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Veteran ID cards can help spouses too

Tired of carrying around your husband DD214 forms to prove he is a veteran?

 Your veteran spouse can soon receive a veterans ID card. The Veterans Identification Act of 2015 ordered the VA to issue ID cards to all honorably discharged veterans for free. Recent reports say the cards will finally be available in November.

Currently a handful of states allow veterans to have their military service noted on their driver’s license. The new ID will be issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and is expected to include a photo, date of discharge and military branch.

The cards are expected to make it easier for former military members to receive discounts at local retailers and prove military service to potential employers.

The new ID cards do not give authorization for the veteran to access medical care, the commissary, PX or receive retired pay. The cards are nothing more than a means to identify an individual as a former military member.

The cards may also make it easier for veterans to have access to their newest benefit: shopping at the Exchange.

Earlier this year the military exchanges announced that all honorably discharged veterans would be allowed to shop at the exchange online stores. The benefit begins on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 with a test run of veterans who applied for the program through the exchange.

Officials said more than 60,000 veterans applied to be part of the test group. More veterans will be added to those ranks on a rolling basis until the program is unveiled for all eligible veterans. About 13 million veterans quality for the new benefit.

Want to know more ways to prove your veterans service?

The website, militarybenefits.com has outlined several options ranging from local ID cards to state issued letters. Browse the list below to see if your servicemember qualifies for any of these forms of ID:

State Issued Veterans Designation on Driver’s Licenses or Identification Cards – If you reside in one of the many states that currently offers a veterans designation on a driver’s license or ID card this is the easiest and best option that both government agencies and businesses universally accept.  The states require varying proof of veterans status so be sure to check with the DMV before applying.  Many will only require your DD214 but some states require additional documentation or will accept supplemental documentation to a DD214.  Costs be state range from free to about $15 although even if free there most likely is fee to re-issue a card if not already up for renewal. 

 

Free Veterans Identification Proof of Service Letter – Access and print a letter through the joint VA/DoD web portal, eBenefits which serves as proof of honorable service.


State Veterans ID Cards – Most states are opting to put a Veterans designation on a driver’s license or ID card.  Virginia, thus far, is one state that issues a separate Veterans ID card which can be obtained through the DMV.  This means you would have a driver’s license and a state veterans ID card.


County Court House  or Clerk Office Issued Veterans Cards  – Some Counties such as in New Jersey and New York have opted to provide county veteran ID cards until the states can begin offering.  Check with your local county courthouse or clerk office to see if they offer veterans cards.  These cards are not official but for the purposes of receiving discounts from businesses this should work.  This has been confirmed by many veterans.

Retired Veterans With 20 Years of Service Veterans ID – Retired veterans who have served honorably for more than 20 years can obtain an ID card on base by submitting a copy of their retirement paperwork and they will be issued a DD form 2 (blue colored) ID card. There are two types of ID cards issued to retirees. A DD Form 2A (Ret-Red) ID card is issued to “Gray Area” retirees (prior to retired pay eligibility), and a DD Form 2 (Ret-Blue) ID card is issued to a retiree who is actively receiving retired pay.

ID Cards for Eligible Family Members of Living and Deceased Retired Soldiers – DD Form 1172-1 (Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card) is issued to eligible Family members of “Gray Area” retirees. A DD Form 1173 (Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card) is issued to eligible Family members of a retiree. The same rules apply for the DD Form 1173 for Reduced Retirement Eligible Retiree Family members; their ID Cards will not have full medical benefits until the Sponsor is age 60.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Identification Card (VIC) – Also known as a veterans universal Access photo ID Card, many veterans are eligible for a VA health card and may not know it.  The VA issues IDs to anybody who needs to access a VA medical center and many businesses accept these as valid proof of service.

Veterans who may qualify:

  • Veterans with a service-connected disability rating
  • Served in combat or in a war zone
  • Medical conditions incurred while in the service
  • Location of service
  • Served in theater of combat operations within the past 5 years
  • Received a Purple Heart Medal
  • Former Prisoner of War
  • Receive VA pension or disability benefits

* This is not a comprehensive list and veterans should check with the VA to see if they qualify.  Many unique circumstances lead to qualification.

Service Organization Veteran ID Cards – Many national and local veteran service organizations provide ID cards such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion.  While this are not official government issued proof of id many businesses accept these cards as proof of military service.

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