If you are a Veteran in crisis Can I apply for this pass? (LockA locked padlock) The pass can be bought at any state park and is valid for a year from the day you purchase it. The cost of obtaining an Access Pass through the mail is ten dollars ($10) for processing the application (the Pass is free). $25.00. I am a retired Marine Corp Veteran of 24 years service. My late husband qualified through loss of use of his kidney function. Also: I see another comment on here about buying a lifetime pass at the age of 62 or older. Receipts and electronic scanned images of your pass are NOT valid for use. The article contained a link to a list of all the national parks by state. It may also be ordered through the USGS Online (with a $10 handling fee): https://store.usgs.gov/access-pass This ladys a total B. Thought it was a good idea at the time. For those who are already in a disability status the VA should issue the pass to them now, not like they do not have the records. The Access Pass admits thepass ownerand passengers in anon-commercial vehicleat per-vehicle fee areas andpass owner+ 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, where per-person fees are charged. I also would like to know. I got it when they first came out. Good to know this. they are active military & become veterans after they leave military service. echo $arrContactInfo['con_position']; ?>, Have a Disability? The VA knows who the disabled veterans are, why not send very Disabled Veteran a pass as surprise gift. TheAccess Passadmits the pass owner and any passengers in a single, private vehicle (non-commercial) at per-vehicle entrance and day use fee areas; or, the pass owner plus three additional adults where per-person fees are charged. then there are 61. My email address is (redacted). NOT ACCEPTEDNotice of Benefit Increase (SSDI), Image You obviously didnt read the title OR the article, as it was clear through both who this was aimed at. Learn about accessibility laws and policy. I have been to Mt Rushmore several times and asked that question on my first visit. Try working around jet engines for years and then tell me what you think about being nearly deaf. You can also obtain an Access Passin person, with proper documentation,from a participating Federal recreation site or office. Plus, here near Philadelphia, we have so many cool places to visit within the national parks system and so many fun places to go. You can also apply via the mail, which is nice. Also, when checking the United States Geological Survey website it shows no knowledge of this pass. Please stop complaining. An official website of theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Looking for U.S. government information and services? Hows it work for us? Thanks Dave Martin. Golden Age Passports are valid for a lifetime however, if they physically wear out you will need to obtain a replacement Access Pass with proper identification. Proof of residency I dont have a supplemental income and Im an honorably discharged veterans. Thank you all for your service, this program seems to have been designed for veterans with service connected disabilities . I was just now informed they require a 30% rating. In Pocatello, Idaho please come to the Forest Service office at 4350 Cliffs Drive instead of the BLM/Department of the Interior, and I can help you out. And I hope that nobody would commit fraud to that extent for a free pass to a park. Good morning, Mr. Clipp. Im about to do it myself. Its only if you have a serious disability preventing you from one or more major life activity. When leaving the lot the kiosk has option to select military. Step 1: Get a paper voucher by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website and following the instructions. I lost and eye and Im at 30%. The ID needs to be in the name of the person obtaining the pass, not a parent in the case of a child. 1-888-ASK-USGS I just purchase a year pass, is there any way to get the fee refunded and get this instead? ACCEPTEDNotice of Award (SSDI), Image Picked mine up today, thanks for the heads up. It does exist and it was amazing! I am a widow of a disabled veteran (100%). A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. But that is something Im not sure of.check it out for sure. You should seek guidance from the South Park Ranger District 719 836-2031 as why they disregarded their own access point and web site rules. Gee sorry you arent disabled and living with daily pain so that you can get a free trip to the park. The correct cost of this pass is $80. I guess you believe everyone should get a trophy also. 40% rating here. What is the address to send the application to? I wish you all well! There are plenty of recognition programs for veterans. There findings, attitude and compassion is very cold and callus.They must be re- examined. 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. Misleading title on the email announcing free national park access, not mentioning it is for the disabled vets only, until we read the article. I believe it is free if you apply in person, but a $10 processing fee if you mail in an application. Information for visitors to better plan your trip to our parks. How they do it is that they charge you for parking. Its very simple folks: 1. I went to one yesterday and they were requiring a 70% to get a free pass. Alternatively, you can show an. . Semper Fi! 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. When we went to the White House Easter Egg Roll, I learned that the South Lawn of the White House is actually a national park! Its not fair. Why are you worried about others, are you a VA doctor? This might be because the site uses outdated or unsafe TLS security settings. I was told in Cedar Hill, TX that it had to be 60%. Francis J. Fitzpatrick. Editors note: this blog was updated Sept. 30, 2020. 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. 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. Cant connect securely to this page If youre going to whine about people who havent earned this benefit, whine about the fact that any mouthbreathing parasite who made it to 62 gets a free lifetime pass for nothing more significant than managing to avoid drowning in their own saliva for 62 years. 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. The Access Pass may be issued to U.S. 