Sen. Carper Encourages Service Members to Apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Carper (D-Del.) encouraged service members, veterans and beneficiaries of service members from Delaware whose service was extended under stop loss orders in Iraq and Afghanistan to apply for retroactive pay. Those who qualify for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) must submit payment applications before Dec. 3, 2010. The Department of Defense (DOD) estimates that 80,000 of the 145,000 eligible service members have yet to submit payment applications.

"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 compensate those whose serve 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. The deadline to apply for that retroactive pay is approaching and I would urge all service members, or their families, who quality 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. Eligible members, or their beneficiaries, must submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive the benefit of $500 for each full month of partial or partial month served in stop loss status. The average benefit is $3,700.

For more information on RSLSP or to submit a payment application, please visit http://www.defense.gov/stoploss. 

For questions, please contact Sen. Carper’s office at http://carper.senate.gov/about/offices.cfm.