With less than two months before a new on-base military shopping benefit is scheduled to roll out to more than 4 million disabled veterans, it appears there may be a delay for some to get the benefit.
The Defense Department has apparently pulled back on a plan that would have allowed access to
veterans who are eligible for this benefit, regardless of whether they
are eligible for the Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC). A
source outside the Pentagon said security concerns have been raised by
DoD’s facilities access officials regarding the plan. There’s no
information from DoD or VA on a timeline for a solution, and both
agencies referred questions to the other agency.
Federal officials determined earlier this year that veterans would use
their VHIC in order to get access to DoD and Coast Guard installations,
and to shop at commissaries, exchanges and use certain morale, welfare
and recreation facilities as of Jan. 1, 2020. That plan is still intact.
That new patron group includes all veterans with service-connected
disabilities, veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, veterans who are
former prisoners of war, and those designated as primary family
caregivers of eligible veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs
caregiver program. The new privileges were granted by law under the
Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018.
The vast majority have, or are eligible for, a VHIC. Of the 4.1 million
people eligible for the new benefit, an estimated 37,000 people ― less
than 1 percent ― don’t qualify for the VHIC. The VHIC must display the
veteran’s eligibility status – Purple Heart recipient, former POW, or
service-connected.
In October, a DoD spokeswoman told Military Times VA will issue letters
to these veterans without a VHIC, confirming their eligibility. But
federal officials have apparently scrapped that plan . A fact sheet
posted Wednesday afternoon on MilitaryOneSource.com
states, ”On Jan. 1, 2020, only veterans with a secure, scannable
VA-issued VHIC will be authorized access to in-person commissary,
military exchange and morale, welfare and recreation privileges on DoD
and Coast Guard installations.”
It notes that when DoD and VA identify a credentialing solution for all
veterans eligible under the law, DoD “will roll out a new phase of
access to accommodate current veterans who are not eligible to obtain a
VHIC but are eligible for these privileges.”
Previously only veterans with 100 percent service-connected disability
ratings were authorized shopping and MWR privileges. The new law now
allows all those with service-connected disability ratings, including 0
percent, to have those privileges.
But some of those with 0 percent rating don’t have a VHIC, because their
income exceeds the Housing and Urban Development indices. A number of
veterans have contacted Military Times over the last five months asking
about how they would be able to access their benefit.
In October, a DoD spokeswoman confirmed that officials had determined that “VA will provide a letter to
these disabled veterans indicating they are eligible for these
privileges, even if not eligible for the VHIC. This letter paired with
an acceptable credential (e.g. REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or
U.S. passport) will facilitate installation and privilege access.”
The Military OneSource fact sheet doesn’t mention such a letter, but
mentions a “new phase” once DoD and VA officials decide on a credential.
The source outside the Pentagon said there was concern among DoD
facilities personnel that people could present a fraudulent letter.
As for authorized primary caregivers of veterans, they will receive a
letter from the VA Office of Community Care indicating they are approved
as the primary caregiver of an eligible veteran under the Program of
Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, and are eligible for
these privileges. These caregivers will also show an acceptable
credential, with that eligibility letter.
During the first visit to the installation, eligible veterans and
caregivers must stop at the visitor control center. Depending on the
type of installation and the credential presented, the veteran and
caregivers may be enrolled for recurring access, so they wouldn’t have
to stop at the visitor control center each time they visited in the
future.
Until officials come up with a credentialing solution for those who don’t have a VHIC card, other veterans can shop at the military exchanges online and at the American Forces Travel site.