It will either have to be a note from a physician or notice that you are receiving SSDI income. Disability Access Pass for National Parks: Read through the instructions first and gather your documentation. P.O. Every bit helps. This ladys a total B. The ranger saying, everything is free here. 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. Be thankful you have a free pass, its not something that everyone can get. 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. (redacted) https://parks.state.wa.us/205/Passes. Information and laws about service animals in our parks. I dont have a supplemental income and Im an honorably discharged veterans. 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. 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. National parks require visitors to pay a fee or show a pass to enter, as each has a daily entrance rate. Gosh, am shocked at some of the e-mails; service connected disabilities deserve special benefits as do senior citizens. 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! Right! Box 25286 Step 1: Get a paper voucher by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website and following the instructions. If this keeps happening, try contacting the websites owner. You can pay per vehicle or per person for admission. 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. Why is there Algebra? This is because certain groups receive free entry to National Parks anyway, or qualify for a better deal. In order to obtain a replacement, will I need to reapply? 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. Click on Lifetime National Parks Access Pass, it is a hyperlink that will open the ACCESS PASS FAQ. I tried to use my Access pass last year at Mt Rushmore but they declined it. Thank you for your service . A lock Since I am not permanently disabled I cannot benefit from the program. Anyone 16 years or older may purchase the pass; children under 16 are always admitted free. There are several 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. The article contained a link to a list of all the national parks by state. Showing a State motor vehicle department disability sticker, license plate or hang-tag is not acceptable documentation. Box 25286 It does exist and it was amazing! My late husband qualified through loss of use of his kidney function. Maybe they would really feel the love then from the VA. Thank you for the extra information, it is very helpful. It takes about 30 seconds to process. for my legs, but was turned down (while in the U.S. Army, I had one bad jump from an airplane, fell off a telephone pole as a field wireman, and fell down a flight of stairs, all in the same month). Even if it at a coustof 10 dollars fir non disable veterns. Your desire not to apply for this pass is commendable in your own right, but for many others it may be a blessing. Maine also has a free lifetime hunting and fishing license if you are a veteran and are at least 50% combat related disabled. Not $80 for seniors I went with my Dad. I am the acting Business Manager for the Interagency Pass Program, including the lifetime Access Pass. The crooked San Diego property tax Assessor gave me a reduction for a 100% disability rating, as required, but somehow, the very next year, my property tax assessment tax amount, went Up by the very Same amount of the difference. If hearing loss and tinnitus is not a disability, I do not know what is. So, Im rated at 20%. Yes, please list the FREE recreation sites Nation wide. Is this for any disability rate or only 100% disabled? What a scam. Thanks, Jim. 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. The application indicates that this is for the AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL THE NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL 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. She, reluctantly handed me the pass and told me I must sign it. Access Passes may be obtained via mail order from USGS. In addition, theTennessee Valley Authority may honor the Access Pass for entrance or camping discounts. 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. But at 100% Im suppose to Park Hopping? The lady cuts me off. Has the percentage changed recently or is this typo? No, less than 1% of the current population are active veterans, a little over 7% of the current population are veterans. This application is for permanently disabled vets. Because I was wounded in Vietnam and have a Purple Heart. There are no more participation trophies in a #MAGA America. uh, I got my paperwork from the VA here and the VA website said that if I brought it.. I went to Channel Islands National Park in Ventura, CA and they do not issue the free pass. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Attn: Access Pass Free National Parks Pass for Volunteers - If you volunteer more than 250 hours per year, you also may qualify for a free national parks pass. Pass owners are encouraged to check with sites they plan to visit before obtaining a pass to verify that their Pass will be accepted. It indicates if injured once who leave the serveice the VA will take care of service contected disability, not non-service contected injuries and illnesses. 1966 1970 Vietnam Era 100%. Click on the The Access Pass application form nit is a hyperlink to the form and the form has the directions and address. As far a true National Parks, such as Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, etc. 