********************************** DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED *******************************
The deadline for eligible members or legally designated beneficiaries to apply for
Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay is Oct. 21, 2012.
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Current and former Airmen who were involuntarily held on active duty beyond an approved separation or retirement date as a result of stop loss between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, may be eligible for a Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay compensation of $500 for each whole or partial month they were affected.
Background
The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriation Act set aside $534.4 million for the Retroactive Stop-Loss Special Pay compensation authority. The Air Force used stop loss for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and 2002 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. This site provided assistance in identifying eligibility, filing claims and answering your questions on Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.
Eligibility
The Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay authority compensates active, retired and former servicemembers as well as members of the Reserve component who served on active duty while their enlistment or period of obligated service was involuntarily extended, or whose eligibility for retirement was suspended as a result of stop loss. Airmen who were involuntarily held on active duty beyond an approved separation or retirement date as a result of stop loss between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, are eligible for the special pay.
Individuals discharged from the armed force under other than honorable conditions are not eligible to collect payment under this authority.
Due to officers having an indefinite date of separation, only those with an actual approved separation date at the time of stop loss would be eligible.
Eligible Airmen will be paid $500 for every month or partial month they were involuntarily held on active duty as a direct result of stop loss. For those eligible, DFAS will also review approved claims to determine if the combat zone tax exclusion applies.
Request Source Documents
Personnel officials will attempt to process all applications for stop loss with information obtained on the completed Department of Defense Form 2944, Claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Payment. Should officials require any additional supporting documents, they will inform applicants and direct them to the appropriate office.
Former active-duty Airmen who retired or separated before Oct. 1, 2004, can request copies of records by visiting the National Personnel Records Center Web site for record request instructions: www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/ or use www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs.
Claims Process
Eligible members should print, complete and sign Department of Defense Form 2944, Claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Payment, located at the link below. Next, choose one of the following methods for submitting the claim form and available supporting documents:
Separations and retirements officials from either AFPC or ARPC will review all claim forms and substantiating documentation to approve or disapprove the application.
Claims with insufficient documentation will be held in pending status, and the applicant will be notified about the pending approval and what further documentation is required.
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