DOD DISABILITY: Overview of Compensation Program for Service Members Unfit for Duty
Abstract
This report responds to your request for information about the Department of Defense s (DOD) disability severance program that provides a lump-sum payment for certain service members with a disability. You requested this work as a follow-up to our previous report on disabled veterans interest in lump sum versus monthly disability payments. 1 We agreed to examine (1) how DOD administers its disability severance pay for service members with less severe disabilities and the associated administrative costs and coordination issues and (2) the extent to which the military services provide financial counseling to service members receiving disability severance (lump-sum) payments. As agreed with your office, we interviewed DOD and service-level officials and examined pertinent DOD and service-level documents. We conducted our work from January through April 2001 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. On April 19, 2001, we briefed your office on the results of our work. (See app. I.) We requested oral comments from DOD on a draft of this report. DOD provided technical comments, which we have incorporated as appropriate. In summary, we found that the administration of disability severance, like medical retirement pay, follows service-specific procedures using DOD guidance. The services assess members fitness for duty along a scale ranging from 0 to 100 percent in gradations of 10. Members unfit for duty who have 20 or more years of military service with any disability rating or who are assigned a disability rating of 30 percent or higher receive medical 1 Veterans Benefits: Veterans Have Mixed Views on a Lump Sum Disability Payment Option (GAO-01-172).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA389168
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office