ID CARD ENTITLEMENTS

The Department of Defense (DoD) provides members of the Uniformed Services with a distinct ID card identifying them as active duty, Guard, Reserve, or retired members and authorizing them to receive Uniformed Services’ benefits and privileges. The DoD also authorizes a distinct ID card to eligible family members and other individuals, entitled to receive Uniformed Services’ benefits and privileges

Your benefits and entitlements are primarily managed through a relationship between the Defense Enrollment Eligibility System and the Defense Manpower Data Center.

What is DEERS

DEERS is a computerized database of military sponsors, families and others worldwide who are entitled for TRICARE and other benefits. Active-duty and retired service members are automatically registered in DEERS, but you must register your family members and make sure all the information is correct to ensure TRICARE coverage.

What is DMDC

Since 1974, the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) has served uniformed service members and their families as the central source for identifying, authenticating, authorizing and providing information on personnel during and after their affiliation with Department of Defense. DEERS is the one central access point for determining a person’s eligibility to DoD entitlements.  The DMDC helpdesk assists veterans, sponsors and their family members with DoD entitlements, benefits and medical readiness.

For information on obtaining a new ID card or renewal please follow the link below: 

There are times when your dependents may include more family members than your spouse and children. These added dependents can add stress to your finances. If you’re responsible for the financial support of other family members, you may be eligible to add them as your secondary dependents. To qualify as a secondary dependent, the individual’s income, not including your contribution, must be less than one-half of the actual living expenses. In turn, your contribution must be more than one-half of the dependent’s actual monthly living expenses. The law requires the individual to be ‘in fact’ dependent upon you, the service member. It is important to remember the status of all secondary dependents should be kept current with the office maintaining your claim. In addition to notifying DEERS via the MPF when the status of a secondary dependent changes, the service member is also required to notify the Total Force Service Center at: 1-800-525-0102.

Secondary Dependency Claims (SDC) Information:  Properly preparing and submitting applications to include eligible persons as your secondary dependents ensures you receive the benefits and allowances you and your dependents are entitled to. These may include:

• Increased Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) not to exceed full BAH with dependents
• Uniformed Services Identification and Privileges Card
• Travel allowances

Keep in mind, documentation to prove living expenses and your contribution must ALWAYS be provided. For dependents that are considered an incapacitated child, a medical sufficiency letter signed by the child’s physician is required. It is advised that the sponsor check DEERS frequently to ensure updates are made and the information in the system is up to date and accurate.

To renew a secondary dependent’s ID card, the sponsor should visit their servicing MPF.

Timeliness is important. Expired ID cards could result in the Secondary Dependent losing Tricare coverage. In the case of needed medical care during the time the ID card is expired, the sponsor will be required to cover the cost of any medical expenses incurred.

Effective immediately, MPFs are authorized to update the entitlements for individuals pending a Secondary Dependency determination. MPFs will update the record via RAPIDS given they provide the following documentation for the following categories. There will be no exceptions for individuals missing documents:

Incapacitated Child (21 years or over):

• Proof of SDC package submission to DFAS (confirmation page or returned confirmation number)
• DD Form 137 (pages 1 & 2) - DD Form 1172-2 (Provided by DEERS/RAPIDS)
• Medical Sufficiency Letter (signed by a medical doctor or psychiatrist) stating VERBATIM:
  • the claimed dependent is incapable of self-support due to his/her condition
  • age at which condition was first diagnosed or began; and
  • whether or not condition and incapability of self-support are permanent, and
  • the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) that the child requires assistance with or cannot do at all

NOTE: Letters from psychologists are not sufficient to meet the requirements outlined in the JFTR Chapter 10 and AR 600-8-14

Parents, Parents-In-Law and Step Parents:

• Proof of SDC package submission to DFAS (confirmation page or returned confirmation number)
• DD Form 137 (pages 1 & 2)
• DD Form 1172-2 (Provided by DEERS/RAPIDS)

Full-time Students (21 or 22 years old): *NOTE: A dependency determination for STUDENT is required for BAH only. A USIP ID card may be obtained at your local DEERS office with only the school letter, and member’s declaration of providing over 50% support on the DD Form 1172-2.

