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RUNWAYMilitary family retirement plannerAlready bought? Enter your code
★ Made by a Navy veteran

“Prior planning prevents poor performance.”

For retiring service members from every branch
ArmyNavyMarine CorpsAir ForceSpace ForceCoast Guard

Know your first 24 months of retirement before they start

Runway turns your pay grade, years of service, VA rating, family and state into a month-by-month plan, so you can see the month money gets tight while you still have time to fix it.

  • Retired pay, VA pay and state tax worked out from your own numbers
  • A balance chart for the move, the job search and the first paycheck gap
  • Every figure traced to the VA, DFAS, TSP, IRS, BLS or SBA

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Why retirees use it

Retired pay, VA pay, taxes and a new job do not arrive on the same schedule. Runway puts them on one timeline.

1

See the gap

Costs like the move and the job search come before the steady paycheck. The chart shows the month your balance gets low.

2

Use the right numbers

2026 basic pay tables, VA rates effective December 2025, High-3 and Blended rules, and state tax rules for all 50 states and DC.

3

Plan as a family

Single, spouse, children or parents. Add your spouse’s job, business or federal pay, and everyone sees the same result.

Lite is free. Full goes further.

Lite has real value on its own. Full adds the job, business, budget and paperwork tools for people who want them.

What you getLite (free)Full ($19.99)
Cash-flow plan with retired pay, VA pay, state tax and balance chartsIncludedIncluded
Move your TSP: rollover costs and step-by-step guideIncludedIncluded
Reference guide with sources and definitionsIncludedIncluded
Education: GI Bill planner with tax-free housing allowance feeding your plan, plus VR&E and family benefitsIncludedIncluded
Federal tax estimator with 2026 brackets and a VA home loan calculatorIncludedIncluded
Transition: dated retirement timeline, leave sale estimate, SkillBridge and spouse job guides. Education and grants: GI Bill and grants and help for veterans and families. State benefits: retired pay tax and veteran property tax relief for all 50 states and DCIncludedIncluded
Careers: 31 roles with BLS median pay, plus a federal job (GS and FERS) estimator, all feeding your planFull onlyIncluded
Business: ramp-up calculator, 20 franchises, SBA help, due-diligence checklistFull onlyIncluded
Budget: fillable income, bills and debt with a payoff plan that feeds your planFull onlyIncluded
Paperwork checklist and links to official formsFull onlyIncluded

Full version: one price, everything included

Careers with senior-role pay, a business and franchise guide with SBA help, a fillable Budget tab for income, bills and debt with a debt payoff plan, and a paperwork checklist with official form links. One payment of $19.99, no subscription. Budget is part of Full only, so Lite does not include it.

Where the numbers come from

Every tab lists its sources. Where official sources disagree, Runway says so instead of guessing.

VA.gov disability ratesDFAS pay and retired payTSP.govIRSBureau of Labor StatisticsEntrepreneur Franchise 500SBAFTC Franchise Rule

Built by Curtis, a Navy veteran who retired in December 2025 after 16 years. Military Retirement Runway is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs or any military branch. It is planning guidance, not financial, tax or legal advice.

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Privacy

What stays on your device

The numbers you enter in the planner (pay grade, VA rating, savings and so on) are used only in your browser. Runway does not send them to us. Your browser may save them locally so they are there next time.

What we collect

  • Your email address and the time you signed up, from the sign-up form.
  • If you buy the Full version, the payment provider on the checkout page handles your payment. Runway never sees your card number.

How we use it

  • To give you access and send Runway updates, such as new pay and VA rate tables, and the offer to upgrade.
  • Every email includes a way to unsubscribe.
  • We do not sell or share your email.

Links and referrals

Links go to official agency pages and other sites with their own policies. Runway does not take referral fees or payments from any link in the planner, and it does not recommend a specific financial company.

Contact

Questions or deletion requests: use the contact on this page.

RUNWAYMilitary retirement planner · Made by a Navy veteran
“Prior planning prevents poor performance.”

Military Retirement Runway

Choose your branch, pay grade, years of service, VA rating, family, and state. Runway works out your monthly retired pay and VA pay, then shows when money gets tight.

ArmyNavyMarine CorpsAir ForceSpace ForceCoast Guard2026 pay tablesVA rates Dec 202550 states + DC
CASH, COST AND TIMING ENTRIES ARE EXAMPLES. REPLACE WITH YOURS.

Reference guide: How it works · Taxes · Rate tables · Reserve and Guard · SBP · Health and life insurance · Housing and VA loan · Sources

Built by a Navy veteran for retirees from every branch. The numbers you enter stay in your browser. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any military branch.

Your numbers

Retirement

VA disability

Taxes

Not sure what to enter for federal tax? Estimate it with the 2026 brackets. How the tax is worked out is in Reference: Taxes.

Cash on hand

Spouse or partner

Costs

Fees change every January, and Select also has deductibles and copays. Source: TRICARE costs and fees.

Buying a home? Try the VA loan calculator.

