And Veterans Natl. Many Veterans, with a service connected disability rating, are entering Federal recreation lands and national parks for free with anAmerica the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands lifetime Access Passthrough an interagency partnership between the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. Its not fair. I showed her my lifetime pass, and she said You cannot use that here. It is ridiculous and disrespectful!! Download the official NPS app before your next visit, A statement by a licensed physician (Statement must include that the individual has a PERMANENT disability, that it limits one or more aspects of their daily life, and the nature of those limitations. You think i will ever get it? Then why are you receiving 10% if nothing is wrong? Download the Distinguished Veteran Pass Application. Send your completed Application to: Questions: In the above paragraph that reads: Every campsite in Daniel Boon national PK is not honoring the Access passes 50% off!! When onejoined the military a contract is sign. Youd be surprised. Because I was wounded in Vietnam and have a Purple Heart. Working veterans are expected to subsidize the elderly as it is, despite the elderly being the richest portion of the US population this is just insult added to injury, by politicians and bureaucrats trying to cozy up to greedy old voters. P.O. Thanks. I have been trying for several days to download the PDF application and keep getting the same response, USGS Who qualifies for the Annual Pass? Now, I love my NASCARhave been to dozens of races from Miami to Phoenix to NH and never miss one on TV..BUT that trip was worth the Grand Canyon ALONE! What about widows of disabled veterans who are also disabled and on SS disability? I was just now informed they require a 30% rating. I went to the fort in Puerto Rico while on a cruise,I didnt know about the card at the time, showed my VA ID to get the veteran discount and they just gave me the card, had me sign it, and let me in. I was told as a child and I live up to it everyday Dont worry about anybody elses personal business, worry about yourself. State Parks are hard up for $$$ so there may not be any discounts available. Yes, please list the FREE recreation sites Nation wide. I mean, youre free to reject it, of course, but you could just stuff some money into the the parks donation box instead of giving it to the ranger at the park gate and keep the line moving. Thats It. US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities: free. A third option is for disabled Veterans to visit aparticipating federal recreation site where interagency passes are issued,present photo identification (e.g., Drivers license, State ID, birth certificate, Passport, or permanent resident card), provide documentation of permanent disability, or read and sign a Statement of Permanent Disability affidavit. Provides entrance or access to pass owner and accompanying passengers in a . they are active military & become veterans after they leave military service. I update it periodically to check links. The language in the application is clear. fedrecpass@usgs.gov National passes cover recreation fees found at federal recreation areas such as national forests and grasslands. 6 years in the Marine Corps and nothing to show but a expired ID. The access Pass is fantastic. To make it easier on veterans why not just issue the pass when the disability papers are sent to the veteran. JJ you are eligible for more disability compensation and benefits than you are getting. America The Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Lands Pass. Well, they are. Only the vehicle with thepass owneris covered. California State Parks. Twice, I had filed for service connection with the V.A. If you do visit National Parks and dont want to pay a $10.00 processing fee, then wait until you visit a National park and get it in person. NOT ACCEPTEDNotice of Benefit Increase (SSDI), Image I have a Golden Age Passport. Turns out the park service is hireing out third parties and the best they would give me is $9 off of camping there with my pass. WOW We can give free to everything that comes in this country we can give our vets a free pass for their families Box 42650 And, with this pass, even if the park itself does not have a fee, you could get a discount on extras (they call them amenities) such as camping or boating. If you are 62 you are eligible for a lifetime access pass to our NATIONAL PARKS (NOT State Parks) for a very small fee-use to be $10.00 but Congress raised it recently to approx. If you fall into any of the following groups, here's what you pay for an annual pass: Veterans: free. Its hard enough to just shower, let alone get groceries. Solve : * Wow!! Information and laws about service animals in our parks. You can visit national parks website to find these. Thanks for the heads up and regards to all fellow vets out there. https://store.usgs.gov/s3fs-public/access_pass_application.pdf, The address is on the application. https://store.usgs.gov/s3fs-public/access_pass_application.pdf, Look on the bottom of page 2 of the application form for the address. Rushmore is free to enter , you have to pay for parking . Try this: Why is it so hard for some of you to do that? Go back to the last page Dont remember the disability percentage required. Hello, Under 16: free. If it is a federal recreational area that charges a fee, they should have those passes there also. I know that Maine Parks and Rec do the same. I would like to have an application by mail. (1-888-275-8747). I do have a permanent handicap license plate on my pickup truck. Thank you for writing the article, I had no clue federal parks were free. Maybe they would really feel the love then from the VA. A document issued by a Federal agency, such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration, which attests that If lost or stolen, you'll need to apply for another one. This is the way I look at it. (1-888-275-8747). You obviously didnt read the title OR the article, as it was clear through both who this was aimed at. You must also have documentation that you have a permanent disability, which could include:A statement signed by a licensed physician attesting that you have a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and stating the nature of the impairment; or A document issued by a Federal agency, such as the Veteran's Administration, which attests that you have been medically determined