Money after IDES

Good morning all,

I hope you all are doing well. Has anyone ran into potential pay issues for VA compensation after IDES is complete? I recently medically retired on 29 March 2025 after going through IDES and recieved 100% P/T and 100% DoD. I was told by my VA Military Service Coordinator (MSC) that I would be paid on 1 May 2025 for VA compensation. However, when I refer to the My VA website, my claims are at the rating phase and have been since the 2nd of April. I am not sure if this is something to be concerned about for pay or if this is normal? I was also informed by another servicemember that retired on the same day that the status is the same for them and they were informed they would also be getting paid on 1 May. This process seems to be a bit confusing to me and wanted to get clarification on how this works? My whole understanding was that going through IDES integrates the process between the VA and DOD and that whatever month you retire you definitely receive your first VA payment the following full month (i.e. retire 29 March 2025, 29 March 2025 through 30 April 2025 pay calculated, payout 1 May).

I am also seeing conflicting information from DFAS regarding medical retirement pay. I have been told that since I have less than 20 years of service (Disability Retirement: 16y, 3mth, 27 days), that I would not receive retiree pay but DFAS states that I may. I called DFAS yesterday and they said they are unsure at the moment.

Any help on this would make things easier to understand. Seems very convoluted and confusing right now.
 
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MeerkatFromSkinnyKeep said:
Good morning all,

I hope you all are doing well. Has anyone ran into potential pay issues for VA compensation after IDES is complete? I recently medically retired on 29 March 2025 after going through IDES and recieved 100% P/T and 100% DoD. I was told by my VA Military Service Coordinator (MSC) that I would be paid on 1 May 2025 for VA compensation. However, when I refer to the My VA website, my claims are at the rating phase and have been since the 2nd of April. I am not sure if this is something to be concerned about for pay or if this is normal? I was also informed by another servicemember that retired on the same day that the status is the same for them and they were informed they would also be getting paid on 1 May. This process seems to be a bit confusing to me and wanted to get clarification on how this works? My whole understanding was that going through IDES integrates the process between the VA and DOD and that whatever month you retire you definitely receive your first VA payment the following full month (i.e. retire 29 March 2025, 29 March 2025 through 30 April 2025 pay calculated, payout 1 May).

I am also seeing conflicting information from DFAS regarding medical retirement pay. I have been told that since I have less than 20 years of service (Disability Retirement: 16y, 3mth, 27 days), that I would not receive retiree pay but DFAS states that I may. I called DFAS yesterday and they said they are unsure at the moment.

Any help on this would make things easier to understand. Seems very convoluted and confusing right now.
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Your MSC should have never given you a date for VA compensation for being paid. That may be the date you are eligible for pay for the first time but the VA needs to finalize your awards and send out an award letter. You will be paid any money owed that is backdated. Basically you are at the mercy of the VA. Once they are done and its completed you will get paid and if your first payment was to be May 1st then you will will get that money eventually.

Also, you should get a prorated last check from the military and a prorated pension check too. That too can take a while. You will get a letter from DFAS called your Retirement Rolls it will state your calculations and pay and when it starts.

Basically just know there is a pretty decent gap for everything and its best to save and plan for having no money for 60 days after you get out. Now that may not happen but that's what you should do. My wife when she retired got a prorated pension check for 10 days and then the following month she got full pension check. The VA paid a bit late as they took longer to finalize everything but when they did they paid her any backpay to the date she was eligible for it.
 
Provis said:
Your MSC should have never given you a date for VA compensation for being paid. That may be the date you are eligible for pay for the first time but the VA needs to finalize your awards and send out an award letter. You will be paid any money owed that is backdated. Basically you are at the mercy of the VA. Once they are done and its completed you will get paid and if your first payment was to be May 1st then you will will get that money eventually.

Also, you should get a prorated last check from the military and a prorated pension check too. That too can take a while. You will get a letter from DFAS called your Retirement Rolls it will state your calculations and pay and when it starts.

