# $Var2 is a reference to the first-level hash $rh2 = $Var2->{'ClaimBaseInfoDT'}; # $rh2 is now a reference to one of the second-level hashes # contained within the first $claimday = $rh2->{'ClaimDay'}; # which you can use to access the inner-most values # You can do it all in one step, too $claimday = $Var2->{'ClaimBaseInfoDT'}->{'ClaimDay'};