Dahlkemper Urges Eligible Veterans To Apply For Retroactive Stop Loss Pay

Press Release

Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3) is urging eligible veterans to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay before the deadline later this year. Although the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the program in October of last year, the majority of eligible service members have yet to apply for the special payment they are due.

"I strongly encourage local veterans and service members whose enlistment was extended under Stop Loss to apply for this special payment. These are funds our soldiers have rightly earned through exceptional service and multiple deployments. Our troops deserve fair compensation; I hope those who are eligible for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay will apply to receive what they are due," said Rep. Dahlkemper.

Under Stop Loss Special Pay, 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 Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009, while their enlistment was extended, or whose retirement was suspended due to Stop Loss.

The DoD estimates approximately 185,000 personnel are eligible for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. As of December 2009, only approximately 15,000 individuals had applied for the special payment. According to an Army spokesperson, the average lump sum payment eligible Army veterans have received is $4,500.

All applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 21, 2010, and 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.

The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act, which Dahlkemper voted for, gave the DoD 120 days from June 24, 2009, to establish Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay implementation rules that outline the process for certifying claims by active, reserve, retired, or former service members.

Source