Timing

Result

Tightest month
Balance then
Balance at month 24
Months with a shortfall

Your monthly retirement and VA pay

Cash balance by month

Where each month’s money comes from

Retired pay VA pay New income Spouse income One time: terminal leave, VA back pay Money out

Your state tax in every state

When each income source turns on

The gaps where fewer sources are on are usually the months that squeeze you.

Month by month

MonthMoney inMoney outBalance

This is planning guidance, not financial advice. Basic pay uses the 2026 tables (3.8% raise, effective January 1, 2026). VA pay uses the rates effective December 1, 2025. Your real high-3 average is usually a bit lower than your final basic pay, and DFAS and the VA decide your exact amounts. State rules were cross-checked across several published guides on October 2, 2026 and they differ on some states, marked Verify. Confirm with your state tax agency before you pick where to live. Nothing you type leaves this page. Your entries are remembered only in this browser. See how current each number is.

Estimate your federal tax

Replace the 12% guess with a calculated rate. Runway taxes your retired pay first, then adds wages and self-employment income on top, using the 2026 brackets. VA pay is not taxed. This is federal only and an estimate, so confirm with a tax professional or the IRS.

Move your TSP

Yes, you can roll a TSP balance into an IRA. The TSP sends the money to any IRA company as a direct rollover, and most offer traditional and Roth IRAs. Try the numbers before you decide. Balances below are examples.

How a rollover works

  1. Separate from service first. The TSP pays out only after your separation date.
  2. Open a traditional IRA for your pretax balance, and a Roth IRA if you are moving Roth money. Compare fees, fund choices and service at more than one company before you pick.
  3. Ask the IRA company for its rollover instructions, including who the check is payable to and where it goes.
  4. Log in to your TSP account and request a withdrawal as a direct rollover to the IRA. The TSP says a paper form is not needed for this. Older guides mention form TSP-70 for a full withdrawal and TSP-77 for a partial one. A direct rollover has no tax withheld. If the money goes to you first, 20% is withheld and you have 60 days to replace it.
  5. When the money lands in the IRA it is cash. You still have to buy the investments.
  6. In January, expect a 1099-R from the TSP. A direct rollover is reported as a rollover, not as income.

Rollover bonuses. Some IRA companies advertise a bonus or match on incoming rollovers. Terms vary, the money often has to stay for years or the bonus can be taken back, and the terms may not name the TSP. Ask the company in writing before you move money. Runway does not rank or recommend any company, and the numbers on this tab do not count any bonus.

Share Runway with a service member

Know someone retiring from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard? Copy your plan or a short message and send it along with the link to this page.

Reference guide

Everything Runway uses, in one place. Figures were gathered October 2 and 3, 2026. Pay and VA rates change every year, so check the sources at the bottom before you act on a number. Each tab also has its own forms and official links.

How to use Runway

  1. Pick your pay grade, years of service, and retirement system.
  2. Pick your VA rating and who counts as your dependents.
  3. Pick the state you will live in, enter your age, and check the tax rates.
  4. Enter savings, terminal leave, new income, and costs, then set when each income starts.
  5. Read the result line and the tightest month. The table shows every month.
  6. Tap the what-if buttons to see a late VA decision or a late job start.
  7. Open Move your TSP if you have a TSP balance.

How the numbers are worked out

Retired pay
Basic pay at your grade and years of service, times years of service, times 2.5% (High-3) or 2.0% (Blended). The result is capped at 75% of basic pay. Runway uses the 2026 basic pay table for your final year. Your real retired pay uses the average of your highest 36 months, which is usually a little lower.
Your DFAS estimate
If you type your own gross monthly retired pay, Runway uses it and skips the calculation.
VA pay
The monthly rate for your rating and dependents from the VA table below. It is tax free at the federal level and in every state.
VA offset
With a rating under 50%, retired pay is reduced by the VA amount unless you qualify for CRSC. With a rating of 50% or more and 20 or more years of service, you get both in full.
Federal tax
The rate you enter times your taxable retired pay.
State tax
Your state’s exclusion is taken off first, using your age and income where the state requires it. The rest is taxed at the rate you enter. The state defaults are rough, so edit them.
Monthly money in
After-tax retired pay, VA pay, and new income, each starting the month after its delay.
Monthly money out
Living costs plus new health insurance. Month 1 also adds your moving costs and the terminal leave payout comes in.
VA back pay
If checked, one lump sum equal to the months you waited times your monthly VA pay arrives with the first VA deposit.
Result line
Red if your balance goes below zero, amber if your lowest balance is under one month of costs, green otherwise.

