Pay and Benefits
The Army understands the stress financial difficulty can place on a wounded warrior and his/her Family, and the Army works closely with each wounded, ill and injured Soldier to ensure that he/she continues to receive regular military pay while assigned to a Warrior Transition Unit (WTU), as well as any other benefits for which he/she is qualified.
The most extensive resource on benefits available to wounded warriors and their Families is the DoD Compensation and Benefits Handbook for Wounded, Ill, and Injured Service Members. 
This publication, issued by the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA), contains a comprehensive overview on financial and other benefits at each stage of the wounded warrior’s recovery and transition.
Current Orders: One of the most important things a Soldier must do to ensure continuity of pay is to provide current orders. Sometimes, wounded, ill and injured Soldiers arrive at the WTU with orders that are expired or will expire in the very near future. This is particularly important for Reserve Component Soldiers. When orders expire, the Soldier suffers lapses in military pay, placing a financial burden on the entire Family. Soldiers must work with their squad leader and parent unit to prevent a lapse in orders.
Online Benefits Information Portals
MyArmyBenefits Portal
MyArmyBenefits.us.army.mil is the official Army benefits portal with special information
for severely injured Soldiers and their Families in the Wounded Warrior
section and for surviving Family members of fallen Soldiers in the Survivor
Benefits section.
National Resource Directory
The National Resource Directory (NRD) is a website for wounded, ill and injured servicemembers, Veterans, their Families and those who support them. The NRD provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration on topics such as benefits & compensation, education & training, employment, Family & caregiver support, health, homeless assistance, housing, transportation & travel and other services & resources.
Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
TurpoTap.org is a website containing information for servicemembers transitioning from military service, sponsored by the DOD Transition Assistance Program (TAP). TAP services are also offered through Transition Assistance Offices at most military installations and coordinate closely with the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP).
AW2 Community Support Network
The AW2 Community Support Network, an initiative of the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2), connects severely wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families with local resources.
Financial Compensation
The Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) Wounded Warrior Entitlements Handbook is an excellent resource for Soldiers to help Soldiers understand the specific pay and entitlements available to them. DFAS also provides a Wounded Warrior Pay Support Team (WWPST) at Army installations throughout the United States and overseas. Soldiers should work closely with their squad leaders and local WWPST to ensure that they are receiving the appropriate pay for each personal situation.
The DFAS website for wounded warriors and their Families provides specific information on the qualifications for many types of financial compensation, such as:
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence
- Casual Pay
- Combat Zone Tax Exclusion
- Combat-Related Injury and Rehabilitation Pay
- Family Separation Allowance
- Family Support Debit Card Program
- Family Travel Orders
- Emergency Family Member Travel
- Invitational Travel Orders
- Filing a Travel Voucher for time in a Combat Zone
- Hardship Duty Pay Location
- Hostile Fire Pay
- Invitational Travel Orders
- Pay and Allowance Continuation
- Traumatic Service Members Group Life Insurance
Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) provides a one-time payment to severely injured Soldiers. The amount varies, depending the injury, from $25,000 to $100,000. Soldiers must be enrolled in Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) prior to injury to be eligible for TSGLI payments. - Combat-Related Special Compensation
Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is a form of concurrent receipt which is paid monthly. It restores military retirement pay that is offset when a Retiree accepts compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for a disability or condition that can be attributed to a combat-related event. - Severance Pay
Some Soldiers will elect to accept severance pay rather than disability retirement. This pay is calculated based on current base pay, years of service, and whether the injury occurred in a combat zone. - Disability Retirement Pay
After going through the Medical Evaluation Board/Physical Evaluation Board process, some Soldiers will separate from the Army with disability retirement. These Soldiers will receive monthly retirement compensation based on their Army disability rating, years of service and whether they choose to accept VA disability compensation. Soldiers considering this option should work closely with their squad leaders and WWPST representatives to determine the compensation they would receive based on each individual situation. - Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL)
Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL) was authorized by the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. This special monthly compensation is for servicemembers who incur a permanent catastrophic injury or illness. SCAADL helps offset the loss of income by a primary caregiver who provides non-medical care, support, and assistance for the servicemember. Read more in the WTC SCAADL fact sheet.
Veterans Affairs Benefits
The federal government provides a wide variety of benefits to wounded, ill, and injured Veterans and their Families through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits are described in more detail on the Veterans Affairs section of this website and on the VA website.
Social Security Benefits
The Social Security Administration provides disability benefits to workers, including military personnel, whose medical conditions or disabilities cause a severe impact on their ability to work. Social Security benefits are different from Army and VA benefits and require a separate application.
Social Security offers an expedited application process for military servicemembers who become disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs.
State Benefits
Most U.S. states and territories offer specific benefits to wounded Veterans. The VA website offers an online portal to each of the State Departments of Veterans Affairs.