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Obtaining and Renewing Military ID and Common Access Cards During COVID-19

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Your military benefits, like access to commissaries and exchanges and health care, tie into your military identification card. With current stay-at-home orders in place in most areas because of coronavirus disease 2019, you may be wondering how military ID, Common Access Card and Volunteer Logical Access Credentials issuance and renewal will work.

Review the following details to learn about the temporary updates (in place through Sept. 30, 2020) that change issuance and renewal processes during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Receiving or renewing CACs or VoLACs

The Department of Defense has expanded online CAC issuances, CAC and VoLAC renewals through Sept. 30, 2020. Other updates continuing through Sept. 30, 2020, include:

  • Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance or schedule an appointment to get your initial CAC or renew your CAC (within 30 days of expiration). Note that cards that are remotely issued from online application will have an expiration date of one year from the date of issuance.
  • Do not request CACs for information adjustments, such as promotions or name changes, as the DOD will not issue them at this time.
  • Use your current CAC if you are a transferring DOD civilian employee — the department is reissuing the policy memorandum authorizing this.
  • Use your current CAC if your eligibility for benefits is unchanged and your card is due to expire on or after April 16, 2020, and it’s within 30 days of the expiration date.
  • Update unexpired CAC or VoLAC online using ID Card Office Online if card/certificate is due to expire on or after April 16, 2020, and is within 30 days of expiration.
  • Update unexpired existing or new cards online if you are a Trusted Associate Sponsorship System applicant, because TASS-sponsored applications will be valid for 180 days.
Renewing military ID cards (expiring on or after Jan. 1, 2020)

The DOD has expanded online ID card renewals and reissuances, enrollment and eligibility updates, and replacement of lost or stolen cards for military and their family members through Sept. 30, 2020. Other updates continuing through Sept. 30, 2020, include:

  • Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance or schedule an appointment to renew your ID card or get a replacement if it is lost or stolen. Note that cards that are remotely issued from online application will have an expiration date of one year from the date of issuance.
  • Use your ID card if you are a mobilized reserve member, so you can continue to receive active-duty benefits for yourself and your eligible family members.
  • Use your ID card if your eligibility has not changed, and your ID is due to expire on or after Jan. 1, 2020. Your benefits are secure through Sept. 30, 2020.
  • Do not use your ID card if your eligibility has ended. The DOD will verify your eligibility electronically before taking away an expired ID card with an expiration date on or after Jan. 1, 2020.

If your status is listed in the Individuals column of the following chart, you are eligible to continue using your current military ID while you take the step(s) noted to renew your ID card that is set to expire on or after Jan. 1, 2020.

Individuals Impact to Benefits Steps to Take
Sponsors and dependents turning age 65 You must be enrolled in Medicare Part B for continued benefits.
  1. Check milConnect to see whether Medicare Part B has been reported.
  2. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2, indicating that sponsor is providing more than 50% support
    2. Proof of enrollment in Medicare Part B
Dependents turning age 21 You must be enrolled as a full-time student, be approved as an incapacitated dependent or be registered for TRICARE Young Adult for continued eligibility.
  1. Students, contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2, indicating that sponsor is providing more than 50% support
    2. Proof of enrollment as a full-time student
  2. Incapacitated dependents, contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Medical Sufficiency Statement
    3. Financial Dependency Determination
  3. TRICARE Young Adult, contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Proof of enrollment in TRICARE Young Adult
Guard and reserve members and dependents Benefits for National Guard and reserve members and their dependents are tied to the member’s active-duty status. If the member’s active-duty status is extended, benefits are extended as well.
  1. If active-duty status is extended, no action is needed.
  2. If active-duty status is completed:
    1. Must enroll in TRICARE Select online.
Retiring service members and dependents Benefits for members who are retiring and their dependents are tied to the member’s status.
  1. Must enroll in TRICARE Select online.
Enrolling in DEERS and receiving first military ID card

The DOD has authorized online family member enrollment and eligibility updates and online initial ID card issuance through Sept. 30, 2020. Other updates continuing through Sept. 30, 2020, include:

  • Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance or schedule an appointment to enroll in DEERS and receive your first ID card. Cards that are remotely issued from online enrollments will have an expiration date of one year from the date of issuance.
  • Do not apply for an initial ID card for a child younger than 14. The minimum age for initial ID card issuance has increased from 10 to 14 years during this time.

If your status is listed in the Individuals column of the following chart, you are eligible to enroll in DEERS and receive your first military ID but you must take the step(s) listed in the table to register.

Individuals Steps to Take
Spouse
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Marriage Certificate
    3. Proof of enrollment in Medicare Part B
Legitimate child
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Birth Certificate OR Certificate of Live Birth OR FS-240, “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”
Adopted child
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Birth Certificate OR Certificate of Live Birth OR FS-240, “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”
    3. Adoption Decree
Stepchild
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Birth Certificate OR Certificate of Live Birth OR FS-240, “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”
    3. Sponsor’s Marriage Certificate
Pre-adoptive child
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Placement Agreement that states intent to adopt OR Court Document that states intent to adopt
    3. Birth Certificate, if Placement Agreement/Court Document does not specify date of birth OR Certificate of Live Birth OR FS-240, “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”
Illegitimate child
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Birth Certificate OR Certificate of Live Birth OR FS-240, “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”
    3. Court Order that establishes paternity OR Consent Order that establishes paternity OR SJA Opinion that establishes paternity OR Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity
Foster child
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Birth Certificate OR Certificate of Live Birth OR FS-240, “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”
    3. Financial Dependency Determination
    4. Placement Agreement that places the child with the Sponsor OR Court Document that places the child with the Sponsor
Ward
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Birth Certificate OR Certificate of Live Birth OR FS-240, “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”
    3. Financial Dependency Determination
    4. Placement Agreement that places the child with the Sponsor for at least 12 consecutive months OR Court Document that places the child with the Sponsor for at least 12 consecutive months
Parent
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Sponsor’s or Spouse’s Birth Certificate OR Certificate of Live Birth OR FS-240, “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”
    3. Financial Dependency Determination
    4. Proof of enrollment in Medicare Part B (if age 65 or older)
Former spouse
  1. Contact your nearest RAPIDS site for assistance and have the following ready:
    1. Completed DD Form 1172-2
    2. Marriage Certificate
    3. Divorce Decree
    4. Statement of Service OR DD Form 214 OR Dates of Inclusive Service
    5. Proof of enrollment in Medicare Part B (if age 65 or older)

Seeking answers for issuance or renewal questions

For service-specific procedures for online enrollment and ID card issuance, and ID card, CAC and VoLAC renewals, visit CAC.mil/coronavirus. Make sure you enroll in DEERS and get your military ID card, or renew your existing card, as soon as possible to avoid any delay or gap in your benefits like health care. If you have any other military ID card questions or any other questions about military life, Military OneSource consultants are available 24/7 to help you get answers — call 800-342-9647 or start a live chat.

How to stay current on the latest COVID-19 information

For Department of Defense updates for the military community regarding the virus that causes COVID-19, view the following sites:

This article originates from www.militaryonesource.mil not HelpVet.  View original article here.

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