MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Congress is currently doing their annual reevaluation of the pay raise and benefit package for service members for 2010.
On July 13, the United States Senate began consideration of the fiscal year 2010 Defense Authorization bill, that would include a 3.4 percent pay increase for all military personnel to be effective January 1, 2010.
The bill includes an across-the-board pay raise, but it also outlines various bonuses and special pay benefits for special duties and incentives for enlistments, re-enlistments and continued service by active-duty and reserve service members.
One of the benefits being considered is the maximum supplemental subsistence allowance. The allowance is geared to military families who would be eligible for food stamps. The families would receive enough money to stay above the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program income cap.
One notable special pay allowance being evaluated by the government is the stop-loss allowance. The allowance is currently due to expire, but until further notice it is scheduled to be extended until July 1, 2011.
Other special pay benefits being evaluated include hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, hazardous duty pay, special duty pay, Afghanistan extension pay and reserve retired pay. For more information visit http://rpc.senate.gov.