Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) today announced that special payments are available to over 185,000 service members who have had their enlistments involuntarily extended since September 11, 2001.  Starting today, $500 for every month they were held under stop-loss orders will be made available.  Congress established this payment as part of the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act which was enacted this summer.

 

“These men and women have literally served above and beyond the call of duty.  We have a volunteer military and the stop-loss orders were bad policy that amounted to a back-door draft.  These payments are the least we can do given the hardship these soldiers and their families have had to endure,” DeFazio said.

 

The Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay is available to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009.  Service members from every branch of the military will receive compensation.

 

Service members may begin submitting their claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay today.  All applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 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.

 

Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil

Navy:  send email to – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Marine Corps:  https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss

Air Force:  http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss  

 

Over the last two and a half years, Congress has worked hard to improve the lives of America’s veterans.  In addition to the stop-loss legislation, DeFazio supported passage of the New GI Bill, improvements in veterans’ hospitals and facilities, expanded economic opportunities for returning soldiers and improved care for those with PTSD.