A Hardship Discharge allows a service member to leave the military early when severe personal or family circumstances make it impossible to continue serving.
Unlike punitive discharges such as a Bad Conduct Discharge or Dishonorable Discharge, a hardship discharge is an administrative separation requested by the service member and approved by their chain of command.
Not sure how this discharge compares to others? See our complete guide to types of military discharge to understand every classification and how they affect benefits and future opportunities.
Below we explain what qualifies as a hardship discharge, how the process works, and what it means for your benefits and military obligations.
Related Article – 6 Ways to Get Out of the Military Early
Table of Contents
1. What is the difference between a Dependency and Hardship Discharge?
There is a difference between a Dependency and Hardship Discharge, although they are used casually and interchangeably.
A Dependency Discharge is the need to leave the military to become the primary caregiver because of a death or disability in the family.
On the other hand, a Hardship Discharge means there is a hardship that does not relate to the death or disability of someone in the service member’s immediate family.
2. What Is A Hardship Discharge?
Before discussing a hardship discharge, it is crucial to understand the difference between a discharge and a military separation.
In the case of a discharge, the service member has no obligation to finish the military commitment left on the service contract.
On the other hand, a separation means the service obligation is met through the Individual Ready Reserves.
Since Hardship Discharges revolve around hardships that can only be relieved by a discharge, the service member would not have any further obligation to their service contract.
A Hardship Discharge has criteria to meet as set forth by the Department of Defense.
For instance, the hardship must be significant and not likely to resolve itself without a discharge.
Also, the situation that requires the full attention of the service member must have become worse over time.
Next, the service member must do everything possible to improve the situation before seeking the discharge.
Lastly, the discharge must be the only viable solution.
From there, the specific branches of the military have their own regulations.
All military branches follow the regulations of the Department of Defense.
Also, all the branches have their own regulations that point out evidence and statements necessary to prove the hardship.
All Armed Forces branches agree that the undue hardship cannot be related to a change in income or an inconvenience usual to military life, such as deployments.
Furthermore, all branches prioritize reviewing hardship discharge requests to support the service member as much as possible.
There are differences in the procedures for applying for the Hardship Discharge. However, in all cases, the request must have full documentation and evidence.
Also, in all cases, the requests go up the chain of command.
Related Article – 8 Types of Military Discharge
3. Other Options Instead of a Hardship Discharge
In some cases, the military may consider a Humanitarian Assignment.
A Humanitarian Assignment allows for the service member to be temporarily located closer to home, so the service member has an opportunity to resolve the issue.
Also, the Army calls this type of assignment situation a Compassionate Assignment.
In all cases, it works the same way.
4. Hardship Discharge Benefits / Consequences
A hardship discharge allows a service member to leave the military early in order to address serious family or personal circumstances.
In most cases, the discharge characterization is either Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions.
If the service member receives an Honorable Discharge, they typically retain eligibility for most veterans’ benefits, including VA healthcare, home loan programs, and disability compensation.
However, if the discharge is characterized as General Under Honorable Conditions, some benefits such as education programs under the GI Bill may not be available.
It is important to note that each situation is reviewed individually by the Department of Veterans Affairs when determining eligibility for specific programs.
Service members considering a hardship discharge are usually advised to consult both their chain of command and the Department of Veterans Affairs to understand how the discharge characterization may affect their long-term benefits.
What Situations Qualify for a Hardship Discharge?
The military grants hardship discharges only in rare situations where a service member’s continued service would cause extreme hardship to their immediate family.
The hardship must be severe, ongoing, and something that cannot be resolved through other means such as reassignment or temporary leave.
Common situations that may qualify include becoming the sole caregiver for dependent children, providing full-time care for a seriously ill family member, or addressing financial or family crises that require the service member’s presence at home.
Before approving the request, the military typically requires extensive documentation showing that the hardship exists and that all other options have been explored.
This may include medical records, legal documents, financial statements, or written statements from family members and professionals involved in the situation.
Because these requests are carefully reviewed, hardship discharges are granted only when the military determines that separation is the only reasonable solution.
5. Hardship Discharge Examples
An example of a Hardship Discharge would be if you are married and have children, but your spouse dies, leaving you to the sole parent to children.
In this case, your kids’ care takes priority, and the military will grant a Hardship Discharge because it is convenient for the government.
After all, the military comes with high risk during deployment, and the children might end up with no parents at all.
Another situation that calls for a Hardship Discharge is if an elderly parent dies, leaving another parent who needs significant care.
For some service members, there is no other family care for the remaining parent.
Therefore, this task falls to the service member by no fault of their own, and the hardship is permanent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hardship Discharge
How Long Does a Hardship Discharge Take?
The timeline varies depending on the branch of service and the complexity of the situation.
In many cases, requests must move through several levels of the chain of command for approval.
The process may take several weeks or months depending on the documentation required.
Can You Rejoin the Military After a Hardship Discharge?
In some cases, service members may be eligible to reenlist after a hardship discharge if their situation has been resolved and they still meet military eligibility requirements.
Approval typically depends on the reenlistment code listed on the service member’s DD-214.
Other Types of Military Discharge
- Honorable Discharge
- General Discharge
- Other Than Honorable Discharge
- Bad Conduct Discharge
- Dishonorable Discharge
Conclusion
While many service members set out in their military service with a long-term plan to meet their service obligation, sometimes life is unkind, leaving the men and women in uniform in a difficult position.
The Department of Defense clearly defines the expectations for qualifying for a Hardship Discharge.
If the service member meets all the requirements, then the military branch grants the discharge.
In some cases, the service member receives a full discharge, which means they are free from their service contract.
However, if the service member receives a separation, they will finish their obligation in the active or inactive ready reserves in other cases.
References
See Also
General Discharge: 10 Things You (probably) Didn’t Know
Zach currently resides in Syracuse, New York, and is very active in politics and local news media.
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