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. Thanks to the VA, the Parks Service and our citizens. Thank you! Whats going on here?? All veterans have sacrificed for our wonderful country, but the truth is some gave more, and recognizing more is a good thing. 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. Hey! Lighten up!!! On the flip side I always wondered why they had free Active Duty passes and not something for Veterans. the VA sucks! We have visited many of the National Parks. We currently offer two types of passes for use at national parks, forests, and other federal recreation sites: Site Passes and the America the Beautiful - The National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass (referred to as the Interagency Annual Pass). Editors note: this blog was updated Sept. 30, 2020. To qualify, the person must have a diagnosed permanent disability. The contract come with clauses indicating benefits. Only the vehicle with thepass owneris covered. For complete information on the pass, please follow the following links: Access Pass Frequently Asked Questions: https://store.usgs.gov/faq#Access-Pass or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. No. It would be so easy to give it to everyone but that is why it is a program for the disabled. If you didnt want to sign it then thats you, why worry about other people, stay in your lane and mind your own business! I was like. Yes, England has its own National Parks System, but I do not know their programs. I am a disabled Vet. Misleading title on the email announcing free national park access, not mentioning it is for the disabled vets only, until we read the article. The National Park Annual Pass gives you access to over 2,000 recreation areas including federal lands, National Monuments, US National Historic Sites, National Historical Parks, and other sites managed by the National Park Service. National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or "Interagency" Pass Program? Who is eligible to get an Interagency Access Pass? Just called the number on the form. The ID needs to be in the name of the person obtaining the pass, not a parent in the case of a child. It is all national parks and monuments . 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. Took the trip when living in FL for a NASCAR race and had an entire day free before. Please verify with your VA Benefit Summary found at https://eauth.va.gov/ebenefits/download-letters as to whether your disability is considered permanent. What is the deal there? FedEx Ground - typically 3-5 business days 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. Maybe that person can explain to the actual park rangers at the visitor center that they need to read up on all things VA? 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. A very pleasant surprise, (I still put a few dollars into the donation locations at the Ranger Stations, pay if forward). California State Parks. Just wait till you go to a location that has a fee to enter. Will I qualify for the free pass? Bunch of cry babies crying over not having the same benefits as a disabled vet. I got mine on a trip to Phoenix in Nov 2015. The Access Pass is valid only at participatingFederalrecreation sites. 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. 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. Document issued by Federal agency such as the Veteran's Administration, Social Security Disability Income, or Supplemental Security Income; Document issued by a State agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency. I know that Maine Parks and Rec do the same. Plus, here near Philadelphia, we have so many cool places to visit within the national parks system and so many fun places to go. People with disabilities interested in visiting national parks can benefit from the America the Beautiful Access Pass, a free, lifetime pass that is 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). there is an OR for Vets in the second bullet point. Additionally, anyone having served in the military for at least one full term of obligation and received an Honorable Discharge, should receive access to National Parks. I remember complaining to crisis hot line that while contemplating suicide and dialed the VA hospital number in Vermont and received a message telling me to hang up and dial a 10 digit number. WOW We can give free to everything that comes in this country we can give our vets a free pass for their families NOT ACCEPTED Please contact a site directly if you have a question about pass acceptance and fees. There us a National Parks pass for Veterans regardless of Disability. So I went to my nearby National Battlefield Park in Manassas VA today, Memorial Day weekend to get a lifetime pass. The ranger who issued it to me asked me nothing similar, only what I did in the service. I am an over 50% disabled vet but I am NOT permanently disabled. Link to where you can order the Access Pass online: https://store.usgs.gov/access-pass. Keywords in the applicationresult of blindness or permanent disability. That was what motivated me to find the office and get my age related pass. Some gave all, and dont have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of our country. There is some misinformation in the article and the comments. Even if you are well over the 10% minimum for the Access Pass, the VA may not have determined you have permanent disability. Thank you. They have water issues and because they cant provide normal services, they left it open/free entry. 