Thousands Still Owed “Stop Loss” Pay

Normally we report on class action lawsuit settlements, but we just learned that the Army is still trying to locate about 35,000 soldiers, veterans and survivors of servicemembers who are owed millions of dollars in unclaimed bonus money for being forced to remain in the military beyond their normal enlistment.

If you or someone you know was stop-lossed between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2009, here are the details on how to claim this well-deserved money.

In case you don’t remember, the government established Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) as part of the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act to provide $500 for each month/partial month served in stop-loss status. The government authorized this special pay following criticism that the stop-loss policy amounted to a “back door draft.”

Servicemembers, veterans and beneficiaries of servicemembers whose service was involuntarily extended under stop loss between 9/11 and September 30, 2009 are eligible for RSLSP. Most of those eligible fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To receive this benefit, those who served under stop loss must submit a claim for the special pay by the deadline of March 4, 2011. Apparently the deadline was extended from the original deadline of December 21, 2010 because so many eligible soldiers had failed to apply for the money they’re owed.

So far the Army has yet to pay nearly $160 million to 57,000 soldiers or veterans, or to the families of those who died or were killed while on stop-loss. This includes 22,000 requests that are pending review and about 35,000 people the Army cannot locate.

President Barack Obama urged those eligible for RSLSP to apply, saying that this is not a gimmick or scam, or a way for the government to call them back into service.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said in a September statement. “As your commander in chief, I am here to tell you that this is no gimmick or trick. You worked hard. You earned this money. It doesn’t matter whether you were active or reserve, whether you’re a veteran who experienced ‘Stop Loss’ or the survivor of a servicemember who did – if your service was extended you’re eligible.”

The average payout is estimated to be about $3,800 per servicemember.

For more information on how to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP), including submission requirements and service-specific links, go to www.defense.gov/stoploss.