Retroactive pay deadline for U.S. troops affected by “Stop-Loss”

CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR ANNOUNCES RETROACTIVE PAY DEADLINE FOR US TROOPS AFFECTED BY “STOP-LOSS”

PRESS RELEASE BELOW:

^{Washington, D.C.: Today, Congressman Cuellar announced that service members whose service was extended under stop loss orders in Iraq and Afghanistan have until October 21, 2010 to apply for retroactive pay.}

^{Troops eligible for retroactive pay will receive $500 a month for each month their service was extended.  The Defense Department estimates that while 145,400 troops are eligible, and only 58,000 claims have been paid out so far.}

^{“Our brave men and women have made tremendous sacrifices for our country and they deserve our highest respect and appreciation,” said Congressman Cuellar.   “Working with our local veterans organizations, I want to make sure that all eligible service members here in South Texas get the benefits they have bravely earned.”}

^{In 2009, Congressman Cuellar voted to pass HR 2346, the War Supplemental Appropriations Act which established retroactive stop loss special pay (RSLSP). This allows troops whose service was involuntarily extended between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2009 to file claims in order to receive retroactive pay if eligible.}

<sup>The deadline for submissions is October 21, 2010.  The average benefit is $3,800.

For more information or to submit a claim please visit www.defense.gov/stoploss.</sup>

Posted by:  Francisco J. Barragan

Commander

http://umava.org/

UMAVA (United Mexican-American Veterans Association)

(forwarded by Mimi Lozano from “SOMOS PRIMOS”)