This pass is the same as senior citizen pass. To obtain an Access pass through the mail, you must complete an application, provide a photocopy of proof of citizenship or residency, documentation of disability and pay the processing fee. The National Parks Disability Pass offers entrance to all the US National Parks, Forests, and monuments throughout the USA and neighboring territories. No, it is given to the subset of veterans who have service connected disabilities. 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). Every bit helps. On December 27, 2021, President Biden signed into law S. 1605 "The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (NDAA). I have has been waiting since 2004 for agent Orange disability. Good call! Can I apply for this pass? If the park does not charge a fee, this may not be available. Whats going on here?? 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. I got it when they first came out. When we tried to add the kidney failure we were told by several VSOs that we couldnt go above 100%. Just went to MR last weekmilitary did not have to pay for parking. Its hard enough being retired, getting SSA, Normally this would be $80 per year or as much as $25-$50 per visit. Thanks Dave Martin. I would venture to say that many of us who have a rating above 10%, have not been determined to be permanently disabled by the VA. Editors note: this blog was updated Sept. 30, 2020. JJ you are eligible for more disability compensation and benefits than you are getting. National Parks passes are sold at most national parks. If it is a federal recreational area that charges a fee, they should have those passes there also. 3. Go to a Forrest Service Office its free, fast, and easy. Get ready for adventure: 450 000 km 2 of memories await! VA disability award letter, VA summary of benefits, or proof of SSDI income. How to Get Your Free Access Pass to National Parks, ADHD and the Protection Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, When a Special Needs Trust Is Not the Only or Best Choice, A U.S. State or Territory issued Drivers License, Identification or Birth Certificate; or. Hows it work for us? The SMP tier has additional assistant benefits besides the increase in monthly dollars too. 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 . We can give free to everything that comes in this country we can give our vets a free pass for their families, It appears you are a very angry person.You dont articulate your message very clearly. You can also apply via the mail, which is nice. There is no fee for Rushmore. I love our national parks, and some surprising places are national parks. The Access Passes are even offered on Clear Creeks website. What is the deal there? National passes cover recreation fees found at federal recreation areas such as national forests and grasslands. Anytime a Pass is used, photo identification will be requested to verify Pass ownership. Why isnt Mt Rushmore a national park? It allows free entry to all National Parks and now Im wondering if it is the same and if the name changed. HEADS UP!!!! 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. If you dont visit National Parks, then why bother to get this? In fact they said they used to a few years ago. For all those whining about this nice benefit, please just be happy that you are not disabled and try to be for your disabled comrades. OIF In order to obtain a replacement, will I need to reapply? 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. I am the acting Business Manager for the Interagency Pass Program, including the lifetime Access Pass. I have been to Mt Rushmore several times and asked that question on my first visit. I was told in Cedar Hill, TX that it had to be 60%. Thank you for your service . 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. Access Pass applications are usually processed and shipped within 5 business days from the day they arrive at USGS. I wish you all well! Interesting, isnt it? 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. Can anyone help. Your posting was clear and concise please keep up the good work. There are no more participation trophies in a #MAGA America. Yes you can send a check instead of putting a CC # on the form. **imagine that here in the united states of north mexico!!!! So just BEWARE I was told by the Grand Canyon park service, they dont care about your disability rating!!!!! I was like ???? If someone in your family qualifies, there are a couple of ways you can obtain this. Yes. I went today and the front entry was closed again. 2) Annual Senior Pass. Try going to Great Falls near McLean, just north of Tysons area. You can obtain an Access Pass in person, with proper documentation, from a participating Federal recreation site or office. There is a system in place for this, and we cannot just drive up to a park entrance expecting free admission. I first secured my pass in Denver ,Colorado years ago while working in the VA arena, and made it a point to inform all veterans I came in contact with of all State, Federal and local benefits they were entitled to. What is the address you mail an application to? Gosh, am shocked at some of the e-mails; service connected disabilities deserve special benefits as do senior citizens. At many sites the Access Pass provides thepass ownera discount onExpanded Amenity Fees(such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours). Every campsite in Daniel Boon national PK is not honoring the Access passes 50% off!! 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. So, Im rated at 20%. The application indicates that this is for the AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL THE NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL The cost of obtaining an Access Pass through the mail is ten dollars ($10) for processing the application (the Pass is free). Mail-order applicants for the Access Pass must submit a completedpaper application, proof of residency and documentation of permanent disability (does not have to be100% disability), and pay the document processing fee of $10 to obtain a pass through the mail. She then handed me a permanent marker and scoffed at me when I couldnt get the cap off to sign with it. Thanks for the heads up and regards to all fellow vets out there. You pay a one time fee. Let me understand this. Pass owners are encouraged to check with sites they plan to visit before obtaining a pass to verify that their Pass will be accepted. 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. I myself have been 100% connected from leaving the discharge shack, yet lest I judge or call out anybody else with a disability to deal with in their life. Most importantly, thanks to those who gave all, and their families who miss them every day. Good for entry into thousands of federally managed recreation sites across the country, the Lifetime Access Pass is another way a grateful nation says thank you for the service and sacrifices of U. S. Veterans with disabilities. Ya my brother is in the same boat. You can visit national parks website to find these. 