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. Why should you receive the same benefits as those who served to retirement or have received a disability? The Interagency Access Pass is part of the America the Beautiful The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series and is available free for US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. the term active veterans is incorrect. If the DOD is not fulfilling the contract, get a lawyer or be thankful you served and the contract Fullfilled and complete. You can get an Interagency Access Pass in person at a federal recreation site. I just got a pass at Zion national Park. Thank you. They may not even have heard of it. Good for entry into 400+ National Parks and over 2,000 recreation sites across the country, the Lifetime Access Pass is one more way a grateful nation says thank you for the service and sacrifices of Veterans with disabilities. Most importantly, thanks to those who gave all, and their families who miss them every day. Remember, the hangtag itself is only a way to display your Pass, and isnot valid for entry unless it holds a valid Pass. I would gladly give up my benefits to get the last 5 years of my life back where as a 30 year old I cant drive or bathe myself. FYI Ive been able to go into ANY national park and get a new Access Pass with just my WORDbefore I ever saw this article and before I gained my 100% disability from the VA, I am 100% Disabled, service connected, and I would like to know where I get the DD Form 2765 for flying aboard I was told to try Shenandoah National Park near Front Royal, as they should always be open and available. Are passes available to disabled veterans or other . Hey! The people whom are the the raters, have to be rated. I am the acting Business Manager for the Interagency Pass Program, including the lifetime Access Pass. She demanded information on my disability rating and seemed to focus on whether I was 100% disabled. Will I qualify for the free pass? This is the way I look at it. List of sites that issue the Access Pass: https://store.usgs.gov/s3fs-public/PassIssuanceList.pdf Download the 1- and 5-Year Disability Pass Application ( PDF or Word Document ). VA has been hard on vets forever.Its about time they are examined inside and out and get real qualified Raters in the chairs of our rating system. If you look closely at your VA disability rating and Benefit Summary, it should tell you whether you have a permanent disability or not. 3. I got my disabled Access Pass at Wheeler Wildlife Refuge without a problem. So I went to my nearby National Battlefield Park in Manassas VA today, Memorial Day weekend to get a lifetime pass. The USGS Store accepts all Credit and Debit cards but gift cards of any kind are not accepted. I have been fortunate enough to not be injured in battle, just hearing loss and some arthritis from physical strains and injuries. Few seconds at the gate at Front Royal and in we went. Anytime a Pass is used, photo identification will be requested to verify Pass ownership. Thanks, The Disability Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass - available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability that provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies. Thank you for the extra information, it is very helpful. Camping under the stars Credit NPS / Emily Ogden. Major life activities include functions such as: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, etc. I am a Vietnam combat wounded veteran that has only a 10% disability rating and could not honestly sign that statement. We have visited many of the National Parks. As for the disabled Veteran National Parks Access Pass, you can get it in person at any NATIONAL Park that charges an Access Fee. 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. https://store.usgs.gov/s3fs-public/access_pass_application.pdf, Look on the bottom of page 2 of the application form for the address. Thanks. Review the Places to Get Interagency Passes to find a location. Well, they are. You pay a one time fee. I think something is going wrong. The process took less than an hour. Wow!! This is a very nice program, and I will take advantage of it. I am an over 50% disabled vet but I am NOT permanently disabled. These include seniors, youth, volunteers, military and their families, and those with permanent disabilities. I did 38 years and feel that the disability is a strong qualification. fedrecpass@usgs.gov I cant find an application for a Disabled Veteran lifetime National Park Pass. State Parks are hard up for $$$ so there may not be any discounts available. I know that when my original one was replaced by a newer one, the person at the Badlands National Park, simply explained to me that it needed to be replaced and gave me a new one on the spot. As a disabled veteran, the offer of free access to our beautiful National Parks, after I jump through all the hoops required and then pay the $10 processing fee. If this keeps happening, try contacting the websites owner. Its worth its weight in gold as Ive traveled to hundreds of sites over the past decade or so. The article says 10% or higher eligible, but the application says severely disabled. A little-known benefit from the Interior Department gives military veterans with any disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs a free lifetime pass to national parks and other . She, reluctantly handed me the pass and told me I must sign it. And the difference in a disabled that and a vet is for me anyway the vent goes out and he gets him another job and he works and he lives his life a disabled vet probably does not get to work as much as a a veteran. A pass can either be displayed on your rearview mirror using a free hangtag or on your dashboard with the signature side showing. This pass is not exclusive to veterans. Personally, I have a 100% rating but appreciate that this is for 10% and up. If he had died of kidney failure, I would not have been able to get part of his disability monthly as I do now. In the above paragraph that reads: Interagency Access Passes are available online. From the application.A document issued by a Federal agency, such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration, which attests that you have been medically determined to be eligible to receive Federal benefits as a result of blindness or permanent disability. What is the address you mail an application to? The second vehicle is subject to anentrance fee, or must have (or buy) a second pass. Denver, CO 80225. 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. ** Letter must denominate any disability percentage **, Image Who Qualifies: 4th graders for the 2021-2022 School Year. Good for entry into 400+ National Parks and over 2,000 recreation sites across the country, the Lifetime Access Pass is another way a grateful nation says thank you for the service and sacrifices of Veterans with disabilities. See https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/pickup-pass-locations.htm for sites that issue the Access Pass. Need application for my HUSBAND disabled vet. Bozkurt. Yes, If you apply on the website or by mail there is a 10 dollar processing fee for all America the Beautiful Passes which includes access to 6 federal land agency locations, (National Parks, US Fish and Wildlife, US Forest Service, Army Corp of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation). How many of you veterans applied for this free pass and signed the application stating that you had an impairment that severely limits one or more major life activities. Ill bet illegals get anything they want **FREE** including this benefit or all else democraps will have another sissy convulsion, duh!!! It is all national parks and monuments . The passes provide entrance or access to more than 2,000 Federal recreation sites. ATTN: Distinguished Veteran Pass Program. Please be aware that passes are not available at all national park sites. Thats part of why its important to get rated and updated ratings. The parking fee was their excuse. There is no fee for Rushmore. 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