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What You Need to Know About Commissary Benefits Expansion

Starting Jan. 1, 2020, the Department of Defense (DoD) is expanding commissary, military exchange, and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) retail privileges on U.S. military installations.

This change includes:

  • all veterans with service-connected disabilities,
  • veterans who are Purple Heart recipients,
  • veterans who are former prisoners of war,
  • and individuals approved and designated as the primary family caregivers of eligible veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.

The expansion will extend eligibility to over 4.1 million people.

“Wounded Warrior Project worked with our supporters in Congress and other veterans’ groups to make this expansion of benefits a reality,” said Jose Ramos, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Vice President of Government and Community Relations. “This is the largest expansion in 60 years. It is a fiscally sound move for the military and a great benefit to wounded warriors, their families, and caregivers. We’re proud to have led this effort to see that our nation’s warriors have access to these opportunities.”

New eligible veterans and caregivers will also gain access to:

  • golf courses
  • bowling centers
  • recreational lodging
  • RV campgrounds
  • movie theaters
  • and other facilities.

Next steps:

If this change affects you, obtain a Veteran Health Identification Card from the VA to present at DoD and Coast Guard installations for installation and shopping access.

More info:

Visit Military One Source to learn more about the commissary, military exchange, and MWR expansion.

To discover the other legislative priorities WWP is working on to improve the lives of wounded veterans and their families, visit our Government Affairs page.

About Wounded Warrior Project

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers – helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more: https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org.

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