The Veteran’s Administration (VA) announced their roll-out of new veteran’s ID cards in November 2017, according to the VA website. Wondering how to get your veteran’s ID card? Use this guide to learn more about who is eligible for the new card, reasons to apply and where to get it.
What is the Veteran’s ID Card
Need to prove your veteran’s status at businesses and local organizations? The new veteran’s ID card is perfect proof of your military service. This new ID card, which was rolled out in late 2017, provides a secure, portable way to show that you met the minimum service requirements. Congress ordered this free ID card back in 2015 in the Veteran’s Identifications Card Act of 2015 to give veterans another way of providing proof of their service without requiring them to carry their DD-214 forms. which are the reports issued after performing active duty or a minimum of 90 back-to-back days of active duty training.
Who’s Eligible for the Veteran’s ID Card
Before considering how to get your veteran’s ID card, it helps to understand exactly who is eligible to apply. These ID cards were created specifically for all veterans who received an honorable discharge. They’re separate from military ID cards, providing proof that the holder served the United States military honorably regardless of whether you retired from the military or not, as noted by the Military Wallet.
Why Get The New Veteran’s ID Card
The purpose of having the veteran’s ID card is to prove your status. It won’t entitle you to any new benefits, but it will make it easier to score special perks, including retail discounts, premium parking spots and free meals on Veteran’s Day, according to Military.com. Having the card could come in handy whenever you need to prove your military service record. It won’t give you access to any new benefits, but if you’re looking to get special benefits, free meals, primo parking spots or score discounts, having the veteran’s ID card might be exactly what you need.
Benefits of the Card
There aren’t any special benefits attached to this card and it won’t give you access to anything new and exciting from the federal government. The ability to prove your military service and status as someone with an honorable discharge is one of the main reasons to get the new veteran’s ID card. Being able to get additional perks open to veterans is another reason, as noted by Military.com.
How to Get Your Veteran’s ID Card
Wondering how to get your veteran’s ID card? It’s easy when you follow a few simple steps:
- Visit the vets.gov website. You may need to add your email address to get onto the waiting list.
- Create an account on vets.gov, verify your identity, request a veteran’s ID card and have an official ID card like a state or federal ID handy
- Fill out the application, provide the identity verification requested and request your ID card.