• Proof of SDC package submission to DFAS (confirmation page or returned confirmation number)
• DD Form 137 (pages 1 & 2)
• DD Form 1172-2 (Provided by DEERS/RAPIDS)
• School Letter: Letter on school letterhead and signed by school official stating enrollment date, status (full or part-time) and expected graduation date

Legal Custody Wards:

• Proof of SDC package submission to DFAS (confirmation page or returned confirmation number)
• DD Form 137 (pages 1 & 2) - DAF Form 594
• DD Form 1172-2 (Provided by DEERS/RAPIDS)

In Loco Parentis: *NOTE: A dependency determination for In Loco Parentis is required for BAH only. In Loco Parentis are not eligible for DEERS enrollment or issuance of an USIP ID card. In Loco Parentis and may require further consideration for base access with the Security Forces, e.g., Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) or use of a REAL ID Act State issued Driver’s License or identification, reflecting a Gold Star upper right-hand corner.

• Proof of SDC package submission to DFAS (confirmation page or returned confirmation number) -
• DD Form 137-3 (1st page only)
• Affidavit by you attesting to relationship
• Affidavit by claimed dependent attesting to relationship
• Two third-party affidavits attesting to relationship
• For Reserve or National Guard: Copy of your orders.
• DD Form 1172-2, reflecting member’s DEERS enrollment information (Provided by DEERS/RAPIDS)

All claims will be submitted via AskDFAS For questions regarding claims, contact the Total Force Service Center at: 1-800-525-0102

Types of Dependency Claims & Required Documentation

1. Parent, Parent-in-law, Stepparent, Parent by adoption: (for DEERS entitlements)

• DD Form 137
• DAF Form 594
• Member Birth Certificate/Spouse Birth Certificate if Parent-in-Law
• Service Member's marriage certificate (For Parent-In-Law)
• Verification of Income
• Proof of Support
• For Reserve or National Guard: Copy of your orders

2. In Loco Parentis: any person who stood "in-loco parentis" (in the place of a parent) to you for at least five consecutive years prior to your emancipation and you will only receive BAH entitlement.

• DD Form 137
• DAF Form 594
• Affidavit by you attesting to relationship
• Affidavit by claimed dependent attesting to relationship
• Two third-party affidavits attesting to relationship
• Verification of Income
• Proof of Support
• For Reserve or National Guard: Copy of your orders

3. Legal Custody Wards: must be unmarried, and placed in the permanent legal physical custody of the member, or if not permanent custody for a period of at least 12 consecutive months (for DEERS entitlements)

• DD Form 137
• DAF Form 594
• Legal Custody Order
• Birth Certificate of Dependent
• Verification of Income
• Proof of Support
• For Reserve or National Guard: Copy of your orders

4. Incapacitated Child: over 21 years of age, unmarried, and incapable of self-support due to mental or physical incapacity that occurred while the child was considered a dependent of yours as a member or retired member, or is considered the dependent of a deceased member (for DEERS entitlements)

• DD Form 137
• DAF Form 594
• Medical Sufficiency Statement
• Birth Certificate of Dependent
• Verification of Income
• Proof of Support
• For Reserve or National Guard: Copy of your orders

5. Full-Time Student: must be unmarried and enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education as a full-time student (and you will only receive BAH entitlement).(For DEERS entitlements, sponsor provides school letter reflecting full-time enrollment and certifies providing over 50 percent support on DD Form 1172-2, block 21)

• DD Form 137
• DAF Form 594
• Birth Certificate of Dependent
• School Letter
• School Costs
• Verification of Income
• Proof of Support
• For Reserve or National Guard: Copy of your orders

