Veterans Can Travel Smarter With Free TSA PreCheck Access

(KMDL-FM) The Transportation Security Administration has announced a new travel perk for some of America's most deserving passengers. A recent post from the Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed that TSA is offering free TSA PreCheck services for veterans with qualifying disabilities.

The TSA PreCheck at no charge is part of the VETS Safe Travel Act. That act was signed into law in January of 2025. VETS stands for Veterans Expedited TSA Screening and was put in place to make travel for these deserving Americans more affordable and more efficient.

What Is TSA PreCheck and Is It Worth It?

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If you're not familiar with TSA PreCheck, it's a paid service through the Transportation Security Administration. To obtain TSA PreCheck, a traveler must submit certain details and documents and be confirmed by TSA as a low-risk traveler. This designation allows you to move through airport security lines faster because it's already been determined that you pose no risk to others on the plane.

The normal fee for TSA PreCheck is $85. If granted, your TSA PreCheck status is approved for five years. But for veterans who qualify under the VETS Safe Travel Act that $85 fee is waived.
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To qualify for the program, any former military member must be enrolled in the VA healthcare and have a service-connected disability. This disability would require the use of a VA-issued wheelchair or a prosthesis. Veterans who have lost a limb or use of a limb, or experienced full or partial paralysis or permanent blindness, qualify under the guidelines of the program.

How Will Qualified Veterans Be Notified That They Are Eligible for Free TSA PreCheck?

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The Veterans Administration will send enrollment letters to eligible veterans' accounts. A copy of that letter will need to be presented when applying for the TSA PreCheck and during enrollment in the program. A veteran will also have to meet the other background check criteria to qualify for the security waiver.

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More information on how the program is administered is available here. For other concerns involving TSA and specific traveler needs, you may reach out to TSA Cares or call (855) 787-2227.