As a veteran, having a valid identification card that verifies your service can provide numerous benefits and access to various resources. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of choosing and applying for a veteran ID card, ensuring that you can easily access the benefits you deserve.
Understanding the Importance of a Veteran ID Card
A veteran ID card serves as proof of your military service and opens doors to exclusive benefits, discounts, and services. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the different types of ID cards available and their purposes to make an informed decision.
Types of Veteran ID Cards
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
The VHIC is primarily intended for veterans enrolled in VA health care. It grants access to VA medical facilities and services. To apply for a VHIC, you need to meet specific eligibility criteria, such as being enrolled in VA health care. Gather the necessary documentation and follow the application process outlined by the VA.
Uniformed Services ID Card (USID)
The USID is issued to veterans who served honorably in the armed forces. It allows access to various military benefits and services. Eligibility requirements for obtaining a USID include having completed the required years of service. To apply, visit a nearby ID card facility and provide the necessary documentation.
Veteran Identification Card (VIC)
The VIC is another type of veteran ID card offered by the VA. It serves as an official form of identification and can be used to demonstrate veteran status when accessing certain benefits and services. Eligibility requirements and application procedures for the VIC may vary, so it is advisable to refer to the VA’s official website for specific details.
State-Issued Veteran ID Cards
Many states offer their own veteran ID cards, providing additional benefits and services specific to that state. Research your state’s veteran ID card program to understand the eligibility criteria and application process. Check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs or similar agencies for more information.
Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Membership Cards
Joining a VSO can provide access to exclusive benefits and resources. Some VSOs offer membership cards that serve as identification and provide additional perks. Explore different VSOs, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or the American Legion, and inquire about their membership card programs.
Additional Identification Options
If you don’t have a veteran ID card, alternative identification documents can still provide certain benefits. The DD Form 214 serves as proof of military service and can be used in various situations. Additionally, a VA health enrollment letter can be helpful for accessing healthcare benefits.
Tips for Choosing the Right Veteran ID Card
- Consider the specific benefits and services associated with each ID card option.
- Evaluate the eligibility criteria and ensure you meet the requirements.
- Research and compare the privileges and discounts (like Home Depot military discounts) provided by each ID card.
- Seek guidance from veteran support organizations or consult with fellow veterans to gather insights and recommendations.
Conclusion
Obtaining a veteran ID card is a vital step in accessing the benefits and resources available to veterans. By understanding the different types of ID cards and their application processes, you can choose the right option that aligns with your needs. Remember to consult official sources, such as government websites or veteran support organizations, for accurate and up-to-date information when applying for your veteran ID card.
How can I receive my veterans I D card. I am 100 % disabled.
My e-mail is [email protected] please help me get one. I am a Vietnam Vet.
The VA changed the rules in 1998. If you make over a certain amount, can’t get a VA card. I served 1971-1975 and can’t get a VA card. I am retired and make over the magic number. Changing the rules in 1998 SHOULD NOT affect those who served prior to that date.
I have a VA card. However, I was sent to the Medical board twice and then forced out by the acting CO because my Platoon Sgt told him to not let me re-enlist. I served 8.6 years. I came in 2nd place for Soldier of the year. I was training NCO, and Drug & Alcohol NCO. I was a good soldier. I did not sneak off and sleep I did my duty and always looked for things to do. I was not an ass. The other NCS used my knowledge as a weapon against the Platoon SGT even though I told them not to they were causing trouble. Long story short I was forced out when the government decided to cut the military. I had a P3 profile and after my VA physical I am 70%.
I have tried to get a Medical ID card. I wanted to serve 30yrs like my father. The ID would just make me feel better like I got to retire from the Army instead of having been refused re-enlistment.
Have the rules changed? Can I know get a Medical Retirement ID? Even though I did not reach 15yrs.
I was married to a veteran but now divorced we were 35yrs how can I get an ID card for me
I would like to know how and if I can get a service card for my spouse? She was not in the service, but she’s been married to me for long time and I like for her to have one on her travels.
