@pineapplehead
Hello,
After much thought on this case, I have come to the following conclusions and cite only gross pay(s).
1. You previously said, "After 2 hours on the phone with DFAS I finally got my questions answered.2148 is my High 3 as a W2 pay grade with "over 8 years", OR 3570 points, and IT DOES include locality. As far as the CRSC is calculated according to DFAS, Ron, you were correct.
60% CRSC is $1290.86 per month with a spouse and 1 child under 18 years of age. Then, I opted for the Survivor Benefit Plan which costs me $139.65.
1290.86 - 139.65= $1151.21"
Comment: Locality Pay does not pertain to base pay or retired pay.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) provides uniformed service members with permanent duty within the United States housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets. BAH is based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. It is payable when government quarters are not provided.
2. I am surprised that DFAS reportedly told you that 2148 is your high three because it is not. The high-36 method is the average of the highest 36 months of basic pay divided by 36. This is generally the last 3 years of service and is sometimes called high-3. The rate of of 2148 as high three would be applicable to possibly pay grade E-5.
Knowing the high three is important in computing the retired pay and CRSC. If a CH 61 retiree does not know their high three, the gross retired pay on the most recent DFAS RAS can be divided by the higher of the LOS multiplier or the DoD disability multiplier to determine the current high three with interim COLA increases applied. Your RAS showed 2148 gross.
The gross 2148 divided by 40% (disability percentage) 2148/0.40 = 5370 high three...this is in line with the rate for a W-2 over 20 in the pay chart. The 5370 would be an average. (see paragraph 3)
3. Base pay for AD and reservists/NG: The rate used in the computation for
one month of pay (example) is current rate of pay for rank @number of years creditable for base pay (example 20 yrs for pay) x 1 = one month base pay. The active duty time or division by 360 is not used for determining the correct rate of pay. You mentioned you had a 20 year letter I believe (there are many posts covering this topic).
A W-2's rate of pay over 20 years for pay was 5568 effective 1 January 2018. Active duty time is used for determining the multiplier for retired pay and CRSC. The years of creditable service for computation of the retired pay percentage multiplier include all active duty and all credited reserve points divided by 360.
The multiplier for disability retired pay is either:
- 2.5 percent for each year of service, or
- disability percentage assigned by the service at the time you retire
Either way, the multiplier is limited to 75 percent by law. If you are on the Temporary Disability Retired List, the minimum multiplier is 50 percent while on the TDRL.
4. The CRSC would be the lesser of the dollar amount of the longevity portion of retired pay OR the approved CRSC percentage which mirrors the rates in the VA compensation tables.
5. Selected CRSC information has been added at post 253, this thread.
Ron
U.S. Army Finance Corps
1966-1991