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Prepare for VA’s Sign-in Changes – Behind Friendly Lines

Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2025
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by Outside Contributor
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21 Comments
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Two great options to keep your information secure

I’m matter-of-fact when it comes to decisions. I prefer no more than two choices. I’m confident I’ll make the correct selection. Once I decide, there are never any regrets.

It’s like visiting the optometrist and he starts flipping the lenses and asks, “Which one looks better: three or four?” Now, it may take me responding with, “Can you show me those two options…again?” But after that, I’m all in: “Definitely four!”

Veterans are about to have two options to securely access their VA health care and benefits. You’ll have to choose which one is best for you. Spoiler alert: They’re both equally good.

VA is moving to a more modern online sign-in experience—to simplify your options and

continue to protect your identity, data, and benefits.

VA is committed to making it as easy as possible for Veterans to manage their benefits and health care digitally. As part of this commitment, and to streamline Veterans’ sign-in options, VA will transition to two modern, secure sign-in options in 2025: a Login.gov or ID.me account.

Here’s what’s changing for VA websites and mobile apps:

  • After March 4, 2025, VA will remove the option to sign in with a My HealtheVet user ID and password.
  • After September 30, 2025, VA will remove the option to sign in with a DS Logon username and password.
  • You’ll then have two sign-in account options: Login.gov or ID.me.

VA is making these changes for several reasons.

Veteran feedback: Veterans asked for fewer sign-in account options to reduce confusion and sign-in complexity.

Enhanced security: This change helps VA continue to protect the security of Veterans’ identities and data by ensuring all Veterans are using modern, secure accounts and have the added protection of multifactor authentication (MFA).

Continued protection against identity theft: Identity theft and related medical identity theft are serious issues that can cause severe financial hardship and disruption in medical care for Veterans and their families. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 1 million reports of identity theft. That same year, Veterans and military retirees reported $350 million in losses to the FTC due to fraud. Active-duty service members and Veterans are 76% more likely than their civilian counterparts to experience identity theft.

Federal policy: VA is required to help all Veterans begin using a sign-in account that meets modern security standards and ensure that Veterans’ sign-in experience is as simple as possible. Login.gov and ID.me help VA meet both these requirements.

80-year-old U.S. Navy veteran Walter H. “Skip” Williams, Jr., who lives in the Oklahoma City area, recently completed the process to verify his identity and establish his account. “I had trouble at first,” he said. “But the My HealtheVet coordinator told me to take my time and try again.” Williams also learned he can use his verified account for other government services, like Social Security benefits.

Actions to take—and who’s affected:

If you use an account to access any VA online services – including through the VA: Health and Benefits mobile app – and are not yet using Login.gov or ID.me, this change will impact you. Don’t fret; there’s still time to transition.

If you already use a Login.gov or ID.me account to access VA’s online services or mobile app, you are all set and don’t need to do anything additional. This describes me; I use ID.me.

If you currently use a DS Logon or My HealtheVet username and password to access VA’s online services or mobile app, simply create an identity-verified Login.gov or ID.me account sooner rather than later so you have time to get used to it before this change. This likely describes most of my readers.

If you are planning to create a sign-in account for the first time this year to access VA’s online services or mobile app, please create and use a Login.gov or ID.me account.

If you want to manage your VA benefits and services offline, that’s not a problem. VA will continue providing easy access to manage your VA benefits and health care in other ways, including by phone or in-person.

Fellow Veterans, take advantage of this enhancement for your security. Don’t just do it on VA’s platforms, consider your options in the retail marketplace, too. It’s indubitably apparent that you shouldn’t show your DD 214 with your social security number to a stranger working the register just to get a free appetizer on Veterans Day. Take the same precautions to protect your identity online!

Take action today and have your Login.gov or ID.me account ready so you can easily, securely and remotely manage prescriptions, message your VA care team, check on a claim’s status and more through the VA Health and Benefits app and My HealtheVet.

Check out the latest episode of The BLUF to get all this information in an easy-to-follow video format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQLJ9PMQ2jQ.

Learn more and get support at: www.va.gov/sign-in-changes.

Thanks for allowing me to walk alongside you behind friendly lines.

Victory!

Jason T. Strickland, Lieutenant Colonel (U.S. Army Retired), is the chief communications officer at the VA Rocky Mountain Network Email: vhavisn19cco@va.gov.

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Kurt Tuttle
Kurt Tuttle
5 days ago

I had to use ID.me to get into Social Security. It was not easy, and is it safe and secure, I hope so.

Kathryn Davis
Kathryn Davis
5 days ago

This was not an user friendly change and requires about 10 ways to prove I am who I am and authorized to login.

Sally
Sally
5 days ago

It is annoying that the VA made this change. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Robert Zuccaro
Robert Zuccaro
5 days ago

Yeah, gee thanks VA! I got as far as my login & password, then getting a 6-digit code texted to me, before running into this “new system” where I can 1) choose from a list of 10 codes they send (don’t lose them!) 2) make an appointment to go in-person to identify yourself or 3) enter phots of front & back of your drivers license. And you have to have a smart phone! I can get onto my Wells Fargo account easier… Can’t imagine how a 90 year old with a flip phone logs on!

Hope McCloud
Hope McCloud
5 days ago

i prefer .gov but the IRS requires id.me. I was okay until id.me asked for a video selfie! What the heck? Is that saved in some database?

Moonpup
Moonpup
5 days ago

I’d like to thank AMAC for posting this. It’s rare to see anything accurate about the VA (or military in general) except in military publications. I had already been verified on ID.me due to other things, so the change was easy for me. I’m delighted that the VA also issues a military ID card and that, especially on Veterans Day, many businesses now ask for it before giving out free meals/services. I’d heard or heard of too many who never served brag about how they got the free meal, one particularly odious cretin actually went on Facebook to brag that he has purchased a dress uniform and got free meals and drinks all day. While the process to be verified may not be easy, it also weeds out those who attempt to get undeserved help.

Freddy G
Freddy G
5 days ago

Sorry to hear that some are having trouble with this. For me, it seemed easy – I just used the upgrade option at my current “my Social Security “ online account to switch from my old user name and password ID method to the new login.gov credentials. Worked like a charm, and now I simply use my Login.gov credentials to sign into the VA website. Piece of cake for me!

USN Retired
USN Retired
5 days ago

Login.gov or ID.me are NOT good options! I have had nothing but trouble with them, and cannot access my Social Security account now that they have switched. I guess I have the telephone and snail mail still.

Vietvet6769
Vietvet6769
5 days ago

All I say chose one that will work for you! I been working for nearly four months I have no complaints, When I do, just work on it!

Georgeania Marie Starbuck
Georgeania Marie Starbuck
4 days ago

I do NOT have a cell phone and live in a “dead zone” . I have tried several times to use the suggestions to establish a Login.gov or ID.me account , Both insist on a text message or a call from the cell phone.

Dan Niederhaus
Dan Niederhaus
5 days ago

it might work but for me I have signed up for the gov id haven’t been able to get in since then although it must be wonderful, at least that’s what they say, unfortunately I don’t have access to get signed up like the LtCol has on his job site,

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