Service Members May Be Eligible For Back Pay

Press Release

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today announced that the Department of Defense plans to provide retroactive Stop Loss special pay to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended under the Stop Loss program from September 11, 2001, to September 30, 2009.

"This is good news for those dedicated men and women who served above and beyond their original time commitment," said Langevin, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. "Compensating these soldiers for their additional service is the least we can do."

Stop Loss is a military directive mandating service members stay beyond their obligated tour of duty. Eligible personnel will receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) that the member was retained on active duty due to Stop Loss.

Service members, including members of the Reserve components, former and retired members, are eligible if they served on active duty between September 11, 2001, and September 30, 2009, while their enlistment was extended, or whose retirement was suspended due to Stop Loss. Service members who were discharged or released from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions are not permitted to receive Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.

In accordance with the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, all applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than October 21, 2010. Service members must provide documented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.

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