Taxes

  • VA disability pay is not taxed. The IRS says not to include VA disability benefits in gross income. Source: IRS: veterans tax information, IRS Publication 4782.
  • Military retired pay is taxed as a pension. It goes on the federal return as pension income. Source: IRS Publication 4782.
  • The estimator. The estimator in the Retirement plan tab uses the 2026 brackets below, the standard deduction, and your filing status. It applies the brackets to your retired pay first, then to wages and self-employment income on top. It is federal only. The state tax is in the plan above it.
  • 2026 standard deduction. Single $16,100, married filing jointly $32,200, head of household $24,150. Add $2,050 per person 65 or older if unmarried, or $1,650 per person if married. Source: IRS: 2026 inflation adjustments, Rev. Proc. 2025-32.
  • Senior deduction. For tax years 2025 through 2028, people 65 or older get an extra $6,000 each, or $12,000 for a couple if both qualify. It starts to phase out above $75,000 of income for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers. Runway applies it only at or below those limits and leaves it out above them, so the estimate can run a little high. Source: IRS: enhanced deduction for seniors.
  • Child tax credit. $2,200 per qualifying child under 17 for 2026. Runway applies it only up to the tax you owe, and only when income is below $200,000 ($400,000 if married filing jointly). Those limits are confirmed for 2025, not yet for 2026, and the credit has Social Security number rules. Source: Rev. Proc. 2025-32, IRS: Schedule 8812 instructions.
  • Payroll tax on new income. An employee pays 6.2% Social Security tax up to $184,500 of wages in 2026, and 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages. A self-employed person pays 12.4% and 2.9% on 92.35% of net earnings, and can deduct half of it. Source: IRS: Topic 751, IRS: Topic 554, SSA: wage base.
  • Left out. Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% over $200,000 single or $250,000 joint, itemized deductions, credits other than the child credit, the alternative minimum tax, tax on Social Security benefits, and state tax on new income. Source: IRS: Additional Medicare Tax.

2026 federal brackets (taxable income, after deductions)

Sources: IRS: 2026 inflation adjustments (single and joint), Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (head of household).

Rate tables

2026 monthly basic pay, E-6 to O-10

Effective January 1, 2026, with a 3.8% raise. Shown by years of service at retirement and rounded to the dollar. Multiply by years of service and your 2.0% or 2.5% share to get retired pay. Pay is capped at 75%.

VA disability pay, 0% to 100%

Effective December 1, 2025. Ratings of 10% and 20% pay the same amount whether or not you have dependents. The extra-child column applies from 30% and up, and the amount for each added child under 18 depends on your rating. A child over 18 in school and a spouse who needs aid and attendance get different add-ons that Runway does not use.

State tax on military retired pay, all 50 states and DC

States tagged VERIFY are ones where the guides I checked disagree. Local notes are general. Cities and counties change their rules, so confirm with your own tax office.

How current the numbers are

What each set of figures covers, and when it next changes. Runway is updated when these change. Where the source is a published chart rather than an agency table, confirm the figure with the agency before you act.

FiguresCoversNext changeCheck at
Basic pay tables2026, effective January 1, 2026January 2027DFAS pay and entitlements. Runway's tables were checked against the official Schedule 8 table in the executive order.
VA disability compensationEffective December 1, 2025December 1, 2026, the yearly cost-of-living change. The new rates are not in Runway yet.VA: compensation rates
Post-9/11 GI BillAugust 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027August 1, 2027VA: GI Bill rates
Montgomery GI BillOctober 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027October 1, 2027VA: Montgomery rates
VR&E monthly subsistenceFiscal 2026 rates. Fiscal 2027 rates were not confirmed.Each October 1VA: VR&E rates
TRICARE retiree feesCalendar 2026January 2027TRICARE costs and fees
Career pay and growthBLS May 2025 pay, 2025 to 2035 growthThe next yearly BLS releaseBLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Federal tax brackets and deductionsTax year 2026Tax year 2027 amounts, announced by the IRS each yearIRS: inflation adjustments
VA loan funding feeRates VA marks effective April 7, 2023. The VA page was updated October 5, 2026.When the VA changes the pageVA: funding fee
SBP cost and benefit6.5% cost, 55% to your spouseSet by law, changes rarelyDoD: SBP spouse coverage

Reserve and National Guard retired pay

  • Who qualifies: 20 years that each earned at least 50 retirement points. This covers the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard Reserves and the Army and Air National Guard.
  • How points add up: 1 point per day of active duty, 1 per drill period, 15 membership points a year, up to 365 a year.
  • The formula: total points ÷ 360 gives your years of service. Multiply by 2.5% (High-3) or 2.0% (Blended), then by your average highest 36 months of basic pay. The share is capped at 75%.
  • When it starts: age 60. Each 90 days of qualifying active duty after January 28, 2008 lowers the age by 3 months, to a floor of 50.
  • Space Force: there is no separate Reserve. Part-time Guardians began in 2026 and retire under the same rules as the Air Force Reserve.

