Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., is urging active duty service members, veterans, and beneficiaries of service members who were involuntarily extended between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2009, to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.
Under the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act, compensation is available to service members of every military branch who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to “Stop Loss,” a policy utilized during major conflicts to quickly retain and generate forces to surge. Eligible Service members will receive $500 for every month they were on active duty after their discharge date.
“I want to encourage the servicemen and women whose service was extended by ‘Stop Loss’ to apply for retroactive pay benefits now,” Udall said. “Our Active Duty, Reserve and Guard troops have shown great dedication by continuing to defend America during its time of need and they have earned this compensation.”
Approximately 58,000 claims have already been paid out, with the average benefit being $3,800. The Department of Defense estimates that more than 145,000 personnel are eligible. For more information or to submit a compensation claim visit the Department of Defense’s website at: http://www.defense.gov/stoploss. The deadline to apply is October 21, 2010. Those needing assistance filing a claim can visit http://www.tomudall.senate.gov or contact their local Udall office.
