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If medically retired with less than 20 years, your retirement pay is the higher of: (a) disability % × base pay, or (b) 2.5% × years of service × base pay. Minimum is 30% of base pay for TDRL.
Look up your rate at BAH Rate Lookup (E-5 w/dependents for your school zip)
Education benefits are temporary (typically 36 months). Housing allowance is tax-free. Rates shown are for the 2025-2026 academic year.
SBP provides 55% of your retirement pay to your surviving spouse. The 6.5% premium is deducted from your retirement pay. SBP ends at 360 payments (30 years), after which you've paid in full.
VGLI converts your SGLI coverage after separation. Premiums increase every 5 years as you age. You have 1 year and 120 days after separation to convert without proof of good health.
Active Duty: Requires 20+ years of active service. Pay = multiplier × years × high-3 average base pay.
High-3 (Legacy): 2.5% per year. 20 years = 50%, 30 years = 75%.
BRS: 2.0% per year + TSP matching (up to 5%) while serving. 20 years = 40%.
CSB/REDUX: Elected pre-2018 for $30K bonus at 15 years. 40% at 20 years (vs 50%), restores to full at age 62. COLA is CPI minus 1%.
Guard/Reserve: Points-based. Total points ÷ 360 = equivalent years. Same multiplier formula. Pay begins at age 60.
SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan): Provides up to 55% of your retirement pay to your surviving spouse or dependent children. Costs 6.5% of your selected base amount. Auto-enrolled at retirement unless you and your spouse opt out in writing.
VGLI (Veterans' Group Life Insurance): Converts your SGLI to civilian coverage after separation. Coverage from $10,000 to $400,000. Premiums increase every 5 years with age. No physical exam required if you apply within 240 days of separation.
TRICARE Prime: HMO-style, lowest out-of-pocket. Requires PCM referral. Enrollment fee required for retirees.
TRICARE Select: PPO-style, more provider choice. No enrollment fee but has deductibles and cost shares.
TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR): For Guard/Reserve "gray area" retirees (under 60). Premium-based.
TRICARE for Life: Supplement to Medicare at age 65. Wraps around Medicare Parts A & B.
VA disability compensation is tax-free at both federal and state levels. Rates depend on your combined disability rating and number of dependents (spouse, children, parents).
Ratings of 30% and above qualify for additional dependent payments. If you have both retirement pay and VA disability, you may be eligible for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) at 50%+ VA rating.
Rates are updated annually with COLA. VetLedger uses the official 2026 VA rate tables (2.8% COLA, effective Dec 1, 2025).
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33): The most comprehensive benefit. Covers full tuition at public schools, up to $29,920/yr at private schools. Includes a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) based on the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for your school's zip code (avg $2,522/mo nationally). Plus $1,000/yr for books. Benefits are tiered based on active duty time after 9/10/2001.
Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30): Flat monthly rate of approximately $2,185/mo for full-time students. You must have paid the $100/mo buy-in during your first year of service. Cannot be combined with Post-9/11.
Vocational Rehab (Chapter 31): For veterans with service-connected disabilities. Covers tuition, books, supplies, and provides a monthly subsistence allowance similar to the Post-9/11 GI Bill MHA.
DEA / Chapter 35: Dependents' Educational Assistance for children and spouses of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or who died in service. Approximately $1,518/mo for full-time.
Transfer of Benefits: Service members with 6+ years who commit to 4 more years can transfer Post-9/11 benefits to a spouse or children. Must be done while still serving.
All education benefit housing allowances and stipends are tax-free.
Military retirement pay is taxable as federal income in most cases. However, most states now fully exempt military retirement pay from state income tax.
States with no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.
States that still tax military retirement: California, Montana, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC (partially: Delaware, Georgia).
VA disability pay is always 100% tax-free — federal and all states.
Step 1 — SERVICE tab: Select your component (Active Duty or Guard/Reserve), branch, rank, time in service, and retirement system.
Step 2 — PERSONAL tab: Enter your marital status, dependents, VA disability rating, zip codes for tax comparison, and any expected additional income.
Step 3 — RESULTS tab: View your retirement pay summary, state tax comparison, 10-year projection, and scenario comparison.
Step 4 — HEALTH tab: Select your TRICARE plan to see estimated costs, calculate SBP and VGLI premiums, and view your total compensation package.