Published 18 February 2019
Last updated 21 July 2023 — See all updates
Update 21 July 2023
Continued progress has
been made towards the new digital verification service to apply
for a HM Armed Forces Veteran Card.
The Ministry of Defence and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs are
jointly delivering this service as part of ongoing improvements
in veterans support.
Update 15 February 2022
The Veterans’ Recognition Scheme has a two-phase rollout. Phase 1
is complete; with Service leavers receiving a recognition card as
part of the discharge process.
Phase 2 is to extend the scheme to existing veterans so that they
can more quickly, easily and securely prove they served in the UK
Armed Forces so they can access the services they need.
There is a need to future-proof the roll-out and ensure that we
are giving ID cards only to those with verified service to guard
against fraudulent use as veterans become able to access a wider
range of benefits.
In the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan (2022-2024) the government
committed to exploring the secure, digital verification of
veterans’ status. This work is underway, and we are currently
working with veterans and other stakeholders to ensure any
solution meets the needs of all veterans. This will support
delivery of the Phase 2 roll out of ID cards. The government is
still committed to delivering ID cards but cannot give a
timescale for final delivery as this work is in progress.
A new ID card for armed forces veterans, which will help them
access specialist support and services, has started to be issued
to service leavers.
From today, any personnel who have left the military since
December 2018 will automatically be given one of the new ID
cards, which will allow them to maintain a tangible link to their
career in the forces.
The cards allow veterans to easily verify their service to the
NHS, their local authority, and charities, helping them to access
support and services where needed.
All other veterans will be able to apply for a new ID card by the
end of this year, to mark their time in the armed forces.
Minister for Defence People and Veterans said:
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the ex-forces community, and
we are working hard to ensure they receive the support they
deserve.
These new cards celebrate the great commitment and dedication of
those who have served this country, and I hope they can provide a
further link to ex-personnel and the incredible community around
them.
Veterans UK - which manages pensions and compensation payments
for the armed forces - local authorities, service charities, NHS
and GPs will also benefit from the change, as they will not have
to conduct time-consuming checks to identify individual veterans.
The new ID card is one of three that are available to service
leavers. Personnel leaving the armed forces are also able to keep
their military IDs, known as the MOD Form 90, allowing them to
maintain their emotional connection with their service.
Additionally, veterans can access a range of discounts through
the Defence Discount Service, the official MOD-endorsed service
for the armed forces.
Last year saw the launch of the Strategy
for our Veterans, published jointly by the UK, Welsh and
Scottish Governments, which sets out the key areas of support for
those who have left the armed forces. The consultation closed on
Thursday 21 February.
All relevant government departments have a responsibility to
ensure that the military community is treated fairly, and not
disadvantaged by their service, as part of the Armed Forces
Covenant. The new ID cards will ensure the process of validating
service is as straightforward as possible, so that ex-forces
personnel can access support for issues related to their service
quickly, where needed.
The cards will complement the NHS’ commitment to providing
specialist health support for veterans in every part of the
health service, enabling ex-service personnel in England,
Scotland and Wales to access treatment where they have been
affected by their service. Last year, NHS England announced that
dedicated mental healthcare services are up and running in every
part of the country, backed by £10 million of investment, with
increasing numbers of GPs and hospitals becoming ‘Veteran Aware’,
in order to fully address the needs of those who have served.
Any veteran in need of support can contact the Veterans’ Gateway – the 24
hour service which signposts ex-forces personnel to the wide
range of support available to them, including housing and
financial advice, career guidance, and medical care from the NHS.
Since being set up in 2017, the Veterans’ Gateway has already
received over 20,000 contacts, advising ex-forces personnel and
their families.