to be eligible to receive Federal benefits as a result of blindness or permanent disability; orProof of receipt of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or a document issued by a State agency such as the Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, which attests that you have been medically determined to be eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation agency benefits or services as a result of medically determined blindness or permanent disability. Loss of or loss of use falls under a different tier of disability compensation called SPECIAL MONTHLY COMPENSATION and is a lesser known and harder to navigate tier of disability. At many sites the Access Pass provides thepass ownera discount onExpanded Amenity Fees(such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours). I would trade my injuries and suffering pain for your good health. Who qualifies for the Access Pass? I dont care if you are a vet disabled or retired I dont care if you were a vet and you left this country and your family to go somewhere else then you deserve a free lifetime pass no big deal. Those of us that served and didnt retire and didnt get hurt are treated like outcasts. There is a $10 processing fee. Total BS on that one. echo $arrContactInfo['con_position']; ?>, Have a Disability? NOT ACCEPTED This is a great benefit for BLIND and PERMANENTLY DISABLED Veterans. I was like ???? Camping under the stars Credit NPS / Emily Ogden. I did 38 years and feel that the disability is a strong qualification. Visithttp://www.recreation.govfor information about Federal recreation sites. How to get a National Parks Disability Pass: Be thankful you have a free pass, its not something that everyone can get. Most of the people with military disability ratings are NOT disabled and living with daily pain. There are far far more people with 10% for trivial issues like tinnitus which is as likely to be non-service-connected as not who line up at the trough for freebies like this. This is seems so misleading. Yes you can send a check instead of putting a CC # on the form. So, you have to be in pain in order to be disabled. Heaven knows the govt used, and often abused, some of the best years of our lives. Its worth its weight in gold as Ive traveled to hundreds of sites over the past decade or so. What is the deal there? The Access Pass is free and can be obtained in person at one of these federal recreation sites, through the mail following the instructions on the National Park Service website, or ordered online via the US Geological Survey website. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. I am curious too. In 2013, Veterans to Farmers was launched to allow Veterans to re-utilize those skills while taking on the challenge of continuing to feed our growing nation and securing our food sovereignty. I also would like to know. There is no fee for Rushmore. The ranger who issued it to me asked me nothing similar, only what I did in the service. Eat those facts, jack! Pass owners are encouraged to check with sites they plan to visit before obtaining a pass to verify that their Pass will be accepted. Are passes available to disabled veterans or other . A free, lifetime pass - available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability). I hope to avail myself of this benefit the next time Im at a national parks facility. Thank you. Im sure you can get a discount for your time served in the military and probably you didnt even deploy. Seems the Superintendent at this park needs to get his act together and help vets, vs having his Rangers sending disabled vets to another park far way on a holiday weekend. Thank you for the extra information, it is very helpful. You have to check with your State VA services to see if a special access pass is offered for your State Parks and Recreation Services. In addition, theTennessee Valley Authority may honor the Access Pass for entrance or camping discounts. RECREATIONAL LANDS ACCESS PASS. Box 25286 Download the 1- and 5-Year Disability Pass Application ( PDF or Word Document ). So Id appreciate you getting your facts straight. Whats going on here?? The passes provide entrance or access to more than 2,000 Federal recreation sites. Here is a printable list for you to use to plan your trip. Step 1: Get a paper voucher by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website and following the instructions. Its hard enough being retired, getting SSA, I called a few places and we ended up going to a park rangers office in Indiana to get ours. Since I am not permanently disabled I cannot benefit from the program. So call first. She demanded information on my disability rating and seemed to focus on whether I was 100% disabled. Therefore, according to the Park Ranger only go to fee charging National Parks to get the free pass. Before you go to one of those NPS locations, make sure you read what you need to bring with you as far as documentation. YES I AM A RETIRED U.S.NAVY VETERAN MMCS I AM 70 % DISABLED RIGHT NOW. And I hope that nobody would commit fraud to that extent for a free pass to a park. In the second paragraph above that reads: Many Veterans, with a service connected disability rating, are entering Federal parks for free with the Lifetime National Parks Access Pass from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Veterans who have been medically determined to have a disability are eligible for the Lifetime Access Passwith three options for obtaining the pass: First, Veterans with disability documentation can order the Access Pass online for a $10 processing fee which includes standard shipping. In addition to free entry at participating sites, the Access Pass includes discounts on someexpanded amenity feessuch as camping. So get one! If this keeps happening, try contacting the websites owner. I dont think 10% usually qualifies as severely disabled, I could be wrong. The cost of obtaining an Access Pass through the mail is ten dollars ($10) for processing the application (the Pass is free). Interesting, isnt it? It takes about 30 seconds to process. Step 2: Exchange a printed voucher for the Annual 4th Grade Pass at federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees (day use fee). OIF A free, lifetime pass - available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) - that provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies. This is what deep state types l eft over from the obummer years do. For passes