Posted on May 25, 2023
How can a caregiver for a veteran's disabled widow obtain a commissary visitor pass to shop for her?
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I am a caregiver for a veteran's widow, I have a visitor pass but need access to commissary to shop for her due to her disability? how do I go about obtaining this?
Veteran Caregiver
Commissary
Help
Posted >1 y ago
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Perry Melazzo, maybe not, but possibly.
In the U.S., you may be eligible for commissary and exchange privileges if you you’re a family member and You’re the Primary family caregiver of an eligible Veteran (recognized under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers).
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) offers enhanced clinical support for Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans (not spouses). You can call the VA for more info to see if your sponsor meets the criteria for this classification: [login to see] .
Additionally, the DoD sets base access for Commissary privileges. The section of DoDI 1330.17 that the VA is referencing is personal agents. Or "An officer, designated by the installation commander, may authorize a specific, named person to shop for or assist an authorized patron in any commissary:
(1) On a temporary basis (not exceeding 2 years unless extended for continuing hardship) under one of these conditions:
(a) In extreme hardship cases.
(b) When no adult authorized family member is capable of shopping due to injury, illness, incapacitation, or stationing away from their household.
(2) On a permanent basis for a blinded or other severely disabled eligible patron if the patron’s disability is certified as permanent by an appropriate military medical authority.
(3) With a letter of authorization that will be issued stating:
(a) Name of authorized patron, bearing positive DoD ID, who may be accompanied by a personal agent; or
(b) Name of the personal agent authorized, when bearing positive ID, to purchase items on behalf of the named authorized patron.
(c) Duration of the personal agent status."
Check with the installation visitors center and ask how to get a personal agent pass for an authorized patron. The installation Commander may still deny the request, but they are the only ones who can tell you for certain if you would be permitted to on that particular installation and how to go about obtaining access.
In the U.S., you may be eligible for commissary and exchange privileges if you you’re a family member and You’re the Primary family caregiver of an eligible Veteran (recognized under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers).
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) offers enhanced clinical support for Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans (not spouses). You can call the VA for more info to see if your sponsor meets the criteria for this classification: [login to see] .
Additionally, the DoD sets base access for Commissary privileges. The section of DoDI 1330.17 that the VA is referencing is personal agents. Or "An officer, designated by the installation commander, may authorize a specific, named person to shop for or assist an authorized patron in any commissary:
(1) On a temporary basis (not exceeding 2 years unless extended for continuing hardship) under one of these conditions:
(a) In extreme hardship cases.
(b) When no adult authorized family member is capable of shopping due to injury, illness, incapacitation, or stationing away from their household.
(2) On a permanent basis for a blinded or other severely disabled eligible patron if the patron’s disability is certified as permanent by an appropriate military medical authority.
(3) With a letter of authorization that will be issued stating:
(a) Name of authorized patron, bearing positive DoD ID, who may be accompanied by a personal agent; or
(b) Name of the personal agent authorized, when bearing positive ID, to purchase items on behalf of the named authorized patron.
(c) Duration of the personal agent status."
Check with the installation visitors center and ask how to get a personal agent pass for an authorized patron. The installation Commander may still deny the request, but they are the only ones who can tell you for certain if you would be permitted to on that particular installation and how to go about obtaining access.
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COL Randall C.
Just to be clear - from your description you are not a "Veteran Caregiver" unless the window is a veteran herself. I bring this up because it's a different distinction - Veteran caregivers that are formally enrolled in the Caregiver program can get access, a veteran's surviving spouse can get access, however the caregiver of a veteran's surviving spouse is not eligible. Again, all this is THROUGH THE VA.
CSM William Everroad nailed it with the second part. You should be eligible as the personal agent for her under that guidance of 5j(1)(b) of DoDI 1330.17*. You will have to show proof of her eligibility (proof she's the surviving spouse of a service member and hasn't remarried) as well as her inability to shop (disability), but other than that it's just asking the right individual (as was stated, start with the visitors center).
If for some reason the visitors center doesn't know what to do, then contact the Garrison Commander's office. Contact info can be found at https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/ (select 'military installation' from the drop-down and enter the location's name)
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* https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/133017p.pdf
CSM William Everroad nailed it with the second part. You should be eligible as the personal agent for her under that guidance of 5j(1)(b) of DoDI 1330.17*. You will have to show proof of her eligibility (proof she's the surviving spouse of a service member and hasn't remarried) as well as her inability to shop (disability), but other than that it's just asking the right individual (as was stated, start with the visitors center).
If for some reason the visitors center doesn't know what to do, then contact the Garrison Commander's office. Contact info can be found at https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/ (select 'military installation' from the drop-down and enter the location's name)
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* https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/133017p.pdf
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