U.S. Army

U.S. ArmyRetired Soldier Handbook2020Your mission has changed,but your duty has not!

U.S. ARMYRETIRED SOLDIER HANDBOOK“Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier a Soldier for Life”This handbook has been prepared by:Army Retirement ServicesDeputy Chief of Staff, G-1October 2019This Handbook is for informational purposes only. It does not make or changepolicy or regulation. Retired Soldiers and family members should contact theirArmy Retirement Services Officer (RSO) for detailed or additional information.Front cover caption: A paratrooper assigned to the U.S. Army's 10th SpecialForces Group (Airborne) conducts an airborne operation near the island of MontSaint Michel, Avranches, France on May 18, 2019. This event comes at theinvitation of the Mayor of Avranches in commemoration of World War ll specialoperations that laid the success for the Allied liberation of France, and acelebration of the strong Alliance between France and the United States. (U.S.Army photo by Sgt. Alexis K. Washburn)This year's cover photo is in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the end ofWorld War II on 2 September 1945.

NOTE: CLICKING ON ANY PAGE NUMBER IN THIS HANDBOOK WILL RETURN YOU TO THE INDEXINDEXCHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1-1. Handbook for Retired Soldiers and their family members . 11-2. Soldier for Life . 11-3. Army Retirement Services Program. 11-4. Retirement Services Offices . 11-5. Army Echoes . 11.6. Chief of Staff, Army (CSA) Retired Soldier Council . 21-7. Installation and Retiree Councils . 21-8. U.S. Army Retired Lapel Button . 21-9. MyArmyBenefits (MAB) Program . 21-10. Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) . 31-11. The Department of Defense Self-Service Logon (DS LOGON) . 31-12. Community Relations . 41-13. Army Community Services Program . 41-14. Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP). 41-15. Installation Volunteer Coordinators . 4CHAPTER 2: RECORDS AND FILES2-1. Overview . 52-2. Lost Records and Files . 52-3. Replacement of Lost Military Records . 52-4. Correction of Military Records . 52-5. How to Obtain Copies of Medical/Dental Records . 62-6. Change of Address. 62-7. Military Identification and Privilege Cards . 72-8. Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) . 8CHAPTER 3: MILITARY STATUS3-1. Composition of Retired List . 93-2. Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) . 93-3. Permanent Disability Retirement List (PDRL) . 103-4. Advancement on the Retired List . 103-5. Obligations for Military Service . 103-6. Mobilization . 113-7. Military Titles and Signatures . 113-8. Wearing of the Uniform . 123-9. Decorations and Awards . 13CHAPTER 4: EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS4-1. Standards of Conduct. 144-2. Employment in DOD. 144-3. Business Activities . 144-4. Employment by Foreign Governments and Concerns . 154-5. Representation of Interests Contrary to the United States . 154-6. Political Activities . 164-7. Conversion of Security Clearance. 16CHAPTER 5: MILITARY RETIRED PAY AND SPECIAL COMPENSATIONS5-1. Overview . 175-2. Computation of Retired Pay . 175-3. Procedure for Payment . 185-4. Method of Payment . 195-5. Retired Pay Mailing Address . 195-6. Increases in Retired Pay . 195-7. Reports of Existence . 195-8. Allotments from Retired Pay . 205-9. Deductions from the Retired Pay of Participants in the Survivor Benefit Plan. 20

