Posted on Apr 30, 2019
What is the procedure to waive VA disability compensation while in the Reserves?
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I just transferred from the IRR to the Army reserves. I currently receive VA disability compensation. I am just wondering what the procedure is to waive disability pay during the days I am with the reserves. Thanks.
Disability
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Army Reserve Elements
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 3
The VA will reach out to you, roughly this time of year (April), with a letter and a VA 21-8951 in order to confirm your number of training days and adjust your Compensation check accordingly. Minimal work needed from you, except a timely response.
You need to fill out a VA Form 21-8951, sign it and have the commander sign it, then send it to the address on the form. (some debate on whether the commander needs to sign it, but the form ask for it, so I would include it).
I would give a copy to my unit personnel people and remember to keep one from yourself. This is an annual requirement anymore, BTW.
In general, it makes more sense to take the drill pay rather than the VA Compensation, but you can waiver either.
I would give a copy to my unit personnel people and remember to keep one from yourself. This is an annual requirement anymore, BTW.
In general, it makes more sense to take the drill pay rather than the VA Compensation, but you can waiver either.
CPT Lawrence Cable
SPC Todd Secor - No, after the first year the VA will send you the form around tax time. All of this will happen even if you don't send in the form, but then you will get a period of overpayments until the two systems catch up.
SFC (Join to see)
When I was National Guard, I was receiving 60% VA disability. I didn’t have to waive my entire compensation. The VA deducted the amount in which I received for drill pay and I received the difference. So you don’t have to waive the entire amount if you receive more in VA than in your drill pay. SPC Todd Secor
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SFC (Join to see) Thanks for the response. Im just curious on when I fill out the form. Am i supposed to fill it out now or do I wait until the end of the fiscal year and then they adjust my pay for the following year?
CPT Lawrence Cable
SPC Todd Secor - OK, a couple of answers to various questions. First, if you don't fill out the paperwork now, they will deduct the overpayments next year when you submit next years paperwork. That usually will mean a month or two with no VA check. If that doesn't bother you, you really don't have to do anything. I am personally of the opinion that it makes more sense to fill out the paperwork and send it in as soon as you get the information so that doesn't happen.
Pay. You can't get paid by the NG/Army and the VA for the same period. What that really means is that you only lose the amount of VA benefits you would have earned in those days you are on duty. The advantage to most people to waiver the VA benefits for those days is you usually make substantially more during those periods as a reservist/NG soldier.
Pay. You can't get paid by the NG/Army and the VA for the same period. What that really means is that you only lose the amount of VA benefits you would have earned in those days you are on duty. The advantage to most people to waiver the VA benefits for those days is you usually make substantially more during those periods as a reservist/NG soldier.
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What does need to be done proactively is turning off Compensation if the SM goes on long-term orders. VA will still catch it, but turning it off proactively prevents an overpayment of several months of Comp.