Imminent Danger Pay Locations & Hostile Fire Pay Eligibility

The Department of Defense (DoD) frequently reassesses and updates the areas that qualify for...

The Department of Defense (DoD) frequently reassesses and updates the areas that qualify for Imminent Danger Pay (IDP). Imminent Danger Pay is a benefit given to troops serving in locations that are deemed to be hostile or dangerous. The benefit provides troops in imminent danger areas a payment of $7.50 per day, up to the maximum monthly rate of $225.

Hostile Fire Pay (HFP) is often lumped together with Imminent Danger Pay. However, you only need to serve in the qualifying area to qualify for IDP. You must actually be exposed to hostile fire, or a hostile mine explosion event, to be eligible for Hostile Fire Pay.

While IDP is prorated based on the number of days in the month the member served in the Imminent Danger Pay location, Hostile Fire Pay is a non-prorated benefit. Members exposed to hostile fire will receive the full monthly amount of $225, regardless of the number of days they served in the area.

Members cannot receive both IDP and HFP in the same month.

Qualifying for Imminent Danger Pay & Hostile Fire Pay

IDP is a location and risk-based benefit. In general, the DoD considers areas where service members are at high risk or subject to the threat of physical harm or imminent danger on the basis of civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism, or wartime conditions. This includes exposure to gunfire, mines, rockets and mortar attacks, and similar acts of aggression.

The commander determines HFP based on whether a member is:

• Subject to hostile fire or mine explosions
• In an area near hostile fire or mine explosions which endanger the member
• Killed, injured, or wounded by hostile fire, mines, or any hostile action

There are also three special situations that affect HFP/IDP. These apply to members who are:

• Captured or missing
• Hospitalized as a result of hostile action
• Otherwise entitled to HFP/IDP but are missing from the area for an entire calendar month

Imminent Danger Pay Locations

The Department of Defense regularly reviews IDP locations and will, from time to time, add or remove countries from this list based on “the imminent threat of physical harm to U.S. military personnel due to civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism or wartime conditions.”

IDP Location Notes:

1. The designation of a land area encompasses all internal waters, unless otherwise noted. For HFP and/or IDP purposes, the term “internal waters” is defined as waters landward of the baseline, drawn in accordance with international law.

2. The designation of a water area (such as the Persian Gulf) includes the territorial seas of those waters, but not the internal waters of the coastal lands. For example, all waters of the Persian Gulf seaward of the baseline of the coastal states, drawn in accordance with international law, would be included in the Persian Gulf designation.

3. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, airspace is NOT part of the included area. When airspace is specifically included, it will normally be that space directly vertically above the approved land or sea area.

4. This figure reflects all designated areas, which were active within the last ten years.

Tax-Exempt Combat Pay

Many tax-exempt combat zones are also eligible for Imminent Danger Pay or Hostile Fire Pay, though the lists are not identical. Some areas that are listed on the IDP/HFP list are not considered tax-free combat zones.

Hostile Fire Pay / Imminent Danger Pay is Added to Your Paycheck

HFP/IDP should be added to your paycheck once your finance office processes your orders. This will often be done as a group if you deploy as a unit. However, if it is not, you will need to take a copy of your orders to your finance office to ensure they start your HFP/IDP pay.

Keep in mind this benefit is prorated over the course of the month, so you want to ensure you get the benefit started and stopped in a timely manner to ensure you are not overpaid for your time in country.

Finally, because this benefit may be processed manually, you may find that the payment is made out of your normal military paycheck schedule.

HFP / IDP is a tax-free military benefit.