with qualifying factors (Senior Pass, Access Pass, and Military Pass) the name of the account holder will be printed on the card. (age may have also been slightly raised). Because I dont have a service connected disability, my status as a Veteran is less important than someone who unfortunately has a service connected disability.. View a detailed list of required documents pertaining to the Disitnguished Veteran Pass Application. Once the application package is received, the documentation will be verified and a pass, with the pass owner's name pre-printed on it, will be issued to the applicant. No PTSD! The Interagency Access Pass may be issued to US citizens or permanent residents of any age that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) that severely limits one or more major life activities. No. The SMP tier has additional assistant benefits besides the increase in monthly dollars too. Decals are issued on annual basis, even for owners of lifetime Senior/Access passes, Decals are NOT valid for entry at staffed entrance sites - you MUST show your pass, All sites that issue passes issue free hangtags. Semper Fi! But it is in addition (in most cases) to your regular disability rating (Schedular tier of disabilities ranging from 10%-100% for each disability). There is some misinformation in the article and the comments. I am receiving a non-service connected pension from the V.A., and have a 10% rating (which pays less than the non-service connected pension). Discounts offered by the Pass vary widely across the many different types of recreation sites. The National Parks Disability Pass offers entrance to all the US National Parks, Forests, and monuments throughout the USA and neighboring territories. Seems like they have the personnel to do this. My boys also have National Parks Passports. No. Dishonest Jerks! Why just disabled? Google form DD2765. Attn: Access Pass Thank you I was thinking the same thing! It will either have to be a note from a physician or notice that you are receiving SSDI income. The first place I tried to use it was Clear Creek in Bankhead Forrest in Alabama. Denver, CO 80225, Download the PDF application form. One is that you can go to a participating location and apply for it in person. Both the Department of Interior and the National Park Service indicate that this pass does not exist. Download a paper application from https://store.usgs.gov/access-pass. Just wait till you go to a location that has a fee to enter. Pass holders are admitted free to public lands and parks that accept the pass. A typical admission fee to a national park can range from free to $30 plus. The Access Pass may also offer a discount on some expanded amenity fees, such as camping. I received mine in Quincy MA at the start of the John Adams Tour. The only problem is that not all national parks have this update. The people whom are the the raters, have to be rated. What is the America the Beautiful- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass? Will I qualify for the free pass? Anytime a Pass is used, photo identification will be requested to verify Pass ownership. To qualify for the pass, the disability must be permanent and limit one or more major life activities. I can appreciate all the vets that feel like second class citizens because they got out without injuries and are left out of this offer maybe you can start a petition so all vets that ever served can get free entry passes. Come to find out that one of the largest National parks in the Washington DC doesnt issue the passes. I displayed my retired military ID, my VA ID card and I asked her if she was having a bad day! The Forest Service, the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, USACE, and Bureau of Reclamation honor the Access Pass at sites whereEntrance or Standard Amenity Fees(Day use fees) are charged. If the park does not charge a fee, this may not be available. They would not accept it and had to pay $6 to get in. This is an interagency pass and includes Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers sites, in addition to the National Parks and monuments. So why did they stop. Available Add $80 Product to Cart About Your Annual Pass. An official website of the United States government. The Senior Pass includes all the same discounts as the access pass, which is free access to all sites that charge an entrance fee and 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees (camping, boat launching, etc). Box 25286 A suite of annual and lifetime passes that provides U.S. citizens and visitors an affordable and convenient way to access Federal recreation lands. When we tried to add the kidney failure we were told by several VSOs that we couldnt go above 100%. Kevin, READ THE FORM! She then handed me a permanent marker and scoffed at me when I couldnt get the cap off to sign with it. Golden Pass for over 62? Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net. FedEx 2nd day - typically 2 business days For instance, you may have injured your back while in the military. The nonprofit group Volunteers of America (VOA) recognizes the challenges Veterans often face in confronting moral injury, which is essentially a conflict with ones personal code of morality. Its a contract. Hey this is a great job on this but I think we can do better to include all veterans not just disabled veterns. DECALS Sir I salute your comment and your thinking. The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to United States citizens or permanent residents, regardless of age, that have a permanent disability that can be used at over 2,000 Federal recreation sites across the nation, including National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and many National Forest lands. The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to United States citizens or permanent residents, regardless of age, that have a permanent disabilitythat can be used at over 2,000 Federal recreation sites across the nation, including National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and many National Forest lands. If you dont visit National Parks, then why bother to get this? they become veterans after they leave military service. In fact they said they used to a few years ago. They no longer charge at this park, which seems they might want to again, at least for yearly passes to help pay for running the place. I am a widow of a 100% disabled veteran too. 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