She, reluctantly handed me the pass and told me I must sign it. 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. Bozkurt. Note:Photo identification will be requested to verify pass ownership. Disability Access Pass for National Parks: Read through the instructions first and gather your documentation. 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. The article contained a link to a list of all the national parks by state. Around 25% of them have fees. -kevin. Did anyone else notice that there are only 58 national parks in the USA? US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities: free. 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. You should be able to go to any National Park and they should give it to you at the entrance. Good morning, Mr. Clipp. Maybe they would really feel the love then from the VA. Keywords in the applicationresult of blindness or permanent disability. These include seniors, youth, volunteers, military and their families, and those with permanent disabilities. Please provide a mailing address for the US Geological Survey to obtain this free pass. 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. Here is the link to the FAQs related to all interagency passes: https://store.usgs.gov/faq, Link to sites that issue and accept the Access Pass: https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes, If you have any questions, please contact me at Lisa_Bourne@nps.gov or my colleague Traci_Kolc@nps.gov. The cost of the Annual Senior Pass is $20. If I printed it off they cant say anything to me. NOT TRUE! Second, if applying by mail, send a completed packet and $10 processing fee to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). (LockA locked padlock) It takes about 30 seconds to process. If you are 62 you are eligible for a lifetime access pass to our NATIONAL PARKS (NOT State Parks) for a very small fee-use to be $10.00 but Congress raised it recently to approx. 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. Eat those facts, jack! I did 38 years and feel that the disability is a strong qualification. I myself am a veteran that doesnt qualify for this but my servious was no less sacrificing the nose that are disabled now and the VA does not always qualified veterans that needs qualification. Since, Channel Islands National Park is a non-fee charging park they do not issue the pass. If someone in your family qualifies, there are a couple of ways you can obtain this. Receipts and electronic scanned images of your pass are NOT valid for use. 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. JJ I also suspect you should have been rated 100% under the Schedular ratings. I am a widow of a 100% disabled veteran too. Who Qualifies: 4th graders for the 2021-2022 School Year. I lost and eye and Im at 30%. If this keeps happening, try contacting the websites owner. Send your completed Application to: Questions: A suite of annual and lifetime passes that provides U.S. citizens and visitors an affordable and convenient way to access Federal recreation lands. 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. You can get an Interagency Access Pass in person at a federal recreation site. All veterans have sacrificed for our wonderful country, but the truth is some gave more, and recognizing more is a good thing. True, but what about the discounts in the store and such. Denver, CO 80225, Download the PDF application form. The VA knows who the disabled veterans are, why not send very Disabled Veteran a pass as surprise gift. Those of us that served and didnt retire and didnt get hurt are treated like outcasts. Am I missing something? HEADS UP!!!! OIF Your desire not to apply for this pass is commendable in your own right, but for many others it may be a blessing. The Access Passes are even offered on Clear Creeks website. Park pass a 10% disability? STOP your crying. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Its only if you have a serious disability preventing you from one or more major life activity. Dan , this is shameful that they would disregard their own rules . Even if it at a coustof 10 dollars fir non disable veterns. One pass covers the vehicle at sites that charge "per vehicle". A physical pass will be shipped to you. If you fall into any of the following groups, here's what you pay for an annual pass: Veterans: free. VA disability award letter, VA summary of benefits, or proof of SSDI income. 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 document issued by federal agency such as the Veteran's Administration, Social Security Disability Income or, Supplemental Security Income. At "per person" sites, the applicable fee will be charged for each additional person. This is what deep state types l eft over from the obummer years do. I know because I have the disable veteran pass and my brother has the senior pass. Ill be retiring soon, so any freebies I can get in my travels (as a ret vet w/ %-connection for my back) when I do call it a career will be very much welcome. Lol. Thank you. To apply, you just need to provide a valid form of identification and documentation that proves you have a permanent disability. Follow the instructions on the website and pay the document processing fee of $10. 