Also know as a Veteran Identification Card.
I have been trying for a couple of years at least to get mine but navigating through government flim-flam was always more than I wanted to deal with. I would simply quit, forget about it, and then later think that I ought to follow through.
Long story, actually after a week of hitting dead ends, re-sending what I had already sent, I finally got a real email, not a "do not reply". Instead of uploading to the VA website, I uploaded directly to that email address and whatdoyouknow, this evening I finally got my VIC. No, it is not an actual card. That quit happening in 2022. I got a link that I downloaded into my laptop and then sent to my phone as a picture.
If I can figure out how, I will print it onto photo paper or something and then laminate it. For now at least, I have it on my phone.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing, but my wife is a disabled veteran. She gets her ID card from the VA Hospital in Jackson Ms. From what they tell us there is no other place in Ms. to get it. Her's expired in July and we just realized it last week. So we will be making a road trip sometime in the near future.
This may seem like a stupid question (consider the source) but how can a veteran's card expire? It's not like you might all of a sudden become a non veteran. It makes no sense, but it is of course, handled by the government, so there is that.
I guess since it's a photo ID they want to make sure the current photo matches the face. I can't think of any other reason. The VA is not known for being extremely user friendly or efficient. I can't remember when we got the last card, it's been several years.
As a disabled veteran my wife got a dependent card. Had to be replace every few years until she reached 75 and then it becomes permanent. Guess they figure that after that long I'd probably keep her.
I think there are two cards. One for health care at the VA and another just to show you are a veteran. I never signed up at the VA but I did drop by about 10 years ago to get a veteran's card. Run around and didn't get it. I carry a copy of my DD-214 which has always worked great for those discounts.
Maybe things have changed so correct me if wrong. Actually I'm going to try and sign up for health care just in case. Our local VA is wonderful. It has provided great care for my dad and some of my friends.
Mine is for ID only and has no date. The back says:
"The Veteran ID card can be used as proof of service to obtain discounted goods and services".
At one time you could get a Vet ID from the recorder of deeds at the local court house, maybe still can but I ran into places like some Home Depots that wouldn't honor them so I kept pushing till I got into the VA for medical and everyone takes that. On my "real ID" drivers license it also designates veteran.
The VA Health ID cards are good for 10 years. I recently got a card in the mail from the VA to renew mine as it was due to expire. I had it renewed at the local VA clinic with a new picture and a new card was sent to me in about 2 weeks. Now I'm good for another 10 years with a VA health ID.
Michigan also has Veterans identified on their driver's license.
One can also get a general Veterans ID card through the Veteran's administration, but the VA Health card is usually an official recognition card.
The overall "official" Veteran's ID for all purposes is your DD214, which is your discharge summary document from military service. It has your military service history on it and is the official document you must present when asked before anything else.
All Veteran's should have a copy of their DD-214 in safe keeping.