. My ID looks almost identical to my active duty ID except beside the rank, it shows TDRL as well.
DoD Decals
Retired soldiers and their dependents are allowed to keep updated DoD decals on all of their registered vehicles.
On Post Resources
Retired soldiers and dependents maintain access to all on post resources including most travel deals. They can continue to use post lodging as well. There are some restrictions on these things but they are minimal.
Military Discounts
Many businesses only offer discounts to active duty personnel and their dependents. However, many businesses also do not recognize the difference in active duty IDs and retired IDs. So we’ve not had a problem continuing to receive discounts. I typically use my military ID when a business asks for ID as I hate my driver’s license picture even more than my military ID picture *wink* and they’ve always offered the discount. I have not asked for one since my husband retired.
{ 109 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Thanks Stacy, yeah he knew he had a son, we have proof letters he had written to my daughter. However he knew he was dying and took his secret with him.
What about access to schoold onpost? Will the kids still be able to attend?
My ID card resently was confiscated at the Fort Dix gate. I was told only vets with 100% disability was aloud to enter. I am 10% disable and was put on the Retired Reserve list due to medical problems in Korea in 1954. I was told that a new public law transfered
many of the disable vets to the Honorary retired rolls. Please advise what is an Honorary retirie and if there any benifits to go with it. If this is true, the goverment didn’t need to do this since atrition will take care of this in a very short time. I would like to know the Public Order No. so that I may read it. Thank you.
Question:
Family member is going thru medical retirement with less than 8 years of service. Is married and is due to be “out” within next few month’s. My question is: When completing paperwork to obtain payment or percentages of income is this amount based on the “enlisted” or the “enlisted plus spouse”. I know extra benefits are allowed for married, but not sure if medical retirement is based on being married or not.
Looking forward to hearing reply!
Retirement is based on base pay only, which isn’t influenced by whether he is married or not.
What if my Sponser was medicaly retired after twelve years and we file for devorce? Would I, the spouse retian the same benifits
You should call Tricare and ask. I’m thinking that you won’t be but I don’t know that with 100% certainty.
I was medically discharged from the army 6 years ago after combat, being stop lossed, and past my original ets date given a severance pay and I think 0% disability. Is there a difference between being medically retired and medically separated? I ask because the other day I got a letter from the VA stating I am Medically retired from the Army. Would this give me a comminsary ID card? Also I am 80% service connected disability thru the VA but assigned a total disability rating for compensation based on unemployability. It also states I was discharged from the military for a disability that was incurred or aggregated in the line of duty. Do I qualify for a commesary privilege I’d?
If you were medically retired, then you maintain commissary privileges – it’s essentially the same as being retired for time in service (few differences). Medically retired is a rating of at least 30% from the Army. If it’s less than 30%, then it would be a medical separation where you may or may not receive a severance package (based on rating).
My husband is in the process of medically discharge/retirement. I have been told so many different things. We’ve been trying our best to save up for when he gets out so that we can get a house. I keep hearing from one person that her son was found at 30% disability and 2 years later is still waiting for his money. Another individual was 100% disability and it has been 8 months and no pay yet. Does anyone know why someone who is deemed disabled having to wait so long to receive their due? I am so concerned because that means we have to really hustle to get jobs and being that I was a stay at home wife/mom per my husbands request for the last 7 years, it may take a little while to get a job.
My husband was medically retired in June and got his first retirement check from the Army in August. The VA took longer but it’s my understanding those ratings are done all at once now. I’m not sure why it would take so long after the rating has been assigned. Getting a rating is another story.
← Previous Comments