U.S. troops who were involuntarily kept on active duty by a Bush era “stop loss” policy have failed to claim $324 million in retroactive bonus payments that expire October 21, 2010.
Iraq war vets fail to claim $3,500 stop-loss bonus
The $500 per month stop loss bonus pay was approved by Congress in 2009 and made retroactive to September, 2001 for soldiers kept on active duty that did not receive reenlistment bonuses.
Only 55,000 of the 145,000 eligible veterans have filed the necessary paperwork to claim their stop-loss bonuses, which average $3,500 each.
The estimated 90,000 veterans owed $324 million must complete the stop-loss bonus eligibility claim form located at http://www.defense.gov/stoploss by October 21st or forfeit their bonus money.
Pentagon officials said the stop-loss application is required by law and they can’t simply mail out unsolicited checks, even though the veterans are owed the money.
Officials think the reason for the low participation rate is that many soldiers think it is a scam and throw their notification letters away.
Pentagon spokesman Lerners “Bear” Hebert says “It is unusual, and because it’s unusual maybe that’s why some people are questioning whether this is legitimate.”
“We knew it was going to be a challenge,” Hebert added. “As a military culture, we generally don’t pay people for services rendered; we pay them when they serve.”
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