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)

  • The cost for spouse coverage is 6.5% of the amount of retired pay you choose to cover. You can choose $300 up to your full retired pay. Source: DoD: SBP spouse coverage.
  • Your spouse gets 55% of that covered amount each month. Premiums come out before tax, and the payments to your spouse are taxable. Source: DoD: SBP spouse coverage.
  • Premiums stop after 360 months of payments and age 70. The covered amount and the survivor payments rise with cost-of-living increases. Source: DoD: SBP spouse coverage.
  • After you retire, coverage can be stopped only in months 25 to 36 after your retired pay starts. Source: Air Force retiree SBP FAQ.
  • Child coverage ends when the youngest child turns 18, or 22 if unmarried and a full-time student. After a divorce, you can cover a former spouse by sending the divorce decree and DD Form 2656-1 within one year. Source: Air Force retiree SBP FAQ.
  • With no SBP, your spouse gets nothing from your retired pay after you die. Married members decide this before retirement. Source: Air Force retiree SBP FAQ.
  • Runway's SBP line uses the 6.5% rate and the 55% spouse payment above. Confirm your choice with DFAS before you retire.
  • Rules for spouse sign-off, any new open enrollment, and Reserve and Guard survivor coverage are not confirmed here. Ask your retirement services office or DFAS.

Health and life insurance

  • TRICARE fees, 2026, per year. Prime: $381.96 one person and $765 family in Group A (joined before January 1, 2018); $462.96 and $927 in Group B. Select: $186.96 and $375 in Group A; $594.96 and $1,191 in Group B. Source: TRICARE costs and fees.
  • Catastrophic cap, per family. Group A Prime $3,000 and Group A Select $4,381. Group B is $4,635 for both. Select deductibles in Group A are $150 one person and $300 family. Sources: TRICARE costs and fees, TRICARE catastrophic cap.
  • Enroll within 90 days of retiring. Coverage does not continue on its own. If you miss it, you can enroll back to 12 months after retirement, but claims wait and you owe fees back to your retirement date. Source: TRICARE: retirement changes your coverage.
  • TRICARE for Life at 65. You need Medicare Part A and Part B. If you lack Part B or stop paying its premiums, you lose TRICARE. Source: TRICARE for Life.
  • TRICARE Retired Reserve (premium plan, 2026): $645.90 a month for you alone, $1,548.30 for you and family. Source: TRICARE Retired Reserve costs.
  • Dental and vision. Retirees use FEDVIP, run by OPM, with enrollment through BENEFEDS. Open season is each November to December. New retirees can enroll from 31 days before to 60 days after retirement. Retiree vision requires TRICARE health enrollment. Sources: TRICARE: FEDVIP open season, BENEFEDS FEDVIP fact sheet.
  • Life insurance. SGLI ends 120 days after you separate. You can apply for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) up to 1 year and 120 days after separating, up to $500,000. VA's two pages word the no-health-questions window differently, so confirm the exact date with VA. Sources: VA: apply for VGLI, VA: VGLI eligibility.
  • VA health care. A service-connected rating of 50% or more is Priority Group 1, with no copays for outpatient care, inpatient care or medications. Sources: VA priority groups, VA copay rates.

Housing and VA loan

Try the VA loan calculator in the VA home loan tab.

  • VA home loan. No down payment is required if the price does not exceed the appraised value, and there is no monthly mortgage insurance. Borrowers with full entitlement have no VA loan limit. Sources: VA purchase loan, VA loan limits.
  • Funding fee (rates VA lists as effective April 7, 2023, so check the page for changes). First use: 2.15% with under 5% down, 1.5% with 5% or more, 1.25% with 10% or more. After the first use: 3.3% with under 5% down, 1.5% and 1.25% at the higher down payments. The refinance rate is 0.5%. Source: VA funding fee and closing costs.
  • Who skips the fee. Anyone who receives VA compensation for a service-connected disability, among others. Sources: VA funding fee and closing costs, VA News: who is exempt.
  • Start with a Certificate of Eligibility. Most online requests are issued automatically. Source: VA News: VA home loan basics.
  • Retirement move. If you have more than 8 years of continuous active duty, schedule your household goods move within 1 year of your retirement date. Extensions are short and go no longer than 6 years in total, and only for medical treatment, education or training, or unexpected hardship. Check weight limits in the Joint Travel Regulations. Sources: move.mil: retirees and separatees, Joint Travel Regulations.
  • Property tax breaks for disabled veterans differ by state. Texas exempts the full appraised value of the home of a 100% disabled veteran. Virginia has an exemption for a disabled veteran's main home (Va. Code §58.1-3219.5), so check its rules. Sources: Texas Comptroller, Virginia Tax, VA News: state tax exemptions.

What Runway leaves out

  • Yearly cost of living raises and inflation.
  • Deductibles and copays for TRICARE Select, dental and vision premiums, and life insurance premiums. Use the health insurance and living cost boxes for these.
  • Medical retirement and disability severance.
  • For Reserve and Guard retirement: the 8-year rule on recent service, drill-by-drill point counting, and the Reserve TSP match. You enter your total points yourself.
  • VA special monthly compensation, individual unemployability, and add-ons for a child over 18 in school or a spouse who needs aid and attendance.
  • Investment growth on your savings and tax on any new job or business income.
  • Exact city and county tax calculations.