Before Submitting your Claim, Check out these Helpful Tips

• Type or print legibly on all forms
• Ensure you read the instructions carefully and completely
• No missing forms/documentation
• Complete all blocks on the various forms or mark N/A to ensure nothing is missed
• Verification of claimed dependent's income (include gross income and all deductions) - needed for BAH/USIP (ID) card and/or travel
• Proof of member's support for BAH requests. If dependent does not reside with member, dependent support allotment is the best mechanism to use as proof of support
• Relationship documents - Any documentation to prove relationship to the member, such as Service member's birth certificate, affidavit, Legal Custody Order, Marriage certificate, etc.
• Medical sufficiency statement (incapacitated child, DD Form 137) endorsed by military treatment facility commander, per AFMAN 41-210, page 21, paragraph 2.18.2-2.18.2.9
• Guardianship document (ward of the court) - this must be issued by a US court only; documents from a non-U.S. court establishing guardianship are not accepted- these documents are needed with DD Form 137 for BAH/USIP card and/or travel
• Verification of student full-time enrollment - read instruction above block 1 on the DD Form
• If a service member is applying for an SDC within 90 days of retirement, and they annotate "retiring"; on their application on a pre-determined date, the SDC will align with the retirement effective date.

The Air Force Former Spouse Determination Program provides one-source for the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and Identification (ID) card. Divorced spouses receive individualized guidance, leading them through the complex process of determining their DEERS eligibility to qualify for continuation of ID card use. Divorce impacts eligibility for benefits and privileges associated with DEERS. ID card eligibility is based on the marital status in DEERS. When a divorce is reported to DEERS, this changes the spouse eligibility, stopping all benefits and privileges with an ID card, including accessing military installations, and base facilities for services.

There are three specific eligibility requirements to qualify after a divorce:

1. You must have been married to the sponsor (uniformed Service member) for at least 20 years.
2. Your sponsor must have at least 20 years of creditable service towards determining retirement pay.
3. The marriage time occurring during the sponsor’s military service known as “marriage overlap” is critical to qualifying with the DEERS program.

Note: Automatic disqualifiers: marriages less than 20 years or the sponsor has not served 20 years in the military, i.e., early retirement, including disability retirement less than 20 years. Program is governed by law and individuals not qualifying, the Air Force cannot waived or make exception to policy per Title 10 USC.

You can lose your TRICARE and ID card eligibility if the following occurs:

1. Re-marry, even if the remarriage ends in death or divorce, unless you gain eligibility as a recent-ly married spouse under your new DEERS spon-sor (service member).
2. Purchase or are currently covered by an employer-sponsored health plan other than TRI-CARE, or if
3. A spouse of ANG & Reserve service member and service member is not authorized TRICARE benefits until he or she reaches age 60. In this instance, the former spouse cannot qualify earlier than the service member (former sponsor).

Scenario 1: The "20-20-20" Rule
You are eligible for continuing TRICARE bene-fits as your own sponsor as long as you do not remarry and meet the following criteria:

• 20 - You were married to the same service mem-ber for at least 20 years.
• 20 - Service member / sponsor has at least 20 years of creditable service towards determining retirement pay.
• 20 - 20 years of marriage overlap during the 20 years of creditable (Active or Reserve) service which counted towards your sponsor's retirement.

Scenario 2: The "20-20-15" Rule
You are eligible for limited TRICARE benefits (normally, 1-year from date of divorce) as your own sponsor in DEERS as long as you do not remarry and meet the following criteria:

• 20 - You were married to the same service member for at least 20 years.
• 20 - Service member / sponsor has at least 20 - years of creditable service towards determining retirement pay.
• 15 - 15 to 19 years (less than 20 years) of marriage overlap during the 20 years of creditable (Active or Reserve) service which counted to-wards your sponsor's retirement.

If you believe you are eligible, please locate your nearest ID Card location via the DEERS/ RAPIDS locator and submit the following docu-ments to your appropriate agency for review and processing.

1. Marriage certificate.
2. Divorce decree.
3. Two forms of identity, refer to Department of Defense Acceptable Identity Documents www.cac.mil.
4. Verification of creditable service. Examples of creditable service documents for Active Duty and Retired Members - DD Form 214 or State-ment of Service; or example of creditable ser-vice document for Air Force—ANG / Reserve Members, refer to Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC) Retirements Branch.
5. A signed statement you, the former spouse have not re-married and are not enrolled in an employer-sponsored healthcare which is includ-ed on the application.

If you are unable to obtain the sponsor’s (service member’s) creditable service documents as listed #4 above, you may contact the Total Force Service Center (TFSC) at 1-800-525-0102 for further assistance.

Former Spouse ID Card Application