Go to the Pass & ID office on base where you got your ID card. You will have to be present to fill out the form to get her a spouse ID card. My spouse ID has expired and my husband and I will be going on base to take care of that.
I went to VA in Atlanta, GA and applied for VA medical ID card 7Sep23 and haven’t received it yet.
I was wondering if I should contact them since they said it would be mailed to my address.
I am a retired Veteran with a Military ID card, why would I need anything else?
Nobody says you need anything else than your retired service member ID card. Then again, you will not get medical attention at a VA hospital without their card. That could be very annoying in a pinch.
Like I was visiting Cebu in the Philippines and my CPAP machine died and I wasn’t sleeping well at all. I would have had to pay cash up front in any hospital there. But in Manila there is a state of the art US VERERAN’s Clinic. I gave them a call to see if they could help. Well because I was already in the VA health care system, and had their card, the Manila office overnighted me a new CPAP, asked me to put my broken one in the return box and send it to them. Then they noticed I hadn’t had my annual VA physical in over 18 months so they scheduled me for one at my convenience at their clinic in Manila. They paid for my wife and I to fly round trip to Manila, put us up at the Marriott, gave us food and taxi vouchers, did lab work, gave me a thorough physical and all that in one day there.
So bring in the VA medical system was well worthwhile.
iam concern about my appeal during my request for increase. my rt shoulder injury started in military. j was inducted military with flat feet. aggravated during my military service in infantry units on rough terrain in boots running during pt. trying in the city streets in Germany and on post. prolonged standing and marching I was a medic. my duties required me yo stand and walk for many hours in the woods. and motorpool. i spent 11yr in army. my treatment at Dorn VA is far more advanced than active duty treatment. today they no longer run in boots. I had ankle injury while in service. my head has pain and migraine symptoms from trauma by a weapon use of a belt buckel caused by soldier who attacked me. I have deformed knots in my head from the attack. poor examine from doctor. I still have those deformities in my head. the appeals board consists of non medical personnel with discriminatory practice I believe. I pray for fair treatment. I have little Faith in a attorney because my faith is in the lord.
Thank you for this great information. And help. I am very thankful.
Thanks very much. This is great. I greatly appreciate this excellent service.
I am a retired military’s wife and ì am 78 years old. I lost my ID and need another one soon, where can I get one,, I am near Fort Moore, ĜA. Gwendolyn Yeomans
Go online and search for a government ID card facility closest to you. Call them up to set up an appointment and ask them what documentation you will need for them to put you back into DEERS.
If all else fails, call the nearest Navy recruiter and ask them for guidance.
I have a dd214 but no id how do i get one i am in colorado aurora coloradod
Siign up at yout locsl va. Depending on yours rating you will get an id card
Unless you have a disability from the VA you will have to pass a means test in order to get a VA ID card…If your income exceeds a certain limit you will not be eligible!
I am a retired veteran after serving 6 years active and 22 national guard in California, I am 50% disabled (service connect ed). Which I.D. am I allowed to have.
You definitely qualify for the VA Medical ID.
Your retirement order should list the total Active Federal Service years of your active duty time plus the total amount of points earned in National Guard duty.
You have 6×365 = 2,190 points. Your NG drill weekend often counts as 4 days ; so normal drills will tally up to 48 points. Membership is 15 points and a normal AT is an other 14 to 28 days, thus giving you between 63-77 points right there, times the amount of NG years ; 22 years x 63 points = 1,386 – 1,694 points.
This 2,190 + 1,386 =
3,576 to 4,884 points.
If you pulled some ADSW or EAD yours or schools, then your total point tally will be adjusted accordingly. It takes 7,300 points to get a 20 AFS RETIREMENT.
If you were medically retired you are entitled to a military retirement ID card .
Check in with any service ID card office of any branch near you.
you should have ID for retired from National Guard and ID for VA cause that what i got
I have an ID card that’s over 20 years old has my social security number on the front of the card . How can get a new card?
Make appointment to see local pass and ID office, or other Military post to request a. new card, that card is outdated, they don’t have the SSAN kn the ID cards anymore
Shouldn’t my Retired Military ID card suffice in lieu of a Veteran ID card.