40% rating here. Download the 1- and 5-Year Disability Pass Application ( PDF or Word Document ). 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). A typical admission fee to a national park can range from free to $30 plus. I was medicaly retired after 13 years. If someone in your family qualifies, there are a couple of ways you can obtain this. If you read the instructions, you have to pay for parking at some monuments because the are NOT run by the National Park Service, they are private contractors. See https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/pickup-pass-locations.htm for sites that issue the Access Pass. This is a nice benefit and I have already taken advantage of it. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. You should be able to go to any National Park and they should give it to you at the entrance. I suggest you do some checking through a veterans advocate group at http://www.Hadit.com You could choose their Forum Discussion and then search in the search bar for Special Monthly Compensation Then look for or search that subject for Loss of an Eye. The people whom are the the raters, have to be rated. Discovery Pass: access to multiple locations Save time at the gate. Box 25286 Do I need this also. When leaving the lot the kiosk has option to select military. Hey he might be blind; you dont know. Thanks for the pass If a park has a fee, I believe the last time we went to the Grand Canyon, it was $25 a car, and the entire carload will get in for free. I got mine today at Johnsons Beach National Seashore, Perdido Key, FL Showed my VA card and that was it. A physical pass will be shipped to you. This was not always the existing policy with the passes so I could see how several agencies would be caught off guard with the VA just changing the rules without letting them know. Thats It. So they tell me to mail in an application, which I really dont want to do, adding in more IDs, plus a $10 fee. Seniors will receive a discount for day-use entry if they show their driver's license. They cover the use of facilities and services at many day-use sites on US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. Am I missing something? An official website of the United States government. True, but what about the discounts in the store and such. Too bad Eleven Mile Canyon National Forest would not honor my Access Pass or my Disabled Veteran license plate issued by the State of Kansas, contrary to the guidance posted at the access point. An Access Pass permits entrance for one motorcycle. You will be required to pay the applicableEntrance or Standard Amenity Fee(s). Heaven knows the govt used, and often abused, some of the best years of our lives. NOT ACCEPTEDNotice of Benefit Increase (SSDI), Image To qualify for the pass, the disability must be permanent and limit one or more major life activities. Dont like my comment so you remove it.. ? 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. I signed up for a free access pass a couple of years ago and received a AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL pass. Cmon were all vets here and can follow instructions right? 2) Annual Senior Pass. The access Pass is fantastic. If you need your pass sooner please visit a site near you that distributes passes: SITES THAT ISSUE PASSES, America the Beautiful - National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass. If the park does not charge a fee, this may not be available. FedEx 2nd day - typically 2 business days I would seek guidance from the South Park Ranger District 719 836-2031 as to why they are not following the rules on the access point and their website. Cant connect securely to this page I have been to Mt Rushmore several times and asked that question on my first visit. Then why are you receiving 10% if nothing is wrong? Im sure you can get a discount for your time served in the military and probably you didnt even deploy. Need application for my HUSBAND disabled vet. 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). 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. You have to go to the National Park and present DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ID CARD with annotations of your VA Disability Rating or your Award Letter outlining your Disability Rating. A document issued by a state agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency. 10/30 Rule means Blood transfusion under 10.0 Hematocrit and 30% Hemoglobin, Now if we are talking the VA, yea they will make 30% = only 10%. Both the Department of Interior and the National Park Service indicate that this pass does not exist. When we entered the gate to the park, I asked for my Golden Access Pass. It allows free entry to all National Parks and now Im wondering if it is the same and if the name changed. $80.00. After all, your disability is for 10%, not 100%. VA disability award letter, VA summary of benefits, or proof of SSDI income. Good morning, Mr. Clipp. We experienced that too, and it pissed me off. The National Parks Disability Pass offers entrance to all the US National Parks, Forests, and monuments throughout the USA and neighboring territories. Can anyone help. 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