§ 1401. Computation of retired pay

§ 1401. Computation of retired pay

(a) Disability, Non-Regular Service, Warrant Officer, and DOPMA Retirement.— The monthly retired pay of a person entitled thereto under this subtitle is computed according to the following table. For each case covered by a section of this title named in the column headed “For sections”, retired pay is computed by taking, in order, the steps prescribed opposite it in columns 1, 2, and 3, as modified by the applicable footnotes. Formula No.For sectionsColumn 1 TakeColumn 2 Multiply byColumn 3 Add ^1 Before applying percentage factor, credit each full month of service that is in addition to the number of full years of service creditable to the member as one-twelfth of a year and disregard any remaining fractional part of a month. 112011204Retired pay base as computed under section 1406(b) or 1407.As member elects— (1) the retired pay multiplier determined for the member under section 1409 of this title; ^1 or (2) the percentage of disability, not to exceed 75%, on date when retired. 212021205Retired pay base as computed under section 1406(b) or 1407.As member elects— (1) the retired pay multiplier determined for the member under section 1409 of this title; ^1 or (2) the percentage of disability, not to exceed 75%, on date when his name was placed on temporary disability retired list.Amount necessary to increase product of columns 1 and 2 to 50% of retired pay base upon which computation is based. 4580126312931305Retired pay base as computed under section 1406(b) or 1407.The retired pay multiplier prescribed in section 1409 for the years of service credited to him under section 1405. 5633634635636125112521253Retired pay base as computed under section 1406(b) or 1407.The retired pay multiplier prescribed in section 1409 for the years of service credited to him under section 1405.

(b) Use of Most Favorable Formula.— If a person would otherwise be entitled to retired pay computed under more than one formula of the table in subsection (a) or of any other provision of law, the person is entitled to be paid under the applicable formula that is most favorable to him.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 106; Pub. L. 85–422, §§ 6(7), 11(a)(2), May 20, 1958, 72 Stat. 129, 131; Pub. L. 88–132, § 5(h)(1), Oct. 2, 1963, 77 Stat. 214; Pub. L. 89–132, § 6, Aug. 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 547; Pub. L. 90–207, § 3(1), Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 653; Pub. L. 92–455, § 1, Oct. 2, 1972, 86 Stat. 761; Pub. L. 96–342, title VIII, § 813(b)(1), Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1102; Pub. L. 96–513, title I, § 113(a), title V, § 511(49), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2876, 2924; Pub. L. 98–94, title IX, §§ 922(a)(1), 923(a)(1), (2)(A), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 641, 642; Pub. L. 98–557, § 35(b), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2877; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, § 201(a), July 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 691; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1052(18), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2500; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(j)(2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3004; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 509(d)(1)(A), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3231; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, § 502(d)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2177; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, § 631(a), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4239; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(f)(19), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1952; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 631(c)(1)(A), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 843.)

In the introductory paragraph, the applicability of the rule stated in the third sentence to situations not expressly covered by the laws named in the source statutes above is a practical construction that the rule must be reciprocally applied in all cases.

In formula No. 1, the words “whichever is earlier”, in 37:272(d) (clause (2)), are omitted, since they are contrary to the rule stated in 37:272(e) (1st proviso of last sentence).

In formula No. 3, the computation is based on monthly pay instead of annual pay to conform to the other formulas of the revised section. The words “basic pay” are substituted for the words “base and longevity pay” to conform to the terminology of the Career Compensation Act of 1949 (37 U.S.C. 231 et seq.). The words “which he would receive if serving, at the time granted such pay, on active duty” are omitted as surplusage and to conform to the other formulas of the revised section, since the effect of these words is covered by footnote 1. The words “at any time” are substituted for the words “during his entire period of service”.

Footnotes 1 and 2 reflect the long-standing construction of those provisions dealing with computation of retired pay which do not specifically provide that the member is entitled to compute his retired pay on the basis of the monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if he were on active duty in his retired grade. The pertinent basic computation provisions for such retirement either provide for computation of retired pay on the same basis as the provisions dealing with higher retired grade, or the basic retirement provisions were enacted after the provisions authorizing higher retired grade. The words “at rates applicable on date of retirement * * * and adjust to reflect later changes in permanent rates”, in footnote 1; and all of footnote 2; are based on the source statutes incorporated in the formulas to which footnotes 1 and 2 apply, as interpreted in an opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the Army (1953/4120, 14 May 1953).

In footnote 3, the words “and disregard a part of a year that is less than six months” are made applicable to formulas Nos. 1 and 2. The legislative history of the Career Compensation Act of 1949 (Hearings before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate on H.R. 5007, 81st Congress, First Session, page 313, July 6, 1949) indicates that the provisions, upon which formulas Nos. 1 and 2 are based, should be construed to require that a fraction of less than one-half of a year be disregarded. It also indicates that other retirement laws that are also silent on this point should be similarly construed.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–92, in column 2 of table, substituted “the retired pay multiplier determined for the member under section 1409 of this title” for “2½% of years of service credited to him under section 1208” in formula numbers 1 and 2 and “section 1409” for “section 1409(a)” in formula numbers 4 and 5.

2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “columns 1, 2, and 3,” for “columns 1, 2, 3, and 4,” in introductory provisions.

