Just in time for Veterans Day, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has announced that the deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to December 3, 2010.

If you are a servicemember, veteran, or beneficiary of a servicemember whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2009, you may be eligible for RSLSP. The average benefit is $3,700.

To receive this benefit, you must submit a claim. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides the phone numbers, websites and email addresses needed for each military branch in the ?Vet Center? section of their site Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.

Officials have estimated that there are nearly 80,000 Americans who are eligible to receive RSLSP, but have not yet applied. VA and DOD are actively encouraging candidates to submit their claims as soon as possible to ensure that those who have earned this pay receive it.

To learn more about this effort and how to submit your claim, visit the Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay page on the VA website or read the American Forces Press Service news article about the deadline extension.

This Veterans Day we want to remind America?s servicemembers that Benefits.gov can easily help you find government programs you may be eligible to receive. Click ?Start Now? on the homepage to begin answering questions in the confidential Benefit Finder. The more questions you answer, the more likely you are to be eligible for the benefits that will appear in your Benefit Results List.

Thank you for your service!