DoD announced last week that it had extended the deadline for submitting claims for retroactive stop loss special pay (RSLSP) to December 3, 2010.  The original deadline for claims was October 21, 2010, but the change was made after less than half of the 145,000 servicemembers considered eligible to receive the pay had submitted claims.  Servicemembers whose length of service was extended involuntarily between 2001 and 2009 under the “Stop Loss” program are entitled to receive $500 for each month or partial month that they were in “Stop Loss” status.  Veterans and beneficiaries may also be eligible.  Congress provided $534 million in the FY2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act for the RSLSP.  Secretary Gates joined President Obama in encouraging eligible servicemembers to file the claim forms by the new date.  According to Gates, the average payment so far has been $3,800.  ADM Mike Mullen, CJCS, also urged eligible members to file claims saying “It’s your money, so come and get it.”  Information on how to file for RSLSP is available on the DFAS and the Military Services’ websites.