Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 11/8/2009

Question
I just separated from the Air Force under the force shaping program in July 2007.  I was thinking about joining the Navy.  If I've been out of the service for two years and my VA disability checks have been paying off the incentive pay (before I will receive an actual check), will I have to pay back the incentive money in full or pick up where the VA benefits left off?

Answer
Sherry,
There's some crucial info missing in your question.  Let me see if I've got it right.  You received some incentive money when you joined.  Because you left the AF early you have to pay back some of it for the years you did not serve.  Am I correct so far?

You evidently have some sort of disability for which you're drawing disability payments from the VA.  To repay what you still owe on the incentive pay, a certain amount is deducted from your monthly Disability Pay.  Is this right?

If what I've stated so far is correct, then you only have to pay the remaining balance, NOT the full amount.  Your VA Disability Pay will have to stop BEFORE you can join any branch of Service.  It's a gamble you have to take if you believe you're now able to join the military.  If you stop VA payments and then get turned down for returning to the military, you're screwed because you can't resume VA payments later.  ONLY YOU can stop your VA payments and you do that by calling the VA at 1-800-827-1000.

Thanks for your service in the AF and good luck in the Navy
Colonel H