Special Stop-Loss Bonus Deadline Extended To December 3, 2010

The U.S. Department of Defense has extended the deadline for the government’s stop-loss bonus. The new deadline is December 3, 2010. It had originally been October 21st. The extension will give veterans extra time to get their paper work completed to claim this bonus, and we at MilitaryConnection.com want to make certain that all military veterans who are eligible to receive this money have the opportunity to file for it.

The bonus is for veterans who were involuntarily kept on active duty after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The extension was signed by President Barack Obama. The Pentagon estimates that about 80,000 eligible service members, veterans and beneficiaries have not yet applied for the special stop-loss pay. The program affects members of the military 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.

Stop-loss has been used extensively since 9-11 to maintain personnel strength in deploying units. Service members may have their tour involuntarily extended until the end of their unit’s deployment. The special pay is meant to remunerate the service members for their sacrifices.

Eligible Veterans can go online at www.defense.gov/stoploss, and complete DoD Form 2944, “Claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Payment.”

We, at MilitaryConnection.com, are interested in what you think and your comments. We encourage you to share them.  If you have gone through the process, please let us know your experiences.