Veterans: Identity Cards

(asked on 10th March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current timetable for phase 2 of the rollout of Veteran’s ID Cards to all veterans who left the armed forces before 2018.


Answered by
Baroness Goldie Portrait
Baroness Goldie
This question was answered on 24th March 2022

The Veterans’ Recognition Scheme has a two-phase rollout. Phase one is complete, with Service leavers receiving a HM Armed Forces Veterans’ Recognition Card as part of the discharge process; since December 2018, over 45,000 such Cards have been issued to Service leavers. Phase two will extend the scheme to existing veterans so they can more quickly, easily and securely prove they served in the UK Armed Forces.

In the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan (2022-2024), the Government committed to exploring the secure, digital verification of veterans’ status. This work is now complete, and the Ministry of Defence and Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to work with veterans and other stakeholders to develop a future-proof product, ensuring that Recognition Cards are given only to those with verified service, guarding against fraudulent use as a wider range of benefits become accessible. The Government remains committed to delivering Veterans’ Recognition Cards and will advise of a timescale for final delivery when this work is complete.

Veterans do not require a Recognition Card to prove their status or to access veteran-related services or discounts. Veteran status can be verified by the veteran themselves or any veterans' service by contacting Veterans UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk

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