Military Times: 13 Percent of Eligible Vets Applied For Stop Loss Pay

Yesterday, Military Times reported that only 13 percent of the estimated 120,000 eligible Army veterans have registered for retroactive stop loss compensation.

Veterans retained beyond their original contract date anytime between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2008 are eligible to receive $500 per month for their time of involuntary service.

AMVETS leaders encourage anyone who was held beyond their military contract within the eligibility period to sign up for the benefit online by Clicking Here.

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"Stop loss put additional burdens on soldiers and their loved ones for more than seven years and Congress authorized these payments in recognition of this involuntary sacrifice in our nation's time of need," said AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley. "This is an earned entitlement, which is why AMVETS wants all eligible veterans to take advantage of the program."

Applications for the benefit were first accepted on Oct. 21, 2009. To date, Military Times reports that only 16,000 soldiers have signed up for benefits and only 2,500 have received compensation.

The $500 billion program was authorized as part of the FY 2010 Defense Authorization.

American Veteran will work to ensure news of the stop loss benefit will reach the other 87 percent of eligible soldiers in the coming weeks.

(Image: Banner from the U.S. Army's Retroactive Stop Loss compensation Web site.)