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. Thanks to the VA, the Parks Service and our citizens. Dishonest Jerks! Please upload identification that indicates that you are a citizen or permanent resident, such as a drivers license, passport, green card, or birth certificate. The application states Blindness or Permanent Disability. You can have my pass. If it is a federal recreational area that charges a fee, they should have those passes there also. If you own an open-topped vehicle (jeep, motorcycle, etc.) https://store.usgs.gov/s3fs-public/access_pass_application.pdf, The address is on the application. Denver, CO 80225. Both passes are basically the same, just different criteria to be eligible for them.. Cant connect securely to this page As for the disabled Veteran National Parks Access Pass, you can get it in person at any NATIONAL Park that charges an Access Fee. An official website of the United States government. Why not just file for the pass online using your VA ID card info and let the government employee who receives it verify the information on the multi million dollar computer system they just purchased. Good to know this. 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. Ranger program for kids too. This is because certain groups receive free entry to National Parks anyway, or qualify for a better deal. They told me that Mt Rushmore was not a national park. 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). Pretty permanent and not an outwardly visible disability. Thanks, Jim. Documentation required includes: Second, the Interagency Access Pass may be obtained through the mail. The 10% disability rating mentioned in your email as qualifying for the free parks pass is not accurate per the personnel at the Baldwin Michigan District Forest Service office. 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. As far a true National Parks, such as Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, etc. We experienced that too, and it pissed me off. Thanks for the heads up and regards to all fellow vets out there. My boys also have National Parks Passports. However, expect a minimum of 12 weeks for pass to arrive. Access Passes may be obtained via mail order from USGS. Editors note: this blog was updated Sept. 30, 2020. ATTN: Distinguished Veteran Pass Program. Do they really know how a vet with PTSD really feels? I emailed the National Parks and they told me permanent disability. Is this for any disability rate or only 100% disabled? 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. Seniors will receive a discount for day-use entry if they show their driver's license. 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. $80.00. The percentage of veterans to total population is negligible. (1-888-275-8747). It allows free entry to all National Parks and now Im wondering if it is the same and if the name changed. Sites recommend that pass owners check with each site before visiting for details about Access Pass entry and discounts. Also in large print. 3. WOW We can give free to everything that comes in this country we can give our vets a free pass for their families The second vehicle is subject to anentrance fee, or must have (or buy) a second pass. The email I got from VA news stated that this was free for disabled vets. If you dont visit National Parks, then why bother to get this? Go to a Forrest Service Office its free, fast, and easy. Download the 1- and 5-Year Disability Pass Application ( PDF or Word Document ). Try listening to a constant ring in your ears twenty-four hours a day or not being able to socialize because you can hardly recognize what people are saying, then maybe you can complain. Provides entrance or access to pass owner and accompanying passengers in a . does free pass also apply to the spouse of a 100% disabled vet who is deceased? Gosh, am shocked at some of the e-mails; service connected disabilities deserve special benefits as do senior citizens. Last month they got three stamps. You must also have documentation that you have a permanent disability, which could include:A statement signed by a licensed physician attesting that you have a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and stating the nature of the impairment; or A document issued by a Federal agency, such as the Veteran's Administration, which attests that you have been medically determined to be eligible to receive Federal benefits as a result of blindness or permanent disability; orProof of receipt of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or a document issued by a State agency such as the Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, which attests that you have been medically determined to be eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation agency benefits or services as a result of medically determined blindness or permanent disability. You buy those, but then they can get them stamped at each National Park/Site/Monument that you visit. You can also get an Interagency Access Pass online through the USGS Online Store or, through the mail using an application form (Note: While the pass itself is free, there is a shipping and processing cost to get a pass online or through the mail). If the park does not charge a fee, this may not be available. At Federal recreation sites that don't have entrance stations you need to display your pass or show proof of pass ownership to compliance officers via one of the two following methods: HANGTAGS The cost of obtaining an Access Pass through the mail is ten dollars ($10) for processing the application (the Pass is free). It is embarrassing. 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. 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