Commissary Eligibility: Veterans

Описание: The Department of Defense expanded commissary shopping privileges in the U.S. effective 1 January 2020 as part of the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018, included in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

Follow these easy steps to verify Commissary eligibility before you shop:

1. Examine your Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC), it must show either:

Service connected
Medal of Honor
Purple Heart recipient status
Former prisoner of war (POW)
NOTE: Ensure that the expiration date is current

Eligible Veterans who do not have a VHIC, as well as eligible caregivers, will still need to provide a copy of their VA-issued caregiver patronage letter, VA-issued service-connected disability letter, or VA Health Eligibility Center Form H623A to show eligibility at the commissary.

2. Update if Necessary: If any condition is not met, contact VA Healthcare at 877-222-8387 to request an updated card.

3. Check Local Requirements: Verify entry requirements with your local installation.

Eligible disabled veterans and their caregivers should go to their installation visitor center to enroll for recurring access. There, they must perform the following actions to gain installation access:

Present an acceptable credential (VHIC, REAL ID or VA-issued credentials as referenced above) to establish identity.
Submit to an on-the-spot criminal record and terrorism check.
Go through an electronic verification process to confirm on-installation benefits eligibility. If the reason for the base visit is for health care, and the DOD installation doesn’t have a commissary, exchange, or authorized MWR service, then the visitor must provide proof of their appointment.
Once visitors enroll their VHIC or REAL ID for recurring access, they will be able to go directly to the installation gate and present the same credentials to gain access for future visits. Enrollment is typically valid for one to three years, or one year after the last installation visit. If a patron’s VHIC or REAL ID expires, they must reenroll with their new cards.