Glossary

Basic pay
Your base monthly military pay, before housing and other allowances.
High-3
The legacy retirement system. Retired pay is 2.5% times years of service times the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay.
Blended Retirement System
The newer system for people who joined in 2018 or later, or who opted in. Retired pay is 2.0% per year of service, plus government contributions to your TSP while you served.
DFAS
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service. It pays your retired pay and can give you an exact estimate.
CRSC
Combat-Related Special Compensation. A tax-free payment for a combat-related disability that replaces the VA offset. You apply through your service branch.
CRDP
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay. It lets retirees with 20 or more years and a VA rating of 50% or more receive full retired pay and full VA pay.
VA rating
The percentage the VA assigns to your service-connected disabilities. It sets your monthly VA pay.
Dependents
A spouse, children, or parents the VA counts for extra pay. You must report them to the VA.
Back pay
VA pay owed from your claim’s effective date until the VA starts paying.
Terminal leave
Unused leave you take before your separation date while you are still paid.
SBP
The Survivor Benefit Plan. Optional coverage that pays your spouse part of your retired pay after you die. The premium comes out of retired pay.
COLA
Cost of living adjustment. The yearly raise to retired pay and VA pay.
Debt avalanche
Pay minimums on every debt, then put all extra money on the debt with the highest interest rate. It usually costs the least interest.
Debt snowball
Pay minimums on every debt, then put all extra money on the smallest balance first. It clears debts sooner, which some people find motivating.
TSP
The Thrift Savings Plan, the federal retirement savings plan, similar to a 401(k).
Direct rollover
Moving TSP money straight to an IRA with no tax withheld.
IRA
An individual retirement account. Traditional IRAs hold pretax money. Roth IRAs hold after-tax money that grows tax free.
BLS median pay
The middle yearly pay for a role from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of workers earn more and half earn less.
SDVOSB and VOSB
Service-disabled veteran-owned and veteran-owned small businesses. SBA certification can open federal contract set-asides.
SkillBridge
A DoD program that lets eligible service members train with a civilian employer during their last months of service.
Franchise Disclosure Document
The legal document a franchisor must give you before you buy. It lists costs, fees, earnings claims, and closures.
Franchise 500
Entrepreneur magazine’s yearly ranking of franchise brands.

