Commissary & Exchange Access
Access to military commissary and exchange shopping for all service-connected disabled veterans.
Federal BenefitOther Benefits
Verified May 12, 2026 against corp.commissaries.com
At a glance
- Benefit type
- Other Benefits — Federal
- Who it's for
- Veterans
- VA rating needed
- No rating requirement
- Where it applies
- United States
- Last verified
- May 12, 2026
What is Commissary & Exchange Access?
Commissary & Exchange Access is a federal other benefits benefit for veterans. Access to military commissary and exchange shopping for all service-connected disabled veterans.
Who qualifies
- Veterans
- Available to any veteran
- Honorable discharge required
How to apply
Contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000 for application instructions.
Who is eligible
Eligibility
Since January 1, 2020, ALL veterans with any service-connected disability rating (even 0%) who received an honorable discharge have access to commissary and exchange facilities. Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, and primary VA caregivers are also eligible.
What Commissary & Exchange Access covers
Benefits
Full shopping privileges at military commissaries (groceries at cost + 5% surcharge) and military exchanges (tax-free shopping on electronics, clothing, etc.).
Credit-card user fee
Veterans whose access is granted under the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 (i.e., service-connected ratings 0–90%, Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, and primary VA caregivers) pay a user fee of 1.43% on credit/signature-debit transactions and 0.36% on PIN-debit transactions. Cash and SNAP/eWIC are exempt.
Savings
DeCA states shoppers save at least 25% on average compared to civilian grocery stores.
How to apply for Commissary & Exchange Access
How to access
Obtain a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) from your VA Medical Center, or, without a VHIC, enroll for installation access at the base visitor center with a REAL ID-compliant license and show your VA service-connected disability letter at the commissary/exchange. May also need to register in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
Verified information & sources
- Last verified
- May 12, 2026
- Official source
- corp.commissaries.com
Compiled and fact-checked against the official source linked above. Benefit rules and dollar amounts change over time — always confirm current details at the official source before applying. A county Veterans Service Officer (VSO) is a free, accredited advocate who can review your eligibility and help you file at no cost.
How VetUnlock verifies benefitsFrequently asked questions about Commissary & Exchange Access
Who qualifies for Commissary & Exchange Access?
Commissary & Exchange Access is for Veterans; available to any veteran. See the eligibility details on this page and confirm with the official source before applying.
Where can I verify Commissary & Exchange Access?
Benefit rules and dollar amounts change, so always confirm current details at the official source linked on this page. A free, accredited county or state Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can also verify your eligibility and help you apply.