The 2024 Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) Pay Chart reflects the 3.2% COLA, which began January 1, 2024.
Eligible military retirees can use the updated 2024 CRSC Pay Chart to calculate their monthly tax-free compensation, including adjustments for dependents.
Table of Contents
2024 Combat Related Special Compensation Pay Chart
| VA Rating | Veteran Alone | Veteran & 1 Child | Veteran & 1 Parent | Veteran & Spouse | Veteran, 1 Parent, & 1 Child | Veteran & 2 Parents | Veteran, Spouse, & 1 Child | Veteran, Spouse, & 1 Parent | Veteran, 2 Parents, & 1 Child | Veteran, Spouse, 1 Parent, & 1 Child | Veteran, Spouse, & 2 Parents | Veteran, Spouse, 2 Parents, & 1 Child |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 | $171.23 |
| 20% | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 | $338.49 |
| 30% | $524.31 | $565.31 | $574.31 | $586.31 | $615.31 | $624.31 | $632.31 | $636.31 | $665.31 | $682.31 | $688.31 | $732.31 |
| 40% | $755.28 | $810.28 | $821.28 | $838.28 | $876.28 | $887.28 | $899.28 | $904.28 | $942.28 | $965.28 | $970.28 | $1,031.28 |
| 50% | $1,075.16 | $1,144.16 | $1,158.16 | $1,179.16 | $1,227.16 | $1,241.16 | $1,255.16 | $1,262.16 | $1,310.16 | $1,338.16 | $1,345.16 | $1,421.16 |
| 60% | $1,361.88 | $1,444.88 | $1,461.88 | $1,486.88 | $1,544.88 | $1,561.88 | $1,577.88 | $1,586.88 | $1,644.88 | $1,677.88 | $1,686.88 | $1,777.88 |
| 70% | $1,716.28 | $1,813.29 | $1,833.28 | $1,861.28 | $1,930.28 | $1,950.28 | $1,968.28 | $1,978.28 | $2,047.28 | $2,085.28 | $2,095.28 | $2,202.28 |
| 80% | $1,995.01 | $2,106.01 | $2,128.01 | $2,161.01 | $2,239.01 | $2,261.01 | $2,283.01 | $2,294.01 | $2,372.01 | $2,416.01 | $2,427.01 | $2,549.01 |
| 90% | $2,241.91 | $2,366.91 | $2,391.91 | $2,428.91 | $2,516.91 | $2,541.91 | $2,565.91 | $2,578.91 | $2,666.91 | $2,715.91 | $2,727.91 | $2,865.91 |
| 100% | $3,737.85 | $3,877.22 | $3,905.11 | $3,946.25 | $4,044.48 | $4,072.37 | $4,098.87 | $4,113.51 | $4,211.74 | $4,266.13 | $4,280.77 | $4,433.39 |
Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) Pay Rates Explained
CRSC Monthly Pay Rates
The Full Monthly Amount for CRSC is the same as what the VA would pay for combat-related disabilities. This amount includes extra compensation for dependents, similar to how the VA calculates it. For instance, if a veteran is rated 100% disabled due to combat-related conditions and has a spouse and one child, the Full Monthly CRSC Amount is $4,098.87.
Reduction for Chapter 61 Retirees
If a veteran retired under Chapter 61 (medical retirement) and their disability retirement pay is higher than what they would get under regular retirement based on years of service, the CRSC payment will be reduced. For example, if a veteran’s retirement pay under Chapter 61 is $1,800, but it would have been $1,650 under regular retirement, the CRSC payment will be reduced by $150.
Maximum CRSC Pay Rate
The maximum CRSC payment a veteran can receive is limited to the amount of retired pay that is reduced due to receiving VA disability compensation. If the entire retired pay is offset by VA compensation, the CRSC payment will be equal to the full amount of retired pay that was reduced. We’ve highlighted an example below for a retired military member collecting CRSC who also has a 100% VA rating.
CRSC Payments for 100% Disabled Veterans
Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) offers tax-free payments to retired veterans who have combat-related disabilities. These payments are designed to restore some or all of the military retirement pay that is reduced when a veteran receives VA disability compensation.
Example Scenario:
- A veteran has a 100% VA disability rating due to combat-related injuries.
- The veteran’s military retirement pay is $3,000 per month.
- Because the veteran receives $3,737.85 in VA disability compensation, their entire $3,000 military retirement pay is offset (reduced to $0).
How CRSC Pay Works:
- CRSC compensates for the portion of retirement pay that was reduced due to the VA waiver.
- In this scenario, the veteran would receive a CRSC payment of $3,000, which is tax-free.
- Thus, the veteran’s total monthly income would be $3,737.85 (VA compensation) + $3,000 (CRSC), totaling $6,737.85.
This ensures that veterans with combat-related disabilities receive financial compensation that offsets the reduction in their military retirement pay due to the VA waiver, providing significant financial relief.
Important Notes:
- The maximum CRSC payment is limited to the amount of military retirement pay that was reduced due to receiving VA disability compensation.
- CRSC is calculated based on the VA disability rating associated with combat-related injuries or conditions and the amount of military retirement pay. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) handles these calculations.
This structure ensures that eligible veterans can receive the full benefits they are entitled to without losing out on their retirement pay due to their VA compensation.
Combined Disability Rating Percentage
When multiple disabilities are combined, the VA uses a formula to determine the overall disability rating. This combined rating impacts the CRSC amount. For instance, if a veteran has disabilities rated at 50%, 40%, and 30%, the combined disability rating is calculated using a specific method that results in a combined rating (in this case, 80% for all disabilities or 60% if only certain disabilities are combat-related). Use our free VA disability calculator to quickly compute your combined VA rating.
Retroactive Payments
If the VA retroactively increases a veteran’s disability compensation for combat-related conditions, the CRSC payment will be adjusted for future payments but will not include a retroactive CRSC adjustment.
About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
