Wounded Warriors

Wounded Warriors are members designated as combat wounded, ill, or injured. The Air Force uses the 9W-series Reporting Identifier (RI) to categorize Combat-Related Wounded Warriors.

Retiree Cost of Living Adjustment for 2012

Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there will be a 1.7 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities effective Dec. 1, 2012. Most retirees will see the change in their Dec. 31, 2012 payment. Annuitants will receive it Jan. 3, 2013.

However, those who retired between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2012 will receive a partial COLA based on the quarter they retired.

• January through March retirees will receive 1.7%
• April through June retirees will receive 1.0%
• July through September retirees will receive 0.2%.

Those who retire on or after Oct. 1, 2012 will see no COLA this year.
Retirees who received a Career Status Bonus (CSB) will receive a 0.7 percent increase. This is because they accepted a $30,000 career retention bonus when they reached 15 years of service and agreed to reduced retired pay and COLAs as a trade-off for the bonus.
CSB recipients who retired between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2012 will receive a partial COLA based on the quarter they retired.

• January through March retirees will receive 0.7%
• April through June retirees will receive 0.5%

CSB recipients who retired on or after July 1, 2012 will see no COLA this year.

The 1.7% COLA also applies to any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pay retirees may be receiving.

Page Updated November 29, 2012

Original Article: http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/newsevents/newsletter/costoflivingadjustment.html

COLA Increase Approved for Disabled Veterans foe 2012

UPDATE: On Tuesday, Nov. 27 President Obama signed into law a bill that gives veterans and survivors a 1.7 percent hike for the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

Effective Dec. 1, the increase will appear on January paychecks—directly deposited on Dec. 31, 2012—and affect about 4 million veterans, military retirees and survivors.

The average increase in income for the year is $500. Dollar amounts will vary on an individual basis depending on disability rating.

A few weeks ago, the Senate passed the cost of living adjustment (COLA) bill for the 1.7 percent increase for military retirees and veterans’ survivors. Those affected by the increase will see the increase in monthly benefit payments in 2013. The House version of the bill that passed unanimously in June also called for a 1.7 percent increase.

The Senate acted swiftly when it returned from the election recess to guarantee January payments reflect the increase.

The COLA will increase pay for Social Security recipients and military retirees who receive disability compensation and pension, as well as veterans’ survivors who receive dependency and indemnity compensation.

Original Source: http://www.veteransunited.com/money/house-approves-cola-increase-for-disabled-veterans/

Veterans Administration Guaranteed Loans Contact

Department of Veteran's Affairs
Consumer Affairs Service
810 Vermont Ave, NW
Washington DC, 20420
(202) 461-7402
www.va.gov

CRDP and CRSC Calculators

CRDP Calculator (Courtesy of James Martin)

CRSC Calculator (Courtesy of James Martin)

Wounded Warrior CCAF degrees

CCAF has updated their 2011/2013 catalog to allow AFW2s with a 9W identifierto complete their CCAF degree after they ret/sep from the military.

Combat Wounded, Ill or Injured Airmen (Wounded Warriors)

Combat wounded, ill, or injured Airmen who commenced but did not complete a CCAF degree program may continue participation in their degree program after separation or retirement. To qualify, the member must have been awarded a 9W-series Reporting Identifier (RI) for combat- related injuries or illnesses as reflected in the Military Personnel Data System. Degree program participation is limited to the program of enrollment at the time of separation or retirement. These members will have 10 years from their separation or retirement date or from 30 December 2011 if they separated or retired between 12 September 2001 and 30 December 2011 to complete degree requirements.

Veterans keep advantages in federal job market.

Since the Civil War, retirees and other veterans have enjoyed some degree of preference in hiring for jobs with the federal government. In recognition of the sacrifices made by those in uniform, these laws protect veterans seeking federal employment from being penalized because of their time in service. The goal isn’t to place a veteran in every vacant federal job. But these policies do provide a way to give special consideration to qualified veterans. The Obama administration has focused attention on this issue. For example, President Obama established the President’s Council on Veterans Employment, made up of 24 Cabinet-level and other independent agencies. The effort seems to be paying off. The council recently reported that the number of veterans hired for federal jobs in fiscal 2011 was the highest in 20 years.