March 4 is Final Day to Claim ‘Stop Loss’ Pay

People whose military service was involuntarily extended or whose retirement was suspended between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, have until March 4 to file for retroactive payments of $500 for each month of their extended service under the “Stop Loss” policy.

The deadline ends the second extension for eligible people to apply to receive the retroactive pay.

“This is a timely payment for services already rendered,” said Lernes "Bear" Hebert, the Defense Department’s director of officer and enlisted personnel management. “It’s a no-strings-attached program -- one where they fill out a simple form and attach a few documents [to show] their service.”

Each service branch will work with potential applicants to determine eligibility, he added.
The program also applies to beneficiaries who lost loved ones in the ultimate sacrifice during their service, Hebert said.