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Compensation and Benefits

Published 2021

DOD Compensation and Benefits Handbook 

Welcome to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Wounded, Ill, and/or Injured Compensation and Benefits Handbook for Service Members of the Armed Forces. This handbook provides service members and their support network with a reference guide to answer some of the most pressing questions that arise for wounded, ill, and/or injured service members. This November 2021 update replaces all previous versions, and includes a wealth of available resources. Use the information provided here to further your knowledge about compensation and benefits that may be available to you and your family (i.e., dependents).

The linked table of contents will take you to specific locations in the handbook; the hyperlinked words throughout the handbook will direct you to related external websites where you’ll find more detailed information. Additionally, when you wish to navigate back to the table of contents, click the ‘BACK to TOC’ button in the upper right-hand corner of each page.

This handbook is a living document, updated annually by DOD in collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Veterans AffairsLabor, and Education, as well as the Social Security Administration and the U.S. military services.

To augment what’s in this handbook, we recommend that service members and their support network contact their respective service's Wounded Warrior Program – U.S. Army Warrior Care and Transition ProgramU.S. Navy Wounded Warrior Safe HarborU.S. Air Force Wounded Warrior ProgramU.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, or U.S. Special Operations Command Warrior Care Program (Care Coalition) – with further questions, especially regarding service-specific information regarding compensation and benefits.

For more information, download the DOD Wounded, Ill, and/or Injured Compensation and Benefits Handbook Fact Sheet in our Reference Center.