Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Stop Loss Payment
If you were stop loss since Sept 2001, you will receive retro active pay of $500 per month.
You can apply after Oct 21.2009
www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Soldiers, retirees and veterans who think they may be eligible for retroactive stop-loss pay have 12 months to apply for the special $500 per month entitlement authorized by Congress earlier this year.
As many as 140,000 current and former soldiers may qualify for payment.
Effective Oct. 21, the Army will compensate soldiers for each month, or portion of a month, they were retained on active duty beyond their contracted separation or voluntary retirement date.
Claims may be submitted starting Oct. 21 and must be filed by Oct. 21, 2010.
Payments are retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001, and cover involuntary service performed through Sept. 30, 2009.
However, soldiers who have received regular stop-loss pay for service performed after Oct. 1, 2008, will be compensated only if they were in stop-loss status before that date.
The retroactive compensation will be paid lump sum for the months served in stop-loss status.
Soldiers will not receive regular stop-loss pay and retroactive stop-loss pay for the same period.
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will determine the applicable tax exclusion for retroactive pay that was earned in a combat zone, according to Army officials.
While all the armed forces have imposed some form of stop-loss since 9/11, the Army has liberally applied the policy to its active and reserve components over the past nine years, with restrictions initially imposed on soldiers in priority specialties, and since 2003, on entire units.
Because of stop-loss’s widespread use, Army personnel officials estimate that nearly 140,000 current and former soldiers may be eligible.
To qualify, soldiers, retirees, veterans or their survivors must file a claim with the Army no later than Oct. 21, 2010.
Claims can be submitted electronically beginning Oct. 21 at a dedicated Web site, www.stoploss pay.army.mil.
Soldiers and former soldiers qualify for retroactive stop-loss pay if they were retained on active duty beyond:
* A contractual expiration term of service, or ETS, date, or in the case of reservists, their contractual ETS in the Selected Reserve.
* An approved separation date based on an unqualified resignation or release from active duty or, in the case of reservists, an approved request for transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve.
* An approved retirement based on length of service.
You can apply after Oct 21.2009
www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Soldiers, retirees and veterans who think they may be eligible for retroactive stop-loss pay have 12 months to apply for the special $500 per month entitlement authorized by Congress earlier this year.
As many as 140,000 current and former soldiers may qualify for payment.
Effective Oct. 21, the Army will compensate soldiers for each month, or portion of a month, they were retained on active duty beyond their contracted separation or voluntary retirement date.
Claims may be submitted starting Oct. 21 and must be filed by Oct. 21, 2010.
Payments are retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001, and cover involuntary service performed through Sept. 30, 2009.
However, soldiers who have received regular stop-loss pay for service performed after Oct. 1, 2008, will be compensated only if they were in stop-loss status before that date.
The retroactive compensation will be paid lump sum for the months served in stop-loss status.
Soldiers will not receive regular stop-loss pay and retroactive stop-loss pay for the same period.
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will determine the applicable tax exclusion for retroactive pay that was earned in a combat zone, according to Army officials.
While all the armed forces have imposed some form of stop-loss since 9/11, the Army has liberally applied the policy to its active and reserve components over the past nine years, with restrictions initially imposed on soldiers in priority specialties, and since 2003, on entire units.
Because of stop-loss’s widespread use, Army personnel officials estimate that nearly 140,000 current and former soldiers may be eligible.
To qualify, soldiers, retirees, veterans or their survivors must file a claim with the Army no later than Oct. 21, 2010.
Claims can be submitted electronically beginning Oct. 21 at a dedicated Web site, www.stoploss pay.army.mil.
Soldiers and former soldiers qualify for retroactive stop-loss pay if they were retained on active duty beyond:
* A contractual expiration term of service, or ETS, date, or in the case of reservists, their contractual ETS in the Selected Reserve.
* An approved separation date based on an unqualified resignation or release from active duty or, in the case of reservists, an approved request for transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve.
* An approved retirement based on length of service.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Post 9/11Advance Payment
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced further outreach to Veteran-students eligible for a special emergency payment of their education benefits. Veterans can now apply online beginning Oct. 2. Veteran-students can also request courtesy transportation to VA regional benefits offices.
Last week Shinseki announced that on Friday, Oct. 2, VA’s 57 regional benefits offices will begin providing on-the-spot emergency payments up to $3,000 to students who have applied for their education benefits but who have not yet received a government payment.
Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov, starting Oct. 2. The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing.
“VA is adapting to meet the financial needs of our Veteran-students who are on campus,” Shinseki said. “They should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties.”
Students without their own transportation can also request free van service, provided by volunteers, to carry them to the nearest benefits office. To obtain this service, Veterans would have to call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the “Volunteer Transportation Coordinator.” Transportation will be on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. Veterans can find a map and list of medical centers at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1.
Whether traveling by personal vehicle or volunteer van, VA officials suggest students check their mail boxes and banking accounts before leaving home, since some Veterans will find their checks have already arrived. VA would like to recognize the volunteers and Veterans Service Organizations for partnering with the Department to ensure that Veterans’ needs are met.
The emergency checks are an advance on each student’s education benefits, and the amount will be deducted from future benefits payments. Checks will be written at the regional offices for Veterans who bring a photo ID and evidence of their enrollment. VA officials emphasize that $3,000 is the maximum payment, with many Veterans receiving smaller payments based upon their likely monthly education benefits.
A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. The most updated information regarding VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting Oct. 1.
NYC VA Regional Office - 245 West Houston Street, NY, NY 10014.
Students may apply online by going to http://www.va.gov. Applicants would receive their checks in the mail.
Last week Shinseki announced that on Friday, Oct. 2, VA’s 57 regional benefits offices will begin providing on-the-spot emergency payments up to $3,000 to students who have applied for their education benefits but who have not yet received a government payment.
Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov, starting Oct. 2. The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing.
“VA is adapting to meet the financial needs of our Veteran-students who are on campus,” Shinseki said. “They should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties.”
Students without their own transportation can also request free van service, provided by volunteers, to carry them to the nearest benefits office. To obtain this service, Veterans would have to call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the “Volunteer Transportation Coordinator.” Transportation will be on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. Veterans can find a map and list of medical centers at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1.
Whether traveling by personal vehicle or volunteer van, VA officials suggest students check their mail boxes and banking accounts before leaving home, since some Veterans will find their checks have already arrived. VA would like to recognize the volunteers and Veterans Service Organizations for partnering with the Department to ensure that Veterans’ needs are met.
The emergency checks are an advance on each student’s education benefits, and the amount will be deducted from future benefits payments. Checks will be written at the regional offices for Veterans who bring a photo ID and evidence of their enrollment. VA officials emphasize that $3,000 is the maximum payment, with many Veterans receiving smaller payments based upon their likely monthly education benefits.
A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. The most updated information regarding VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting Oct. 1.
NYC VA Regional Office - 245 West Houston Street, NY, NY 10014.
Students may apply online by going to http://www.va.gov. Applicants would receive their checks in the mail.
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