Sources and how sure each number is

  • VA.gov compensation rates Base VA rates by rating and dependents. The amounts for each added child came from published rate guides that match the VA’s tables, so confirm them on VA.gov.
  • Executive order pay tables: Schedule 8, Monthly Basic Pay The 2026 basic pay table, effective January 1, 2026. Runway's 20 to 30 year columns were checked against it. DFAS also publishes the tables.
  • statebystatetax.com, Veterans United, Rank and Pay, and Military.com State tax treatment. These guides disagree on several states, shown as VERIFY. Use your state tax agency as the final word.
  • DFAS retired military forms and VA Form 21-526EZ Names and purposes of the retirement pay, tax withholding, Survivor Benefit Plan, and VA claim forms listed on the Retirement plan tab.
  • SBA Franchise Directory, SBA 7(a) loans, and MilitaryConsumer.gov Small business and franchise resources on the Own a business tab. The June 1, 2025 franchise directory rule comes from a law firm summary of SBA’s lending rules, so confirm it with your lender.
  • TSP forms and resources The TSP says withdrawals after leaving service are requested in My Account with no paper form. Older guides still mention forms TSP-70 and TSP-77.
  • OPM: FERS information The three parts of FERS (basic benefit, Social Security and the TSP), for a spouse who works for the federal government.
  • BLS: real estate brokers and sales agents Median pay of $57,400 in May 2025, state licensing, and the share who are self-employed.
  • OPM: 2026 General Schedule pay tables Base pay by grade and step with the 1% January 2026 increase, and the locality tables.
  • OPM: FERS basic annuity formula 1% of high-3 pay per year of service, or 1.1% at age 62 or older with 20 or more years.
  • OPM: FERS retirement eligibility Immediate retirement rules, MRA+10 and the minimum retirement age.
  • Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board: TSP letter to FERS new hires The 1% agency automatic contribution and the match on the first 5% you contribute.
  • FedWeek: military service in a federal annuity The deposit and the military retired pay waiver rule, with the combat-disability and Reserve exceptions. Confirm with OPM.
  • FedSmith: 2026 locality pay percentages The locality percentages used here, checked against a second source. Confirm your area with OPM.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Median pay in May 2025, job growth for 2025 to 2035, and typical education for every role on the Jobs tab. Growth is shown only where the BLS page gave it.
  • Entrepreneur: top 10 franchises in every industry, 2026 and NJBIZ on the 2026 Franchise 500 Franchise ranks and category cost ranges. Automotive and fitness showed identical figures on the source page, so I left the automotive range out.
  • SBA veteran small business certification Who qualifies and what certification allows.
  • FINRA: rolling over TSP funds and FedWeek: TSP rollovers TSP rollover rules, forms, and the age 55 exception.
  • DoD: Survivor Benefit Plan spouse coverage The 6.5% cost, $300 minimum, 55% annuity, paid-up rule, tax treatment and cost-of-living raises.
  • Air Force retiree SBP FAQ Stopping coverage in months 25 to 36, child coverage, former spouse coverage.
  • Marine Corps: Reserve Component SBP The 20-year notice and the 90-day election. Not a DFAS page, so confirm with DFAS.
  • TRICARE costs and fees 2026 Prime and Select enrollment fees, deductibles and Retired Reserve premiums.
  • TRICARE catastrophic cap Yearly out-of-pocket limits.
  • TRICARE: retirement changes your coverage The 90-day enrollment window and late enrollment.
  • TRICARE for Life Medicare Part A and B requirement at 65.
  • TRICARE Retired Reserve costs 2026 monthly premiums.
  • TRICARE: FEDVIP open season Dental and vision open season and new-retiree window.
  • BENEFEDS FEDVIP fact sheet Who runs FEDVIP enrollment.
  • VA: apply for VGLI VGLI deadlines and amounts.
  • VA: VGLI eligibility Eligibility and the $500,000 maximum.
  • VA health care priority groups Who is in Priority Group 1.
  • VA health care copay rates No copays at 50% or more.
  • VA purchase loan No down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance.
  • VA loan limits No limit with full entitlement.
  • VA funding fee and closing costs Funding fee table and exemptions.
  • VA News: who is exempt from the funding fee Exemptions explained.
  • VA News: VA home loan basics Certificate of Eligibility and refinance basics.
  • move.mil: retirees and separatees The 1-year retirement move window and extensions.
  • Joint Travel Regulations Weight allowances by rank.
  • Texas Comptroller: 100% disabled veteran exemption Texas property tax exemption.
  • Virginia Tax: ruling on the veteran exemption Virginia disabled veteran home exemption.
  • VA News: state tax exemptions Overview of state exemptions.
  • VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates 2026-27 tuition cap, online housing rate and books stipend.
  • VA: housing and book payment FAQ Rate of pursuit and online housing rate.
  • VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill 36 months and the expiration rules.
  • VA: transfer GI Bill benefits Transfer rules.
  • VA: Montgomery GI Bill rates Monthly rate for 2026-27.
  • VA: how to apply VA Form 22-1990 and proof of eligibility.
  • VA: Yellow Ribbon Program Extra help with private school tuition.
  • VA: education eligibility GI Bill eligibility.
  • VA: VR&E eligibility Chapter 31 rules.
  • VA: VR&E rates, fiscal 2026 Monthly pay for school.
  • VA: Dependents Education Assistance Chapter 35.
  • VA: Fry Scholarship For children and surviving spouses.
  • VA: VET TEC 2.0 Tech training program.
  • VA: education payments and taxes GI Bill payments are tax-free.
  • BLS: aerospace engineers May 2025 pay and 2025 to 2035 outlook.
  • BLS: marine engineers and naval architects May 2025 pay and outlook.
  • BLS: computer and information research scientists May 2025 pay and outlook.
  • BLS: data scientists May 2025 pay and outlook.
  • BLS: software developers May 2025 pay and outlook.
  • BLS: welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers May 2025 pay and outlook.
  • BLS: boilermakers May 2025 pay and outlook.
  • BLS: machinists and tool and die makers May 2025 pay and outlook.
  • BLS: aerospace engineering and operations technicians May 2025 pay and outlook.

Planning guidance, not financial or legal advice. Runway shows estimates from numbers you enter. DFAS, the VA, the TSP, and your state tax agency decide your real amounts.

Related in the Reference tab: Housing and VA loan · Health and life insurance · SBP · Taxes · How current · Sources

Your retirement timeline

What to do and by when, counted from your retirement date. Enter the date to see the calendar day for each step. Every step links to the agency that sets the rule. Deadlines can change, so confirm each one with the agency before you rely on it.

    No deadline, but do not skip

    • Keep your DD-214 safe. To get a copy later, use the National Archives eVetRecs tool online, or mail or fax Standard Form 180. The VA will also request it for you when you apply for VA benefits. Source: VA: get military service records.
    • TSP. If your balance is $200 or more, you can keep it in the TSP after you leave service. Runway's Move your TSP guide is in the Retirement plan tab. Source: TSP: changes for uniformed members.
    • VA health care. The VA tells combat veterans to apply right away to use their enhanced eligibility, and its main eligibility page gives that window as 10 years after discharge. A local VA page says 5 years, so check which applies to you. Source: VA: health care eligibility.

    Leave and final pay

    Selling unused leave can bring a lump of cash right at retirement. See what it could be worth.