Basically just know there is a pretty decent gap for everything and its best to save and plan for having no money for 60 days after you get out. Now that may not happen but that's what you should do. My wife when she retired got a prorated pension check for 10 days and then the following month she got full pension check. The VA paid a bit late as they took longer to finalize everything but when they did they paid her any backpay to the date she was eligible for it.
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@Provis, thank you for your response. So here is my next concern, if I do not get compensation on 1 May, who do I report this to? Frankly, and not trying to complain, I am overly tired of these people making false claims and no action is being taken. Myself, as most others here, went through over a year of getting tugged around looking to finally be done with this process that changed lives in ways that they were not expecting. To then, potentially, be told when they are able to get their lives back on track in a variety of ways to be fed misinformation. This is not right in any way.
 
MeerkatFromSkinnyKeep said:
@Provis, thank you for your response. So here is my next concern, if I do not get compensation on 1 May, who do I report this to? Frankly, and not trying to complain, I am overly tired of these people making false claims and no action is being taken. Myself, as most others here, went through over a year of getting tugged around looking to finally be done with this process that changed lives in ways that they were not expecting. To then, potentially, be told when they are able to get their lives back on track in a variety of ways to be fed misinformation. This is not right in any way.
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There is no accountability. You will get paid anything owed to you and if there are delays you will get that money once the VA processes it.
 
MeerkatFromSkinnyKeep said:
Good morning all,

I hope you all are doing well. Has anyone ran into potential pay issues for VA compensation after IDES is complete? I recently medically retired on 29 March 2025 after going through IDES and recieved 100% P/T and 100% DoD. I was told by my VA Military Service Coordinator (MSC) that I would be paid on 1 May 2025 for VA compensation. However, when I refer to the My VA website, my claims are at the rating phase and have been since the 2nd of April. I am not sure if this is something to be concerned about for pay or if this is normal? I was also informed by another servicemember that retired on the same day that the status is the same for them and they were informed they would also be getting paid on 1 May. This process seems to be a bit confusing to me and wanted to get clarification on how this works? My whole understanding was that going through IDES integrates the process between the VA and DOD and that whatever month you retire you definitely receive your first VA payment the following full month (i.e. retire 29 March 2025, 29 March 2025 through 30 April 2025 pay calculated, payout 1 May).

I am also seeing conflicting information from DFAS regarding medical retirement pay. I have been told that since I have less than 20 years of service (Disability Retirement: 16y, 3mth, 27 days), that I would not receive retiree pay but DFAS states that I may. I called DFAS yesterday and they said they are unsure at the moment.

Any help on this would make things easier to understand. Seems very convoluted and confusing right now.
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Did you get paid May 1st??
 
mjlgll said:
Only asking because my first pay should be June 1st. I’m a month after you and want to see what’s happening with others
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I'm in the same situation. My status has been at step 5 since May 1. Has your status changed at all?
 
Do you guys know how long it takes to get a retirement check? I went on TDRL 30MAY2025. Our vehicle was totaled by a truck 2 days ago and we are stressed.
 
coffeeman2020 said:
Do you guys know how long it takes to get a retirement check? I went on TDRL 30MAY2025. Our vehicle was totaled by a truck 2 days ago and we are stressed.
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mjlgll said:
Ours was

when did you get out? I’m at step 5 still but my va browser extension says “preparing for decision”
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24th of April 2025
 
mjlgll said:
Still at step 5. Missed my first paycheck.

Super frustrating because I was promised by June 1st.
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I don't understand how we do steps 1-5 during IDES and get our proposed ratings before we get out and stay stuck at steps 5 for so long.
 
coffeeman2020 said:
Do you guys know how long it takes to get a retirement check? I went on TDRL 30MAY2025. Our vehicle was totaled by a truck 2 days ago and we are stressed.
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I went on PDRL 18APR2025 and got got my first retirement check on May 1. It's typically the first of the month after your retirement, so you should get a check on July 1.
 
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