Concurrent Receipt: Definition & Impact on TRICARE Benefits

Concurrent Receipt: Definition & Impact on TRICARE Benefits

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Definition Concurrent Receipt refers to the legal ability for eligible military retirees to receive both their full military retirement pay and their full VA disability compensation without an "offset" or reduction in benefits.

## What it means in practice Historically, federal law prohibited military retirees from "double-dipping." This meant if a retiree was entitled to $2,000 in monthly military retirement and qualified for $500 in VA disability pay, the government would subtract the VA amount from the retirement pay. The retiree would still receive $2,000 total, but $500 of it would be tax-free VA compensation. This was known as the "VA Waiver."

Today, for many TRICARE beneficiaries, this offset has been eliminated through two specific programs: **Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP)** and **Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)**. Under CRDP, eligible retirees (generally those with a 20-year career and a VA disability rating of 50% or higher) receive their full pension and full VA check simultaneously. This significantly increases a household's monthly income, which can be used to cover TRICARE Select enrollment fees or TRICARE Prime copayments.

For example, in 2026, a retiree with a 70% VA disability rating who qualifies for CRDP no longer looks at their VA check as a deduction from their pension. Instead, they receive their full earned Department of Defense (DoD) retirement pay plus the monthly tax-free VA disability amount. CRDP is automatic for those who qualify, while CRSC requires an application through the specific branch of service.

The relationship between Concurrent Receipt and TRICARE is primarily financial. While Concurrent Receipt provides more disposable income, it does not change TRICARE eligibility. However, retirees with a 100% VA disability rating (Permanent and Total) may gain access to additional benefits, such as CHAMPVA for dependents if they are not otherwise eligible for TRICARE, though most retirees stay within the TRICARE system.

## Related terms * **CRDP (Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay):** The program that restores retired pay for those with service-connected disabilities rated at 50% or higher. * **CRSC (Combat-Related Special Compensation):** A tax-free payment for retirees with combat-related disabilities that offsets the VA waiver. * **VA Waiver:** The legal requirement to waive a portion of military retirement pay to receive an equal amount of tax-free VA disability compensation. * **Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU):** A VA designation where a veteran is paid at the 100% rate because they cannot maintain "substantial gainful employment." * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** A change like retirement or a disability rating update that might trigger a 90-day window to change TRICARE plan enrollments.

## Sources * **Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS):** [https://www.dfas.mil](https://www.dfas.mil) * **TRICARE.mil - Retirees:** [https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/RSVP](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/RSVP) * **VA.gov - Disability Compensation:** [https://www.va.gov/disability/](https://www.va.gov/disability/)