Somebody need to show this to home depot in florida.they would not give
Me discount at the store with my card said I needed to have there web.site downloaded on my phone to get a discount.even though the week before there gave me the discount on hot water heater I bought on line over the phone.
To get the discount at Home Depot you have to download their app and sign up as a veteran then you will have a scan code in the ap that you scan at checkout
Once you have the app and are registered, they can verify with your phone number
No discount on appliances…
True, they started doing that as well as Lowes who was doing it first.
I have a military ID and home Depot honors it. I’m in Chicago. I take it every where I go. The only stores that I know of that don’t honor the military ID is Walmart and Sam’s Club.
Just enter your info on the Home Depot app. Once your done it’s always there and they need is your phone # and ID at check out. I even erased the app off my phone.
If I’m a widow of a veteran can I get an ID card
Yes definitely! I’m also a widow & I have one… check your community for the right office to go to to get your ID card
I am a widow of a veteran. He died over 20 years ago, but was sent to Saudi Arabia for about 6 months, during Desert Storm. I wanted to know if I qualify for any services as his widowed wife.
As a widow of a 100% disabled vet, I have a DoD card that expired Oct, 2019.Do I need a new card? Never had trouble using it for medical. If needed, can I get one at the base in Ft Smith, Arkansas?
I just had to renew my card. The new ID cards
Do not expire. You should be able to make an appointment on line. Good luck
Asking as you haven’t remarried you can get it renewed.
If your dependents ID card has expired, you do need to get it renewed. I would call the military base closest to you and ask them what you need to bring with you to get it renewed.
I’m happy I read this my husband was in Vietnam and he contacted agent orange and got prostate cancer he when through so many surgery and it was in remission, but so many other illnesses he had, he retired 6 years and he received 100% from the Army he passed away a year ago he i receive my from the army but I don’t have a .card to get full benefits i will look into it now. Thanks everyone who served ❤
You need to go. to a VA rep.It sounds like you would get back pay and medical coverage at any VA hospital,they have reps that can help.Dont be dismayed or deterred by the amount you. are about to receive.Thanks for supporting your husband as a Veteran.Start at the records department or ways and means.
I am very grateful to be a 100 percent disabled veteran Let me explain before the pandemic I took my benefits for granted However as the pandemic went on and on and out it begin to affect us all in various ways People lost jobs,lot their homes and vehicles Savings were depleted Thank God I say for the security being a vet gives us The V.A like everything else and n the world is far from perfect however we survive under harsh circumstances Instead of complaining about what I am lacking I’ve learned to thank God for what I do have this includes the VA services I receive
Agree 💯% and VERY WELL WORDED. ALL I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS DOCUMENTATION IS KEY. FOR ANY INJURIES INCURRED OR WORSENED BY MILITARY SERVICE. TAKE ANY AND ALL PROOF OF SUCH TO A SERVICE ORGANIZATION (I USED THE DAV) AND THEY WILL REPRESENT YOU FREE OF CHARGE. BUT LIKE I SAID; DOCUMENTATION IS KEY. THE MORE THE BETTER, HELPS CLAIMS GO FASTER BECAUSE THE VA WON’T HAVE TO TAKE THE EXTRA TIME SEARCHING FOR THE DOCUMENT’S YOU HOPEFULLY PROVIDE WHEN YOU APPLY. PRAYERS AND GOOD THOUGHTS TO ALL INJURED VETERANS 🙏
Amen.
Absolutely. Go to the ID issue office. Bring all necessary docs. But call first. How long where you married to your husband before he died? Sorry for your loss…
Agree. Thank God each day for all the blessings we receive. Tomorrow is not granted to us.
You left out your state driver’s license. Most states have the option to have your veteran status recorded on your driver’s license. I’m not sure what benefits you can claim with that, except my hospital parking garages accept it for free parking..
