How to Get a Military ID Card as a Surviving Spouse

Joe Wallace

Military spouses are entitled to dependent ID cards that provide access to military bases, AAFES stores, the Commissary, TRICARE, and more. Military spouses can use their ID cards to claim military benefits, as well as retail discounts and other perks.

But what happens when the military member dies? Does the spouse lose their access, privileges, and ID? The short answer is no. But surviving spouses need a new ID card and an updated status in Defense Department databases to claim benefits and maintain base access.

How to Get a Military ID Card as a Surviving Spouse

Upon the death of the military member, the surviving spouse must secure a new Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card that identifies them as a surviving spouse. That’s because the spouse’s status has changed in the DEERS system. When the veteran is still living, they are the “sponsor” of the spouse. When the veteran dies, the spouse becomes their own sponsor in the DEERS system.

Before any new physical identification card can be issued, a record of the service member’s death must be in the DEERS database. This database tracks the eligibility of all military personnel and their dependents.

If the service member dies on active duty, a casualty assistance officer typically initiates the DEERS update. If the service member was a retiree, the surviving spouse or a family representative must report the death directly.

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Report the Passing of the Veteran

To verify if the database has been updated or to report the passing, contact the DEERS Support Office by phone at 800-538-9552.

Alternatively, documentation can be mailed or faxed to the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Support Office. The system will not issue a survivor ID card until the status of the deceased sponsor is formally changed, which automatically designates the surviving spouse as the new sponsor of the record.

Eligibility for a survivor ID card depends on the surviving spouse remaining unmarried. During the application process, the surviving spouse must confirm they have not remarried.

Remarried Spouses

Remarriage typically makes you ineligible for the USID card and associated benefits, unless the subsequent marriage also ends in death or divorce, which may allow for a reinstatement of benefits under specific conditions.

The Department of Defense offers two methods for a surviving spouse to obtain a new USID card: an in-person appointment at a RAPIDS facility or an online application through the ID Card Office Online (IDCO) portal.

In-Person via a RAPIDS Site

Visiting a physical installation remains the standard method, particularly if immediate card issuance is required or if the DEERS record needs complex data updates.

• Surviving spouses can locate the nearest active RAPIDS terminal by using the ID Card Office Online locator tool. These terminals are situated on active-duty military bases, National Guard armories, and Reserve training centers.
• Due to high volume, most RAPIDS facilities require individuals to schedule an appointment through the online system. Walk-in availability is limited and varies by installation.

Online USID Card Renewal Pilot

You may be able to renew or replace USID cards online if the following apply:

• The surviving spouse must reside within the United States.
• The surviving spouse must have a photograph in the DEERS database taken within the past 12 years.
• The surviving spouse must have an active email address listed in DEERS and permit the Department of Defense to use it for official correspondence.
• The cardholder’s mailing address must be verified and accurate within DEERS (P.O. boxes are not eligible for shipping).

Log in to the ID Card Office Online portal using a military login credential, navigate to the “Family ID Cards” section, and select the renewal option.

Once processed, the new physical card is printed by the DMDC and sent via the United States Postal Service to the address on file. The recipient must log back in to the portal to activate the card once it arrives.

Required Identity and Eligibility Documentation

You must present original or certified copies of the following items:

• A long-form death certificate detailing the cause and date of death of the service member.
• The full legal name and Social Security number of the deceased service member.
• The surviving spouse’s existing or recently expired military dependent ID card.
• One unexpired, government-issued photo identification document. Acceptable options include a U.S. passport, a state-issued driver’s license, or a state identification card.
• A second form of identification is used to verify identity: an original Social Security card, an official birth certificate, a voter registration card, or a valid photo ID from a government agency. Once the documentation is verified, the new ID card is printed.

Expiration Dates

The expiration timeline for a survivor card depends heavily on the age of the recipient:

• For surviving spouses under the age of 65, the card is issued with a fixed expiration date and typically requires renewal every 4 years.
• Surviving spouses who reach age 65 are eligible to receive a permanent ID card. This card displays “INDEF” in the expiration block, eliminating the need for routine future renewals.
• While federal guidelines mention an age threshold of 75, the Department of Defense’s operational policy implementation grants indefinite status at age 65 to align with Medicare and TRICARE For Life eligibility tracking.

Upon receiving the new card, any older dependent ID cards must be surrendered to the RAPIDS official or destroyed if the renewal was completed through the mail.

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