Some disabled veterans can now get TSA PreCheck for free
A new federal benefit gives eligible disabled veterans free TSA PreCheck, while Gold Star families and military spouses may also save.
Zach Wichter- Certain disabled veterans are now eligible for free TSA PreCheck enrollment.
- To qualify, veterans must be enrolled in VA health care and have specific service-connected disabilities.
- TSA PreCheck allows for expedited security screening at airports.
Some disabled veterans now qualify for free PreCheck enrollment through the Transportation Security Administration.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, all three of these conditions must be met to qualify for the benefit, which was authorized by Congress last summer:
- You’re enrolled in VA health care
- You have a service-connected disability that resulted in permanent blindness, the loss of a limb, the loss of the use of a limb, full paralysis or partial paralysis
- You require the use of a VA-issued wheelchair or prosthetic limb because of a service-connected disability
The VA website also explains the process for using the fee waiver.
TSA PreCheck allows for expedited security screenings and typically permits enrolled members to be screened via a metal detector, rather than a full-body scan.
The law that approved free enrollment for certain disabled veterans also provides for free PreCheck for Gold Star families and a $25 discount on the fee for active servicemembers and their spouses.
TSA PreCheck costs between $76.75 and $85 for first-time applicants and between $58.75 and $79.95 for renewal, according to the TSA website. Precheck enrollment is good for five years once approved.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at [email protected].