Obama Reaches Out to Veterans: You Earned It

MilitaryConnection.com is pleased to bring you this positive news that the deadline for you to apply for Stop Loss Pay has been extended to December 18^th. We cannot agree more with the President that those who serve and served again deserve this pay. Please apply and this is legitimate and not a trick or gimmick. This will put dollars in your pockets and as much as $3,500 depending on your circumstances. Where you are active duty or Guard and Reserves, you are entitled to $500 for each month you were extended between September 11, 2001 and September 30^th, 2009. YOU EARNED IT!. In these challenging economic times, this money can come in handy for everything from gifts, paying bills, helping meet your needs if you are seeking a job or supplementing benefits for education. Please don’t procrastinate and apply NOW. The link to apply is: www.defense.gov/stoploss

Debbie Gregory, CEO
MilitaryConnection.com
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Obama Reaches Out to Veterans: You Earned It

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2010 – President Barack Obama wants to make sure veterans and current servicemembers who were involuntarily retained in the military under the so-called “Stop Loss” program get the retroactive pay they deserve.

“You served with honor. You did your duty. And when your country called on you again, you did your duty again. Now, it’s time to collect the special pay that you deserve,” President Barack Obama said in a public service announcement released by the White House today.

Military members whose service was involuntarily extended or whose retirement was suspended between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, are entitled to a retroactive payment of $500 for each month of extension. While by law, service members who received a bonus for voluntarily reenlisting or extending their service are not eligible, it is strongly recommended that all who may be eligible submit an application before the deadline, according to Defense Department officials. The application deadline is Oct. 21. It has now been extended by Congress and the President to December 18^th. Information on the special pay and links to the application are available at http://www.defense.gov/stoploss.

About 58,000 of 145,000 eligible claims have been paid, and $219 million has been disbursed of the $534 million appropriated, Defense Department officials said.

While tens of thousands of veterans already have received retroactive pay averaging nearly $4,000 each, the president said many others may be reluctant to apply.

“I know there’s been some confusion and skepticism out there,” he said. “Some veterans think this is some sort of gimmick or scam, or that it’s a way for the government to call you back to service. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“As your commander in chief,” Obama continued, “I’m 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 military services are promoting the retroactive pay through direct mail, veteran and service organizations, websites, phone lines, print and broadcast media. The president’s message underscores the effort to spread the word.

“Share this video among your fellow veterans,” the president urged. “Help us get our ‘Stop Loss’ veterans the pay to which they’re entitled. Help us make sure that America is serving our veterans and your families as well as you’ve served us.”

Deadline Extended to Dec. 18, 2010

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2010 – The Department of Defense announced today that the deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has been extended to Dec. 18. The last deadline was Dec. 3.

The Department of Defense announced today that the deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to Dec. 18. The last deadline was Dec. 3.

To apply, or for more information on RSLSP, including submission requirements and service-specific links, go to http://www.defense.gov/stoploss .

The deadline extension is included in the continuing resolution signed by President Obama on Dec. 4, providing funding for federal government operations through Dec. 18.

RSLSP was established to compensate military members whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009. Eligible members or their beneficiaries are required to submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status.

When RSLSP began on Oct. 21, 2009, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts throughout the year. Efforts including direct mail, engaging military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets, will continue throughout the period of eligibility.