Military Retirement: Major Legislative Issues [January 3, 2006]   [open pdf - 83KB]

"The military retirement system includes benefits for retirement after an active or reserve military career, disability retirement, and survivor benefits for eligible survivors of deceased retirees. […] The most significant military retirement issue Congress dealt with in 2005 was whether military retirees with a 100% VA [Veterans Affairs] unemployability rating, but less than a 100% disability rating, should be entitled to full concurrent receipt as was provided to 100% disability retirees in 2004. The House version of the FY2006 NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act] would allow such retirees full concurrent receipt effective October 1, 2009, rather than the January 1, 2014 date currently in effect; the Senate version would have allowed immediate concurrent receipt for this population. The House version prevailed in the Conference Committee. The most recent military retirement cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) was 4.1%, first applied to the retired pay disbursed on January 1, 2006. The next regularly scheduled COLA will be applied on January 1, 2007."