I want to take a moment to pass along an important piece of news for active members of the US military, veterans and beneficiaries.  

The deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has been extended to December 3, 2010. As you may know, the military currently provides Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay to soldiers for each month their service was extended as a result of the miltary's stop loss policy. Please visit:

http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/Retroactive_Stop_Loss_Pay_RSLSP.asp for more information, or 

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/ to begin the application process.

The following information comes from the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.·

The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act established Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP), providing $500 for each month/partial month served in stop loss status.  Service members, veterans, and beneficiaries of service members whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009 are eligible for RSLSP.

To receive this benefit, those who served under stop loss must submit a claim for the special pay (by Dec 3, 2010).  Throughout the year, the services have been reaching out to service members, veterans and their families through direct mail, veteran service organizations, and the media.  But there is still money left to be claimed, and the deadline is approaching.

The average benefit is $3,700.

Note on Eligibility

Effective Dec. 19, 2009, per the Defense Appropriations Act, stop-lossed service members who voluntarily reenlisted or extended their service, and received a bonus for such reenlistment or extension of service, became no longer eligible to receive retroactive stop loss special pay.

The following service-specific sites provide more information and allow you to begin the RSLSP claim process.

• Army
  877-736-5554
  Website: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
  E-mail  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Navy
  901-874-4427
  Website:  http://www.npc.navy.mil/ReferenceLibrary/MILPERSMAN/7000FinancialMgmt/7220_410.htm
  E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Marine Corps 
  877-242-2830
  Website: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss
  E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Air Force
  800-525-0102
  Website: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss/
  E-mail (active):  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  E-mail (guard/reserve):  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it