 "Photo: Ted Copeland/ The Olympian")
The hundreds of veterans and active members of the armed forces currently attending Olympic College may have the opportunity to receive some extra money through a special stop loss payment from the federal government.
The Department of Defense, through the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, will provide retroactive stop loss pay to service members and veterans who were put on stop loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009, according to a Defense Department press release on January 5, 2010.
Congress approved the Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR 2346) in June 2009. The bill appropriated more than $534 million to be used by the Department of Defense in making stop loss payments.
Military Times reports that the average payment to date has been $4,500, and the Pentagon has estimated that approximately 170,000 service members may be eligible for the special pay. So far, only 13 percent of eligible service members and veterans have applied.
Service members who had their time in service involuntarily extended during that period may be eligible.
However, the Army’s stop loss information website, www.stoploss.army.mil, says that those who voluntarily reenlisted or extended their service, and received a bonus for doing so are no longer eligible for stop loss special pay.
Eligible service members will receive $500 for each month or portion of a month past their originally scheduled separation date.
Stop loss pay will be paid out the service member in a lump sum for the times served in stop loss status. Reservists will only accrue stop loss pay for their time serving on active duty during their stop loss period.
Applicable tax exclusions for stop loss pay earned while in a combat zone tax exclusion area will be determined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, according to the Army stop loss website.
Applicants are required to provide documentation to prove stop loss status, such as a DD 214 or DD 4 Enlistment/Reenlistment/Extension contract. If these documents are not available, a Leave and Earnings Statement should be provided and the applicant should request assistance through the appropriate service branch.
Surviving family members of deceased service members who were on stop loss status should contact the appropriate military branch for assistance in filing their claim.
Service members and veterans who are eligible have until Oct. 21, 2010 to submit their application for stop loss pay to their respective services.
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