Dinner set occasionally given to act as compensation (2,6)

'as compensation' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'dinner set occasionally given to act' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters (letters taken at regular intervals or occasions).
'given to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'act' becomes 'turn' (theatre).
'dinner'+'set'='dinnerset'
The alternating letters of 'dinnerset' are 'inre'.
'inre'+'turn'='IN RETURN'