If you retired from the military, you carry two sets of benefits overseas: your DoD retiree benefits and your VA benefits. They come from different agencies, with different rules abroad.
Retired pay
- Your retired pay comes from DFAS, not VA. Manage it in myPay, and keep your address and bank details current.
- Retired pay is a lifetime government pension, which is why it often qualifies for retiree and pensionado visas in Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Philippines. Use your DFAS retiree account statement as proof.
- Ask DFAS whether your foreign bank account can receive payments. Many retirees keep a U.S. account and transfer.
Retired pay and VA compensation together
| CRDP | Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay: retirees with 20+ years of service and a VA rating of 50% or more can receive both retired pay and VA compensation, without the usual offset. |
|---|---|
| CRSC | Combat-Related Special Compensation: for combat-related disabilities. You apply through your branch. |
These are run by DFAS and the services, not the VA. Check which one fits you before you move.
TRICARE overseas
Retirees under 65 usually use TRICARE Select Overseas. At 65, TRICARE For Life pays first overseas, but you must keep Medicare Part B. See TRICARE and CHAMPVA overseas.
Retiree ID and base access abroad
Your retiree ID gets you onto many installations, but retirees don't have SOFA status, so what you can buy and use is set by the host-nation agreement and the local commander.
| Germany | Commissary and exchange with a German customs "Pink Card," non-rationed items only. Army MWR facilities opened to retirees in 2020. |
|---|---|
| South Korea | Commissary and exchange purchases are rationed with monthly caps. |
| Japan, Italy, Spain, UK | Rules vary by base. Ask the Pass and ID office. |
Many installations also have a Retiree Activities Office run by retiree volunteers. They're the best first stop for local rules.
Space-A travel
Retirees fly Space-A in Category VI, including to and between overseas locations. That's different from 100% P&T disabled veterans, who can fly only within the U.S. and its territories.
Survivor Benefit Plan
If you elected SBP, keep your beneficiary information current with DFAS, especially if you marry overseas. Ask DFAS what documents they need for a foreign marriage before you need them.
Taxes
Military retired pay is taxable by the U.S. How your new country treats it depends on the tax treaty. Get expat tax advice before you become a tax resident.
Join the retirees channel
The community has a dedicated Military Retirees channel for TRICARE, base access, CRDP and CRSC questions.
Get answers from vets who've done it
The VA Benefits Abroad channel is free. Ask about your country, your claim or your hospital.
Before you move: the retiree checklist
- Update myPay with your new address the week you move. Keep your email current so DFAS notices reach you.
- Decide where retired pay lands. DFAS handles foreign accounts through an international direct deposit form and says to allow 45 to 60 days. Keep your U.S. account open until the first foreign deposit arrives.
- Check your TRICARE plan. Under 65, make sure you're enrolled in TRICARE Select Overseas for the right region. At 65, keep Medicare Part B for TRICARE For Life.
- Look up base access rules for your new country before you count on the commissary.
- Review your Survivor Benefit Plan beneficiary and your VA beneficiary details if your family situation has changed.
If a retiree dies overseas: what the family does
- Report the death to DFAS as soon as you can, online through the askDFAS Notification of Death form or by calling 1-800-321-1080. Retired pay ends on the date of death.
- Expect payments made after death to be pulled back. DFAS must reclaim them from the bank, so late reporting causes trouble for the survivor.
- Claim any final pay. The arrears of pay claim (SF 1174) needs two witness signatures and a death certificate. DFAS says arrears payments can't go to an international bank account; they're mailed as a check.
- Tell VA at 1-800-827-1000 if the retiree received VA compensation.
- Contact the U.S. embassy for the Consular Report of Death Abroad. See burial and memorial benefits abroad.
Common mistakes
- Letting your myPay address go stale, so tax forms and notices go to an old home.
- Dropping Medicare Part B because "Medicare doesn't work abroad." TRICARE For Life needs it.
- Assuming retiree status gives you SOFA privileges. It doesn't.
- Using a joint account for a deceased retiree's final pay. DFAS advises against it, because banks may return the money.
Who to call
| Retired pay (DFAS) | 1-800-321-1080, or askDFAS online |
|---|---|
| TRICARE overseas | Country toll-free numbers on the TRICARE Overseas site |
| VA compensation | 1-800-827-1000 |
Share this checklist with your spouse. Our free member community has a Military Retirees channel where you can ask what worked for others.
How this helps in real life
Example scenario (composite, not a real person): A retired Air Force master sergeant moving to Spain updates myPay, submits the international direct deposit form two months before the move, and keeps his U.S. account open until the first euro deposit arrives. He writes a one-page note for his wife with the DFAS number, his myPay login hint and the steps to report a death, and puts it with his DD214.
Questions about your situation?
Ask in the VA Benefits Abroad channel. Vets who've filed from your country answer fast.
Common questions
Can military retirees use the commissary overseas?
Often, but it depends on the host-nation agreement. In Germany you need a customs Pink Card; in Korea purchases are rationed.
Do military retirees have SOFA status overseas?
No. Retirees living abroad generally don't have SOFA status, which limits base privileges.
Can I get both retired pay and VA compensation?
With 20+ years and a 50%+ VA rating, CRDP generally lets you receive both. CRSC covers combat-related disabilities.
Last reviewed November 2026. Information only. Confirm with the official sources.