    What to know

    • Selling leave. You can sell back up to 60 days over your whole career, and you are paid when you retire. Source: militarypay.defense.gov: leave benefits during transition. The sale is at your base pay rate, without special pay or allowances. Source: Military OneSource: military leave. It counts as taxable income. Source: IRS Publication 3.
    • Terminal leave. This is regular leave you use right before you retire. You do not report back to your duty station, and your command decides whether to approve it. Ask your finance office how your pay and allowances work during it. Source: militarypay.defense.gov, Military OneSource.
    • Carry-over limit. You can normally carry over no more than 60 days into a new fiscal year. Special Leave Accrual lets some members carry more, but its cap dropped from 120 to 90 days in 2023. Members who had 90.5 days or more on September 30, 2024 keep the old cap until their balance falls to 90 days. Source: DFAS: Special Leave Accrual.
    • Final active-duty pay. The wait varies by service and situation. Your finance office audits your account first, and even a small debt can stretch the wait to 120 days or more. Start with your separating office. Source: DFAS: military separations.
    • First retired pay. It is processed about 60 days after your retirement date, and only if DFAS has your complete package. Missing or unsigned forms, such as DD Form 2656, delay it. Source: DFAS: how long does it take. In your plan, use the "months until first retired pay" slider to see the gap.

    SkillBridge: try a civilian job before you leave

    DoD SkillBridge lets service members train or work with an industry partner during the last 180 days of service, with the approval of your unit commander. Source: Military OneSource: DoD SkillBridge. Search opportunities and read the rules on the official site: skillbridge.osd.mil. Eligibility details, and how your pay works during the program, are set by the program and your command, so confirm both before you plan around it. Runway's Careers tab shows what roles pay once you are out.

    Your spouse's job after retirement

    Many military spouse programs follow the active-duty sponsor, so some end or change when you retire. Plan on your spouse's income in the Retirement plan tab, and check each program before you count on it.

    • Military OneSource. Retired members and immediate family keep access until 365 days past the retirement date. After that it points you to the VA. Source: Military OneSource: eligibility.
    • Military Spouse Preference for federal jobs. The Marine Corps fact sheet says it covers spouses of active-duty members who move with them, and that spouses are not eligible if the sponsor relocates because of retirement or separation. Source: Marine Corps: military spouse preference.
    • Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP). The Army benefits page lists spouses of members separated less than 365 days. It does not name retired members, so check the portal. Source: Army benefits: MSEP, MSEP portal.
    • The spouse scholarship (MyCAA). The official page says it is open across all ranks for spouses of members serving under qualifying Title 10 orders. It does not mention retirees, so confirm before you count on it. Source: Military OneSource: MyCAA scholarship.
    • Federal job, license or business. The Careers tab has a federal pay and pension estimator that works for a spouse, and notes on state license transfers.

    Related in the Reference tab: How current the GI Bill rates are · Sources

    School and the GI Bill

    A 20-year retiree gets the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% level: up to 36 months of benefits. While you are in school it pays tuition, a tax-free monthly housing allowance, and a books stipend. Enter your school below to see what it adds to your plan. Rates are for August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027. Source: VA Post-9/11 GI Bill rates.

    What it adds

    Before you enroll

    • Apply to the VA first. Veterans apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill with VA Form 22-1990, online or by mail. The VA says its average processing time for education claims is about 30 days, so apply before you register. Source: VA: how to apply.
    • Give your school your proof of eligibility. If you have applied before and are eligible, you can get proof online to hand to your school. You need it again when you change schools or programs. Source: VA: how to apply.
    • Your school must certify your enrollment to the VA. Ask the school's veterans office what it needs from you each term. Source: VA: Yellow Ribbon Program.
    • Private, out-of-state and graduate schools: ask about Yellow Ribbon. If tuition is above what the GI Bill pays, a school that joins the program adds money and the VA matches it. You need the 100% level, which a 20-year retiree has. Schools choose whether to join, and funding is first come, first served. Source: VA: Yellow Ribbon Program. Check your school with the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool.
    • The FAFSA is a separate, optional step. The GI Bill does not require it. The FAFSA is the application for federal student aid, such as Pell Grants, and your college-age children use it too. The 2027-28 form is open. Source: StudentAid.gov: FAFSA, Federal Student Aid announcement, Oct 6, 2026. The VA's GI Bill training says not to list VA education benefits as income on the FAFSA income section. Source: VA: FAFSA and VA education benefits. Read the current form's instructions to be sure.
    • Rules and rates change. Confirm each step at va.gov before you register for classes.

    Other education benefits

    Moving benefits to your family

    You must ask to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child while you are still on active duty, through milConnect. You need at least 6 years of service when approved and must agree to serve 4 more. Retirees and veterans cannot start a transfer. If you are still serving, ask your personnel office now. Source: VA: transfer benefits.

    Does it expire?

    No, if your service ended on or after January 1, 2013 (the Forever GI Bill). For earlier separations, benefits end 15 years after your last separation. Source: VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill.

    Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty)

    $2,601.00 a month for full-time school at 3 or more years of service, for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Choosing between it and Post-9/11 is generally a one-time decision. Sources: VA Montgomery rates, VA education eligibility.

    VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31)

    For veterans with a service-connected rating of at least 10%. It includes counseling, training and job help, with no time limit if you left service on or after January 1, 2013. Monthly pay for full-time school in fiscal 2026 (from October 1, 2025): $812.84 with no dependents, $1,008.24 with one, $1,188.15 with two, plus $86.58 for each more. The fiscal 2027 rates, which start October 1, 2026, were not published where we checked, so confirm them with VA. You may choose the GI Bill housing rate instead if you still have entitlement. Sources: VA VR&E eligibility, VR&E fiscal 2026 rates.

    Family members

    The Dependents' Education Assistance program (Chapter 35) helps family of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, or who died of one. It pays up to 36 months. The Fry Scholarship covers children and surviving spouses of those who died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Sources: VA DEA, VA Fry Scholarship.

    Tech training

    VET TEC 2.0 lists 4,000 openings as of October 1, 2026. It requires 36 or more months of active duty, being under 62, and being a veteran or within 180 days of separating. You can use it once. Pay details are on the VA page. Source: VA VET TEC 2.0.

    Taxes

    Payments from all GI Bill programs are tax-free, including the housing allowance. Source: VA: education benefits and taxes.

    Planning guidance, not advice. Rates change every August 1. The housing allowance depends on your school's location and how many classes you take. Online-only students get a flat rate. Ask your school's VA certifying official for exact amounts.

    Grants and help for those who served

    Know this first. The federal government does not give grants for personal expenses, and none of the grants listed on Grants.gov provide personal financial assistance. The real help for veterans, spouses and disabled families comes from VA programs, the service relief societies and a few charities. Anyone who charges a fee to "find" you a grant is a scam. The VA says never to pay anyone to help you file an initial claim.
    Sources: Grants.gov: grant eligibility, USA.gov: no free money, VA: fraud prevention.

      Amounts change each year. Confirm the current amount and your eligibility on the program's own page before you apply.

      Related in the Reference tab: Housing and VA loan · How current · Sources. Property tax breaks for veterans, state by state, are in the States tab.

      VA home loan calculator

      See the VA funding fee and the monthly payment on a VA purchase loan. A VA loan needs no down payment as long as the price does not exceed the appraised value, and it has no monthly mortgage insurance. Source: VA: purchase loan. Enter the rate your lender quotes you. The rate shown is only an example.

      • Funding fee. A one-time fee on a purchase loan. First use: 2.15% with under 5% down, 1.5% with 5% to under 10%, 1.25% with 10% or more. After first use, 3.3% with under 5% down, and the same two lower rates above that. VA marks these rates as effective April 7, 2023, and the page was last updated October 5, 2026. Anyone who gets VA compensation for a service-connected disability is exempt, as is someone eligible for it who receives retirement pay instead. You can pay the fee at closing or finance it into the loan. Source: VA: funding fee and closing costs.
      • Loan limit. With full entitlement there is no VA loan limit, as long as you can afford the loan and the appraisal supports the price. With partial entitlement the limit follows the county loan limit, and most lenders want your entitlement, down payment or both to cover at least 25% of the loan. Runway does not look up county limits. Source: VA: loan limits.
      • Seller help. The VA limits seller concessions to 4% of the home's reasonable value, and that includes credits for the funding fee. Source: VA: funding fee and closing costs.
      • Qualifying. Lenders look at your debts compared with your income, and a VA FAQ gives 41% as the usual guideline, with residual income as the main test. Treat the 41% as a guide, not a rule. Source: VA credit standards FAQ.
      • Eligibility. Service since August 1990 needs at least 24 continuous months, so a retiree meets it. Source: VA: eligibility. Get your Certificate of Eligibility online, through your lender, or by mail with VA Form 26-1880. You need your DD-214. Source: VA: request a COE.

      State veteran benefits and property tax

      Where you live changes what you keep. Pick your state to see how it taxes military retired pay and what it does for veterans on property tax. Runway's Retirement plan tab already uses your state's income tax on retired pay.

      All 50 states and DC

      • Where the property tax list comes from. It is summarised from the VA's list of state veteran tax exemptions, published April 22, 2025 and updated May 8, 2025. The VA says the list is based on state veterans department publications and may be out of date. Source: VA News: veteran tax exemptions across states. Dollar amounts change, so this page shows who qualifies, not amounts.
      • Retired pay tax. Same data as the Reference tab. States tagged VERIFY are ones where the guides I checked disagree. Confirm with your state tax agency.
      • Confirm before you count on it. Find your state office: VA external resources, State Veterans Affairs offices. Most relief needs an application with your county.
      • Territories. The VA list also covers Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Runway does not.

      Planning guidance, not tax or legal advice.

      Planning guidance, not financial, tax or legal advice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any military branch.Privacy · Terms · About · Accessibility · Build 2026-10-10 r14

      Military Retirement Runway

      Where the numbers come from

      • Basic pay: 2026 Schedule 8 pay table (executive order). Confirm with DFAS.
      • VA pay: VA compensation rates effective December 1, 2025.
      • State tax: published state rules for retired pay, which can change.

      Planning guidance, not financial, tax or legal advice. Not affiliated with the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs or any military branch. Made at militaryretirementrunway.com.