Benefits for P&TD Veterans
As a disabled veteran with an 80% service-connected rating, Permanent and Total (P&T) disability, and paid at the 100% rate, your Department of Defense (DoD) Identification Card (often referred to as a Uniformed Services ID card) provides several benefits that complement or extend beyond those offered by your VA Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). Below is a detailed comparison of the benefits provided by the DoD ID card, focusing on what it offers above and beyond the VA medical card.
VA Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) Benefits
The VHIC primarily serves as proof of eligibility for VA healthcare services and is used for:
Access to VA Healthcare: Allows you to check in at VA medical facilities for appointments and services covered under your VA healthcare benefits.
Identification for VA Services: Verifies your status as a veteran enrolled in the VA healthcare system.
Limited Base Access for VA Services: If your VHIC displays “SERVICE CONNECTED,” “PURPLE HEART,” or “FORMER POW,” it may grant access to military installations for specific purposes, such as visiting VA clinics or canteens located on base.
Discounts: Some businesses may accept the VHIC as proof of veteran status for veteran discounts, though this is less common than with other veteran ID cards.
The VHIC is primarily focused on VA healthcare and related services and does not provide broad access to DoD facilities or benefits.
DoD Identification Card Benefits
The DoD ID card, issued to veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating (or those paid at the 100% rate due to P&T status), provides access to a wider range of military benefits and facilities. Since you have been issued this card, it likely indicates you are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) as a 100% disabled veteran, which unlocks the following benefits above and beyond the VHIC:
1. Access to Military Installations
Benefit: The DoD ID card grants you and your eligible dependents access to military bases, including commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) facilities.
Details:
Commissary: Shop at military commissaries for tax-free groceries and household goods at reduced prices (savings of about 25-30% compared to civilian stores). The DoD ID eliminates the need to register at each base, unlike the VHIC.
Exchange (PX/BX): Access to military exchanges for tax-free shopping on clothing, electronics, and other goods.
MWR Facilities: Use of recreational facilities such as gyms, theaters, golf courses, and campgrounds on military installations.
Beyond VHIC: The VHIC may allow limited base access for VA-related services, but the DoD ID provides full access to these DoD facilities and services without restrictions.
2. TRICARE Healthcare Eligibility
Benefit: As a 100% service-connected disabled veteran with a DoD ID, you may be eligible for TRICARE, the DoD’s healthcare program, in addition to or instead of VA healthcare.
Details:
TRICARE can cover you and your eligible dependents for medical care outside VA facilities, including private sector providers.
Dependents (spouse and children) may receive healthcare coverage through TRICARE, which is not available through the VHIC.
TRICARE may cover certain services (e.g., specific dental or vision care) that differ from VA healthcare offerings.
Beyond VHIC: The VHIC only facilitates VA healthcare for you, not your dependents, and does not provide access to TRICARE’s broader network of providers.
3. Space-Available (Space-A) Travel
Benefit: Veterans with a permanent and total disability rating and a DoD ID are eligible for Space-A travel on military aircraft.
Details:
You can travel for free or at reduced cost on a space-available basis to domestic and international destinations.
Eligible dependents may also qualify for Space-A travel when accompanied by you.
Priority is lower than active-duty members, but this is a unique travel perk.
Beyond VHIC: The VHIC does not provide eligibility for Space-A travel.
4. Military Recreation and Travel Benefits
Benefit: Access to all U.S. military recreational facilities, including resorts, cottages, campgrounds, and other MWR programs.
Details:
Examples include Armed Forces Vacation Club resorts, Shades of Green at Walt Disney World, and other DoD lodging facilities.
These facilities offer discounted rates for veterans and their families.
Beyond VHIC: The VHIC does not grant access to these DoD-managed recreational programs.
5. Commissary Credit Card Fee Waiver
Benefit: The DoD ID (specifically the Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, card variant) may waive credit card surcharges at commissaries.
Details:
Commissaries typically charge a small surcharge for credit card use, but this may be waived for 100% disabled veterans with the DoD ID.
Beyond VHIC: The VHIC does not offer this financial perk.
6. Dependent Benefits
Benefit: Eligible dependents (spouse and children) can receive their own DoD ID cards, granting them access to commissaries, exchanges, MWR facilities, and potentially TRICARE.
Details:
Dependents must be enrolled in DEERS, which is facilitated by your DoD ID eligibility.
This extends many of the benefits you receive to your family members.
Beyond VHIC: The VHIC does not provide benefits or access to DoD facilities for dependents.
7. Proof of Military Affiliation
Benefit: The DoD ID serves as official proof of your connection to the DoD, which may be recognized by more organizations than the VHIC for veteran discounts or services.
Details:
Some businesses, airlines, or organizations may prefer or require a DoD-issued ID over the VHIC for veteran discounts.
The DoD ID’s standardized format and security features make it less likely to be questioned.
Beyond VHIC: While the VHIC may be accepted for some discounts, it is less widely recognized outside VA contexts.
8. Potential Additional Benefits
Dental Care: Veterans with a 100% service-connected rating may be eligible for Class IV dental care through the VA, but the DoD ID may also facilitate access to DoD dental services for dependents via TRICARE.
Education Benefits: In some cases, the DoD ID may help verify eligibility for certain education benefits or programs for you or your dependents, though this is less common.
Base Services: Access to other base services like legal assistance, family support programs, or veteran organizations located on military installations.
Key Differences and Advantages of the DoD ID
Scope: The DoD ID connects you to DoD programs and facilities, while the VHIC is limited to VA healthcare and related services.
Family Benefits: The DoD ID extends benefits to eligible dependents, unlike the VHIC.
Access: The DoD ID provides unrestricted access to military installations and services, whereas the VHIC’s access is limited and conditional.
Travel and Recreation: The DoD ID unlocks unique perks like Space-A travel and military recreational facilities, which the VHIC does not offer.
Recognition: The DoD ID is more widely recognized for veteran status outside VA contexts, especially for discounts and DoD-related services.
How to Maximize Your DoD ID Benefits
Enroll in DEERS: Ensure you and your eligible dependents are enrolled in DEERS to access all benefits. Visit a local ID card office or contact the DEERS support line (1-800-538-9552) to verify.
Visit a Military Installation: Bring your DoD ID to a nearby base to explore commissary, exchange, and MWR offerings. Check with the base’s visitor center for specific access policies.
Explore TRICARE: Contact TRICARE (1-800-874-2273) to confirm your eligibility and explore healthcare options for you and your dependents.
Space-A Travel: Research Space-A travel through the Air Mobility Command website or contact a military passenger terminal for flight schedules and requirements.
Recreational Facilities: Check the Armed Forces Vacation Club or MWR websites for lodging and recreational opportunities.
Notes and Considerations
Documentation: To maintain your DoD ID, ensure your disability rating and DEERS enrollment remain up to date. You may need to provide your VA rating decision letter, DD214, or other documents during renewals.
Base Policies: Access to some facilities may vary by base, so call ahead to confirm what services are available.
VHIC Complementarity: Continue using your VHIC for VA healthcare appointments, as the DoD ID is not a substitute for VA medical services.
Veteran ID Card (VIC): If you don’t already have it, consider applying for the VA’s Veteran ID Card (VIC) for additional proof of veteran status for discounts, though it doesn’t provide DoD benefits.
Conclusion
Your DoD Identification Card significantly expands your benefits beyond the VA VHIC by granting access to military installations, commissaries, exchanges, MWR facilities, TRICARE healthcare, Space-A travel, and recreational programs, while also extending many of these benefits to your eligible dependents. It serves as a powerful tool for accessing DoD resources and maximizing your veteran benefits.