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Guidance issued for expanded CRSC program

The Defense Department has issued implementing guidance for the newly expanded categories of the Combat-Related Special Compensation program.

The changes extend benefits to select categories of disabled retirees of the active and reserve components who had fewer than 20 years of service.

Until Congress passed authorizing legislation earlier this year, benefits under the potential $22 billion entitlements program were restricted to disabled retirees with at least 20 years of service.

The expanded CRSC program includes Chapter 61 medically retired service members, retirees on the Temporary Disabled Retirement List, and disabled retirees who left service with fewer than 20 years of service under the Temporary Early Retirement Act.

The new criteria do not include reserve soldiers who retired for a disability incurred outside the line of duty.

The new categories expand the potential eligible population for CRSC by more than 113,000 claimants, including 55,000 Chapter 61 and 58,000 TERA retirees.

Lt. Col. Christopher Drinkard, deputy director of the Army component of the CRSC program, said that within that new population, a percentage of people will have combat-related disabilities that qualify them for benefits.

The Defense Department issued implementing instructions for the new program in June, and the Army is now accepting applications from the new categories of people.

Since implementation of the basic CRSC program five years ago, the services have disbursed $2.88 billion in payments, with $1.6 billion going to former soldiers.

During June alone, the Army paid $35.6 million to claimants, according to data provided by Drinkard’s office.

The new eligibility criteria apply to disabled retirees “from any era,” Drinkard said.

Payments for applicants in the expanded categories will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008.

As under the previous version of the program, there are four categories of “combat-related” disabilities that qualify a person for CRSC compensation, according to Drinkard: injury received from a military weapon or vehicle while performing military duties, hazardous service, conditions that simulate war such as training and armed conflict.

People who have injured themselves in training or combat, are drawing military retired pay and who have a Department of Veteran Affairs rating can qualify if they can demonstrate with documentation how they were injured.

Drinkard said people who believe they may be eligible for compensation should access the Army’s CRSC Web site, http://www.crsc.army.mil for information. People may e-mail questions or requests for information to crsc.info@us.army.mil.

Those who do not have computer access or who want to talk to a CRSC specialist, should call toll-free (866) 281-3254.