Posted on 04/10/2005 1:50:36 AM PDT by Racehorse
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - "Our task is to help eligible retirees qualify for tax-free CRSC compensation in addition to their retired pay and VA disability compensation."
Ms. Kathy Garfield shared those words following the Combat Related Special Compensation team's attendance at the Defense Department's World War II 60th anniversary commemoration ceremony in San Antonio on April 3. Ms. Garfield, CRSC processing chief at the Air Force Personnel Center here, and five co-workers were out spreading the word about the CRSC program.
CRSC allows some disabled military retirees, who served at least 20 years, are receiving military retired pay, and are receiving Veterans Administration disability compensation, to collect up to an additional $2,500 in monthly, tax-free payments for some of their service-related disabilities. Following the ceremony, The Air Force team spoke with hundreds of veterans, which could generate a couple hundred new applications with the possibility to extend that number even further as the veterans carry the word to their friends.
"This event helped us network with other military service-related agencies to help us reach bigger audiences," said Mr. Barry Craigen, chief of the Air Force Combat Related Special Compensation Branch. Having met with representatives from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the VA, CRSC personnel will likely attend those organizations' annual conferences in Corpus Christi, Texas, in June.
"We're especially excited about speaking to veterans' service officers at the VA conference, because they are the people who speak directly with veterans in their home areas. They have established relationships with many of the people we are trying to reach, and we expect they will help communicate the special benefit the CRSC program offers," said Ms. Garfield.
WWII-related books, articles and uniforms, and letters from other CRSC-approved veterans helped draw veterans to their information kiosk. This memorabilia helped bridge between the familiar and unfamiliar.
"Most veterans I met at the ceremony were not aware of CRSC," said Ms. Ruth Relyea, a CRSC data entry and customer service specialist. "I spoke with the widow of a World War II veteran. She was still grieving the loss of her husband who passed away in 1998. She said she would share the CRSC information with her friends. I really hope what we provided will help them."
Having processed more than 15,000 applications, the CRSC staff has only scratched the surface of an estimated 200,000-member retired Air Force population that has a 10-percent or greater VA disability rating. In addition to this large customer base, the staff also assists people from other U.S. services with the same level of concern and customer service.
Working as an adjudication specialist, Ms. Lisa Schlichtig, helps determine which applicants are approved to receive CRSC. Recently, she handled an inquiry from a retired Navy veteran battling cancer due to Agent Orange exposure. The case is somewhat unusual due to the veteran having fought cancer for more than 15 years - far beyond the five-year life expectancy his doctor gave him in 1989.
The gentleman expressed concerns that he might not have much longer to live and wanted to leave more money for his wife. CRSC personnel found out during the process of filling out his application, he had not waived a portion his retirement pay to receive VA disability compensation. This step is essential for veterans to receive CRSC, which is not payable as a supplement to retired military pay. They informed him of how to go about doing this and ordered his medical records for him.
"As soon as we are informed everything is complete, we will rush his information to the Navy CRSC team for immediate processing," said Ms. Schlichtig. "My father was Navy and my grandfather too so this request brought tears to my eyes. We'll try to help him support his application for as much money as he's eligible for, but then we do that for every person who calls here."
CRSC specifically addresses combat-related disabilities; however, retirees who developed disabilities due to training, simulated war exercises and other military specific duties may be eligible for this compensation, as well. "We advise anyone with at least a 10-percent or greater VA disability rating to apply and let trained professionals determine their eligibility," said Ms. Garfield.
Applicants may apply at http://www.dior.whs.mil/forms/DD2860T.pdf on the Internet where they will also find lists of supporting documentation they may want to include in their packages. Completed applications and supporting documentation can be mailed to: United States Air Force, Disability Division (CRSC), 550 C Street West Suite 6, Randolph AFB TX 78150-4708.
To obtain copies of military records, contact the National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis MO 63132-5100 or call (314) 801-0800.
Approved applicants may receive this compensation backdated to June, 2003 when the program began, depending on a variety of factors the trained staff will cover with each applicant.
For more information, call the Air Force Personnel Contact Center toll free at (800) 616-3775, commercial at (210) 565- or DSN 665-1600.
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