Is your retired, reserve or dependent ID card expiring, but with social distancing and various stay-at-home orders in effect, you aren't sure whether you'll be able to renew it? The Defense Department has changed the process to allow service members and civilians to temporarily extend the life of their cards as the nation battles the COVID-19 pandemic. These extended cards that appear expired on their face can continue to be used for access to benefits, including health care and entry to installations and buildings and to systems and networks.

      The undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness released the policy changes in memos published 7 and 16 APR. The temporary policies are in place through 30 SEP.  The changes allow people to adhere to social distancing practices by updating or renewing their ID cards from their homes with no need to visit an ID card issuing office by using the ID Card Office Online at: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/self_service/rapids/unauthenticated?execution=e1s1  for USID cards. 

Uniformed Services ID Cards (USID)

• If a cardholder's affiliation is unchanged, USID cards which expired on or after January 1, 2020, are authorized for continued benefit use through September 30, 2020.
• Termination of cardholder affiliation with the DoD or termination of benefit eligibility shall be verified electronically prior to confiscating an expired USID card with an expiration date on or after January 1, 2020.
• Remote family member enrollment/eligibility updates are authorized.
• Remote USID card initial issuance for first-time issuance or replacement of lost/stolen ID card is authorized.
• All remotely-issued USID cards shall be issued with an expiration date not to exceed one year from the date of issuance.
• The minimum age for initial USID card issuance is increased from 10 to 14 years.
• Continued use of the Reserve USID card to obtain active duty benefits is authorized for mobilized Reservists and their eligible dependents.

Normally, DOD issues between 18,000 and 20,000 ID cards each day at more than 1,600 sites around the world. Go to DOD Response to COVID-19 - DOD ID Cards and Benefits https://www.cac.mil/Coronavirus for more information.  

[Source:  DOD News | Jim Garamone | April 22, 2020 ]