WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Defense this year is providing special retroactive pay for active, reserve and former service members who involuntarily had their enlistment period extended or retirement suspended if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009.

"I hope that every member of the armed forces who involuntarily remained on active duty will submit claims for this special pay," said Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel). "We have a duty to our uniformed men and women, and this compensation goes a long way toward fulfilling those obligations."

Service members must submit claims for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay no later than Oct. 21, 2010. Eligible personnel will receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) they were retained on active duty due to the process known as "stop loss."

Service members must provide documented proof with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim. Stop-lossed service members who voluntarily reenlisted or extended their service, and received a bonus for such reenlistment or extension of service, are no longer eligible to receive retroactive stop loss special pay.

For more information and instruction on how to file a claim, visit the website below or call the following numbers for specific branches of service:

Army: 877-736-5554
Air Force: 800-525-0102
Marine Corps: 877-242-2830
Navy: 901-874-4427
http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/

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