The Reserve Income Replacement Program pays eligible National Guard and reserve members mobilized for extended or frequent periods the difference between their monthly civilian pre-mobilization income and their current total monthly military compensation.
To qualify for RIRP, servicemembers must:
Program payments are not automatic. Guard and reserve members must apply for the RIRP payments thorough their service personnel offices.
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, officials said.
The first payments under the program will be made at the end of August for members who have completed the application and meet all eligibility criteria.
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.