2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–383 in column 2 of table inserted “, not to exceed 75%,” after “percentage of disability” in two places and struck out column 4 of table which directed subtraction of excess over 75 percent of retired pay base upon which computation is based in formulas 1 and 2.

2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–364 in table inserted “1253” after “1252” in column under heading “For sections”.

Pub. L. 109–163 in table inserted “1252” after “1251” in column under heading “For sections”.

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–337 in table struck out formula number 3 which provided formula for computing retired pay under former section 1331 of this title.

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–484 substituted “580” for “564” in column in table under heading “For sections”.

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–348, § 201(a)(1), (2), designated existing provision as subsec. (a), added heading, and struck out third, fourth, and fifth sentences which read as follows: “The amount computed, if not a multiple of $1, shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of $1. However, if a person would otherwise be entitled to retired pay computed under more than one pay formula of this table or of any other provision of law, he is entitled to be paid under the applicable formula that is most favorable to him. Section references below are to sections of this title.”

Pub. L. 99–348, § 201(a)(3), amended column 1 of table generally by substituting provisions that retired pay be computed by taking the retired pay base as computed under section 1406(b) or 1407 of this title for provisions that retired pay be computed for a person who first became a member of a uniformed service, as defined in section 1407(a)(2) of this title, after Sept. 7, 1980, by taking the monthly retired pay base as computed under section 1407(b) of this title, and for all others, by taking the monthly basic pay to which the member was entitled under various circumstances.

Pub. L. 99–348, § 201(a)(4), substituted in column 2 of table a multiplier of the retired pay multiplier prescribed in section 1409(a) for the years of service credited to him under section 1405 for a multiplier of 2½% of years of service credited under section 1405 for formulas 4 and 5 and struck out “Excess over 75% of pay upon which computation is based.” in column 4 of table for formulas 4 and 5.

Pub. L. 99–348, § 201(a)(5), in columns 3 and 4 substituted “retired pay base” for “pay” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 99–348, § 201(a)(6), redesignated footnote 3 as 1, and struck out former footnote 1 which provided computation at rates applicable on date of retirement or date when the member’s name was placed on temporary disability retired list, as the case may be, footnote 2 which provided computation at rates applicable on the date when retired pay is granted, footnote 4 which provided computation at the highest rates of basic pay applicable to an officer who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or Commandant of the Coast Guard, while so serving in that office and computation at the highest rate of basic pay applicable to an enlisted person who has served as sergeant major of the Army, master chief petty officer of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, while he served if that rate is higher than the rate authorized by the table, and footnote 5 which provided for purposes of this section that an officer’s retired grade be determined as if sections 3962(b) and 8962(b) did not apply.

Pub. L. 99–348, § 201(a)(7), in column 2 of table substituted footnote 1 designation for footnote 3 designation wherever appearing.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–348, § 201(a)(8), added subsec. (b).

1984—Pub. L. 98–557 inserted reference to Commandant of the Coast Guard in footnote 4 of table.

1983—Pub. L. 98–94, § 922(a)(1), inserted “The amount computed, if not a multiple of $1, shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of $1.”

Pub. L. 98–94, § 923(a)(1), (2)(A), in footnote 3 of table, substituted “Before applying percentage factor, credit each full month of service that is in addition to the number of full years of service creditable to the member as one-twelfth of a year and disregard any remaining fractional part of a month” for “Before applying percentage factor, credit a part of a year that is six months or more as a whole year, and disregard a part of a year that is less than six months”.

1980—Pub. L. 96–513, § 113(a), inserted formula 5 in table of formulae set out in the section and added footnote 5.

Pub. L. 96–513, § 511(49), in formula 4 table of sections struck out reference to section 1255, in heading for Column 1 substituted reference to Sept. 7, 1980, for reference to date of enactment of Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1981, and in footnote 4 substituted reference to master chief petty officer of the Navy, for reference to senior enlisted advisor of the Navy.

Pub. L. 96–342 in heading for column 1 of table inserted provisions respecting applicability to persons becoming members after the date of the enactment of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1981.

1972—Pub. L. 92–455 substituted in second sentence of footnote 4 of table “chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard,” for “chief master sergeant of the Air Force, or sergeant major of the Marine Corps,”.

1967—Pub. L. 90–207 inserted sentence to footnote 4 of table requiring the computation of retired pay for an enlisted person who has served as senior noncommissioned officer of his service at the highest rate of basic pay applicable to him while he so served, if that rate is higher than the rate authorized by the table.

1965—Pub. L. 89–132 struck out “increased, for members credited with two or less years of service for basic pay purposes, by 6%” from column 1 of formula 1 and column 1 of formula 2.

1963—Pub. L. 88–132 struck out from footnote 1 of table “, and adjust to reflect later changes in applicable permanent rates” after “as the case may be.”

1958—Pub. L. 85–422, § 6(7)(A), inserted provisions in Column 1 of formulas 1 and 2 permitting the taking of the monthly basic pay to which a member was entitled on the day before retirement or placement on temporary disability retired list, increased, for members credited with two or less years of service for basic pay purposes, by 6 percent.

Pub. L. 85–422, § 11(a)(2), substituted “under section 1405 of this title” for “in computing basic pay” in column 2 of formula 4.

Pub. L. 85–422, § 6(7)(B), added footnote 4.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment; Implementation