The Department of Defense officially kicked off the Reserve Income Replacement Program (RIRP) on August first. The first payments under this program will take effect in the September 1st paycheck of eligible members of the Reserves and National Guard.
The Reserve Income Replacement Program was developed to provide specific payments to eligible members of the National Guard and Reserve who are involuntary serving on active duty (the term active duty includes full-time National Guard duty) and who are experiencing a monthly active duty income differential of more than $50.00, as determined by the member’s Service Secretary.
An active duty income differential is the difference between the average monthly civilian earned income of the member before mobilization and the member’s total monthly military compensation while involuntarily mobilized, when the member’s average monthly civilian income exceeds the total monthly military compensation.
RIRP is an entitlement that must be paid to all eligible service members. To be eligible for RIRP payments, the member must be currently serving on active duty in an involuntarily status and have:
- Completed 18 consecutive months of active duty, or
- Completed 24 months of active duty during the previous 60 months, or
- Been involuntarily mobilized for 180 days or more within six months of the previous involuntary period of active duty of more than 180 days
RIRP is effective as of August 1, 2006, the first full month following the 180-day period after enactment of P.L. 109-163. Income replacement payments will be made only for full months of qualifying involuntary active duty performed from August 2006 through December 2008.
The first RIRP payments for eligible service members will occur in September 2006, for duty performed in August 2006 (the first full month authorized for payments). RIRP payments will be made to an eligible member on a monthly basis. RIRP payments may not exceed $3,000 per month.
Guard and reserve members serving on involuntary active duty and earning at least $50 less than their normal civilian income each month must verify eligibility for this benefit through their military service’s personnel system, using a new DD form created for this program.
Financial records submitted with the RIRP application must include the member’s most recent federal income tax return or other record of earnings that shows gross income during the 12 months before the member’s mobilization.
Congress authorized the Reserve Income Replacement Program as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2006. The authority for RIRP will expire Dec. 31, 2008, unless Congress takes action to extend the program.
For more detailed information about RIRP or assistance in determining/verifying your RIRP eligibility, please visit the Reserve Affairs web site.
