Service Members Get Extra Time to Apply for Retroactive Stop-loss Payments

Press Release

Service members who qualify for the payments now have until October 21, 2012, to apply

The Department of Defense has announced that the deadline for veterans and service members to apply for retroactive stop-loss payments has been extended to October 21, 2012.

"Our men and women in uniform made such sacrifices when their return home was put off so they could continue to serve when needed," said Pingree. "I hope we can repay this debt to every single service member it's owed, which is why this extension is so important."

Members of the military, along with their beneficiaries, whose service was involuntarily extended under stop loss between September 11, 2001, and September 30, 2009, are eligible for the retroactive payments. The pay provides $500 for each month or partial month served in stop loss status.

To receive the benefits, veterans must submit a claim to the military branch in which they served by October 21, 2012. Information about the payments, including how to apply, is available at www.defense.gov/stoploss or on Congresswoman Pingree's veterans page.

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