Sen. Carper Encourages Service Members to Apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay before Extended October 2011 Deadline

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Carper (D-Del.) notified service members, veterans and beneficiaries of service members from Delaware whose service was extended under stop loss orders in Iraq and Afghanistan that the deadline to apply for retroactive pay has been extended to Oct. 21, 2011. In order to receive Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay, those who qualify must submit a claim to their respective military service before the deadline.  

“Our brave men and women in uniform, and their families, are constantly sacrificing to protect our nation,” said Sen. Carper. “It is important that we recognize that service and provide additional support for those whose service was extended under stop loss orders. In 2009, my colleagues and I passed legislation to compensate service members for tours of duty that were extended in Iraq and Afghanistan. We recently extended the deadline to apply for that retroactive pay to October 21, 2011. I would urge all service members, or their families, who qualify to apply for this money that they have more than earned through their efforts.”  

Sen. Carper voted for the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act which set aside $534.4 million for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay was established to compensate military members whose service was involuntarily extended or whose retirement was suspended between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009. The benefit is worth $500 for each full or partial month served in stop loss status. The average benefit is $3,700. Congress extended the deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay as part of Continuing Resolution H.R. 1473, legislation to fund the government through Oct. 21, 2011, which President Obama signed on April 15, 2011.  

For more information on Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay, please visit http://www.defense.gov/stoploss.  

For questions, please call one of Sen. Carper’s offices or email Senator Carper through his website at http://carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-senator-carper.  

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