NOTE: CLICKING ON ANY PAGE NUMBER IN THIS HANDBOOK WILL RETURN YOU TO THE INDEX5-10.5-11.5-12.5-13.Designation of Beneficiary for Final Pay (or Arrears of Pay) . 20Garnishment of Pay. 21Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) . 21Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) . 23CHAPTER 6: TAXATION OF RETIRED PAY6-1. Withholding Tax Statement . 256-2. Withholding Exemption Certificate . 256-3. Disability Retired Pay . 256-4. Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) . 266-5. Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) . 266-6. Former Spouse Deductions . 266-7. VA Disability Compensation . 266-8. State Taxation of Retired Pay . 266-9. The Affordable Care Act Tax Information. 266-10. Additional Information. 26CHAPTER 7: MEDICAL CARE7-1. Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) . 277-2. TRICARE . 287-3. TRICARE for Life. 307-4. TRICARE Young Adult Program . 307.5. TRICARE Retired Reserve . 307-6. TRICARE Pharmacy . 317-7. Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Plan (FEDVIP) . 327-8. Minimum Essential Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act. .347-9 Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP) . 347-10. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Care . 347-11. Medicare . 407-12. My HealtheVet . 417-13. Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) . 41CHAPTER 8: BURIAL AND MILITARY HONORS8-1. Overview . 438-2. VA Burial Benefits . 438-3. Burial in Arlington National Cemetery . 448-4. Burial in Other National Cemeteries. 458-5. Military Funeral Honors . 458-6. Additional Information. 45CHAPTER 9: SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE9-1. Overview . 469-2. Preparing a Will . 469-3. Personal Affairs . 469-4. Army Financial Assistance to Survivors . 469-5. Reporting a Retired Soldier's Death to Non-Army Agencies . 479-6. Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) . 479-7. Other Assistance to Survivors . 48CHAPTER 10: SURVIVOR BENEFITS10-1. Final Pay-Arrears in Pay . 4910-2. Survivor Benefit Plan . 4910-3. Annuities for Certain Military Surviving Spouses . 5310-4. Death Gratuity . 5410-5. Government Insurance . 5410-6. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation . 5510-7. Survivors Benefits Pension (Formerly Death Pension) . 5610-8. Loan Guarantee . 5610-9. Survivors and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program . 5610-10. Social Security. 56

NOTE: CLICKING ON ANY PAGE NUMBER IN THIS HANDBOOK WILL RETURN YOU TO THE INDEX10-11.10-12.10-13.10-14.Civil Service Survivor Annuities . 56Civil Service Preference . 57State Benefits . 57TRICARE Survivor Benefits . 57CHAPTER 11: RETIREMENT HOMES11-1. The Armed Forces Retirement Home . 5811-2. AFRH-Washington . 5811-3. AFRH-Gulfport. 5811-4. Additional Information. 5911-5. State Veterans Homes . 59CHAPTER 12: UNIFORMED SERVICES FORMER SPOUSES’ PROTECTION ACT12-1. Overview . 6012-2. Effective Date . 6012-3. Disposable Retired Pay . 6012-4. Authority for Court to Treat Retired Pay as Property of the Member and Spouse . 6012-5. Court-Ordered SBP . 6112-6. Additional Information. 61CHAPTER 13: VA BENEFITS13-1. Overview . 6213-2. VA Benefits Timetable . 6213-3. Additional Information. 63CHAPTER 14: SOCIAL SECURITY14-1. Overview . 6414-2. Eligibility Requirements for Social Security Benefits . 6414-3. Types of Social Security Payments . 6414-4. Eligibility for More Than One Type of Benefit . 6514-5. Eligibility for a Pension From Work Not Covered by Social Security . 6514-6. Benefits Reduced For Those With Little Social Security Covered Employment . 6614-7. Lump-Sum Death Payment . 6614-8. Additional Information. 66CHAPTER 15: GENERAL INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES15-1. Military Installation Privileges—Stateside . 6715-2. Military Installation Privileges—Overseas . 6715-3. Locating Former and Retired Soldiers . 6715-4. Legal Assistance . 6715-5. The Department of Veterans Affairs. 6715-6. Army Emergency Relief . 6815-7. Submission of Written Material for Review . 6815-8. Security Program. 68CHAPTER 16: REFERENCES AND TERMS16-1. References . 7016-2. Terms . 71

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1-1. Handbook for Retired Soldiers and their family members.This handbook outlines military status after retirement, discusses benefits and privileges, and providesother information, which may be helpful in administering personal affairs.This handbook should be shared with your family members because it contains information concerningrights, benefits, and privileges to which they may be entitled, especially after your death.Many of the benefits listed are administere

1-5. Army Echoes. Army Echoes. is the official newsletter for Retired Soldiers, surviving spouses and their families. It is published as . a 16-page hardcopy and a 24-page electronic newsletter, plus a blog on the Soldier for Life website. The newsletter is published three times a year