Has Commissary access for surviving spouse caregivers been removed?

Katherine Scuras — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:19:33 -0500

I am the primary caregiver (daughter) for a Purple Heart veteran's surviving spouse, I have a pass that allows me base access to get to the pharmacy but the Commissary access was removed with the pass renewal in Sep 2023.
This is after 2 years of being able to complete her commissary shopping without her present. I was told that in Sep 2023 that Commissary policies had changed such that she would have to be present to use commissary. The information I was given said that the caregiver access was only issued for the commissary during the pandemic and it was revoked as of June 2023. That doesn't seem to match information I have found that states this is part of the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018, included in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
For several months I was able to bring her, with difficulty, to the commissary. However, her physical disabilities have recently increased and walking even 20 feet is difficult and exhausts her.
Did the law change to remove Commissary access from caregivers or am I being given incorrect information from the MPF office?

Response by COL Randall C. made Mar 5 at 2024 2:56 PM

COL Randall C. — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:56:59 -0500

The change is that you have to be a registered caregiver as part of the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). Once that is done, the VA's Office of Community Care will issue you an eligibility letter and with that you shouldn't have an issue.

If you are already registered in PCAFC and need a replacement letter, contact the office at [login to see] .

If you have questions, you can contact the Caregiver Support Line (CSL) at [login to see] .

Finally, if you have checked all the blocks and are still having issues, or if you aren't eligible for the PCAFC program, you can go the traditional 'designated agent' route. You'll usually request an agent letter through the ID card office, although some installations still have them issued through the installation's CO's office. Contact the RAPIDS site (the ID card office) and tell them you need to get an "Agent Letter".

You'll have to show that an "extreme hardship" exists such that the individual can't access the facilities themself (from your description, that shouldn't be an issue, but you'll likely have to show medical documentation).
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* https://news.va.gov/67974/commissary-military-service-exchange-mwr-access-extended-veterans-beginning-january/

Commissary, Military Service Exchange, and MWR access extended to more Veterans beginning January...

Starting Jan. 1, service-connected Veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war (POW), and primary caregivers can use commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Mar 6 at 2024 4:15 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:15:02 -0500

If I may ask, what is the eligibility for her to use the base pharmacy ?