Officials Confirm Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Deadline

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2012 – Pentagon officials have confirmed the Oct. 21 deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has not been extended by the recently enacted Continuing Resolution.

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, which was established by the The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act, officials said.
The average benefit is $3,600.

Applications can still be mailed, but applicants should, if possible, apply on-line to obtain an instant claims number and expedite communication with service personnel, officials explained.

Since the majority of potential applicants have separated from the military, Defense Department and service officials said they have used multiple methods to contact and remind those eligible to apply.
Outreach efforts include multiple direct mailings to last known addresses, contact with the VA and more than 100 other veteran and military service organizations, social networks, and local and national media.

The president, Congressional members and senior defense officials have also assisted to boost outreach.