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. The percentage of veterans to total population is negligible. I believe it is free if you apply in person, but a $10 processing fee if you mail in an application. Do they really know how a vet with PTSD really feels? Try this: or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Make sure to have photo ID available when using your Lifetime Access Pass and enjoy the majestic scenery and abundant recreational opportunities our National Parks provide. You can obtain an Access Pass onstore.usgs.gov/access-passby uploading an ID and documentation of permanent disability and paying the processing fee of $10. It is a National Memorial and they only charge for parking. 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. No, less than 1% of the current population are active veterans, a little over 7% of the current population are veterans. Thanks! Sites recommend that pass owners check with each site before visiting for details about Access Pass entry and discounts. This is what I mean by the disconnect that exists between doing something for Veterans that doesnt require another form or writing down a 10 digit telephone number before you blow your brains out. Who knows. I am a widow of a Vietnam Veteran who died from his service connected disability. If hearing loss and tinnitus is not a disability, I do not know what is. My email address is (redacted). This is seems so misleading. Let me understand this. Because I was wounded in Vietnam and have a Purple Heart. Alternatively, you can show an. Under 16: free. Thank you for your service and sacrifice . Senior Citizens can also get a pass for only being Senior Citizens. Just called the number on the form. We experienced that too, and it pissed me off. Just a parking fee. You will be required to pay the applicableEntrance or Standard Amenity Fee(s). Thanks, Steve, for your military service and for writing this clear and succinct story. Im at 40% (30% above the quoted 10%). The Annual Senior Pass will provide you with free entry into all of the above mentioned National Park sites but only for one year. Many people think that ALL national parks are free, but that is not the case. I live near Manassas too. We also collect the National Parks and State quartersbut we collect all of them in a folder, not just the ones we have visited. Maybe an America the Beautiful annual pass or a lifetime pass is the best option for you. If you dont live near a National Park that charges access fees, you will have to apply through the mail and pay $10.00 processing fee. 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. And Veterans Natl. This ladys a total B. . Ranger program for kids too. You obviously didnt read the title OR the article, as it was clear through both who this was aimed at. Please verify with your VA Benefit Summary found at https://eauth.va.gov/ebenefits/download-letters as to whether your disability is considered permanent. When onejoined the military a contract is sign. Thanks to the VA, the Parks Service and our citizens. Thank you! The article contained a link to a list of all the national parks by state. JJ I also suspect you should have been rated 100% under the Schedular ratings. List of sites that issue the Access Pass: https://store.usgs.gov/s3fs-public/PassIssuanceList.pdf The Access Pass admits the Pass . Semper Fi! I did 38 years and feel that the disability is a strong qualification. Actually just because you live to 62 does not mean you get it free it is $80. Are passes available to disabled veterans or other . I went to the Grand Canyon in July of 2017. If lost or stolen, you'll need to apply for another one. This is the way I look at it. $80.00. A locked padlock Good to know this. A 10% disability rating can cover a multitude of problems. Therefore, according to the Park Ranger only go to fee charging National Parks to get the free pass. Information changes at times and we want to ensure your viewers have accurate information and one place to go to for questions and answers about the Access Pass and any other interagency pass we offer. Showing a State motor vehicle department disability sticker, license plate or hang-tag is not acceptable documentation. For complete information on the pass, please follow the following links: Access Pass Frequently Asked Questions: https://store.usgs.gov/faq#Access-Pass Im filling out the application but its saying theres a $10 charge. 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). It states this clearly on the VA Benefits Summary. Took my paperwork stating so. There us a National Parks pass for Veterans regardless of Disability. Step 1: Get a paper voucher by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website and following the instructions. They told me that Mt Rushmore was not a national park. Attn: Access Pass You also can mail in the form with proper supporting documents. Unfortunately, No! Any discounts or anything? Send your completed Application to: If Veterans feel they were incorrectly denied a pass, they may request to speak to the fee program supervisor on duty or submit an application for the pass athttps://store.usgs.gov/access-pass. The Pass is free and issued at the time of entry. Thank you Steve as you can see, even when information is concise and direct many still miss the essences of what is conveyed! 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. Up to 100% of the Pass program's proceeds are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services. I am only at 40%, so it only requiring 10% is awesome. Thanks, It must be an issue with your internet browser. A lock Price would have been quite a bit, but saw the post on the guard shack about this pass and got mine right there. USGS Attn: Access Pass Box 25286 I showed her my lifetime pass, and she said You cannot use that here. It is ridiculous and disrespectful!! 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. His was free lifetime pass for over 62! Get it here: I was told at the visitor center that I had to be 100% disabled to qualify for the pass. The application cleared describes this and the applicant signs stating this are permanently disabled. Few seconds at the gate at Front Royal and in we went. If you own an open-topped vehicle (jeep, motorcycle, etc.) The application states Blindness or Permanent Disability. Can this pass be picked up at our local Veterans Advocate office? ** Letter must denominate any disability percentage **, Image DO NOT use this option if you need your pass in 15 days or less. However I also work in Federal Government first the VA and now FS. Seems like they have the personnel to do this. This is a very nice program, and I will take advantage of it. Anyone 16 years or older may purchase the pass; children under 16 are always admitted free. Available Add $80 Product to Cart About Your Annual Pass. The Access Pass may be issued to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of any age that have been medically determined to have apermanent disability(does not have to be a 100% disability) that severely limits one or more major life activities. Dont like my comment so you remove it.. ? Its hard enough to just shower, let alone get groceries. They cover the use of facilities and services at many day-use sites on US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. Some days you cant tie your shoe laces, for example, or walk to the parking lot with a grocery bag, or pick up your grand baby because of your disability, while on other days you do ok. 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