Hi Jeffrey,,
Some of the benefits that can be claimed to any Veteran. If they served as Active Duty, or Reservist, Entitlements are medical dental, Post Exchange, Commissary, VA Home loans, Parks. They only need to have served in the military for 6 conservative months. Retirees can not get legal Services .
My husband was in the Army. He was in Vietnam for at least 11 months. He developed cancer later on in life and after numerous attempts he was given 100% disability due to cancer. The various ailments were rated higher but it it was understood about the rating. I never did check into getting an ID card then because I was working. I would like to know what to do to obtain 1 so that I can enjoy some of the things at the stores. I received a letter outlying a lot of benefits I am entitled to such as schooling etc. Please advise. Thank you.
If your husband is rated 100% disabled then you and your husband should be eligible for a Department of Defense/Uniformed Services card.(DD Form 2765). Check with your local Veterans Affairs office.
You should also be eligible for ChampVA benefits as a spouse of your 100% disabled veteran husband.
And Chapter 35 for school.
If any Veteran ever believes that you have to see only certain doctors. Then you have not been told correctly. If you have a primary care doctor and they are busy and you need to be seen then request to be seen by a different doctor or go to the ER. If you need to see a specialist and cannot be seen within 30 days then request to go to a community care doctor in your community or near you or in a next community wherever you live. Anything is possible. Don’t sit there and take it where you shouldn’t. Yes it’s not fair sometimes but, Warriors aren’t trained to retire and we don’t take it either. Remember that. 👍
Help each other out.
Semper FI.
Hi I am a 100 o/0
How do I find what it gives me.
With all the new VA care service members are going to get automatically. I do not begrudge the new VA Members, but there are not enough VA Doctors as it is now. It takes me Six (6) months to get an appointment to be seen by my Primary Care VA Doctor. I have had to go down town and get my own Doctor and Kidney Doctor. I hope the new people are treated much better and faster in the future.
Mr. Welty. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart that you don’t or haven’t found your niche within the VA. As a Veteran myself, I have to say that if you do not get the medical assistance that you believe you need. You either need to visit the VA Emergency route and find a faster way through there. Or, request to get outsourced into the community care as close or far as soon as you can be seen if you cannot be seen within 30 days. I would not sit and wait till time lapse and make time the the enemy as the VA is not perfect but, it’s also not the enemy Mr. Welty. All resources in any form or way is our friend Mr. Welty. The one thing I have learn in dealing with the VA is that there is an answer to all questions, problems, matters and solutions. Even as far as getting your representation, your representative involved to advocate for you in these matters. There’s many paths. I always show these paths to other veterans, their dependents and even civilians alike. Helping others and resolving things is best versus creating more issues. Let me know if can help Mr. Welty. Even if I am not near you, I am confident I can get someone’s attention for you. 👍
VACCN
Veterans Affairs Community Care Network is the program being utilized at this time.it has greatly shorted wait times between visits to the local VA Hospital. Specialist care is the main goal for this program.
The VACCN, was able to provide the critical financial support needed for my husband’s final day’s. Contact your local DAV officer or you can also reach out to your counties service representative Officer.
TO ALL VETS THANK U. FROM AN AIR FORCE VET, VIET NAM.
I don’t know why they are spreading false information which is so easily vetted but only certain veterans are eligible for a USID. This ID looks the same as the active duty ID. You have to be a veteran who falls in one of these categories…
_——————————
Under federal law, military ID cards are issued only to those veterans who are eligible to receive medical care and other benefits provided by the DOD. This includes:
Retired military members
Those who are entitled to receive retainer pay
Veterans determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs to have a 100% disability rating or are 100% unemployable due to a service-connected injury or disease
If you do not fall into one of these categories, you are not eligible for a DOD ID card.
It never said that anyone could get a used. It stated that you can get one if you met the requirements of years served.
My husband served 23 years in the Army.He wouldn’t give anything for those years.
Please tell him I said: Thank you!!
Please thank him for his service. It is greatly appreciated! My husband passed in April with 100% disability rating after two 13 month tours in Viet Nam with results of concentrated Agent Orange!
I’m so sorry for your loss. RIP and thank your husband for his incredible service to this great country.