Verify your first responder status to access exclusive discounts in ID.me Shop. You can verify as an active or retired law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, or 911 dispatcher. This article explains how to verify your first responder status.
You will start the process in ID.me Shop, go to the partner shop for the offer you’re interested in, then follow the prompts on the partner page to complete verification to redeem your offer.
Eligibility
In general, active and retired first responders can verify their status. To learn which job titles are eligible and not eligible, visit First responder eligibility.
1. Go to ID.me Shop
Where you start in ID.me Shop depends on if you are a first responder in the United States or Canada.
To get started:
- Go to the ID.me Shop First Responders discounts page or search for discounts. Make sure to filter for first responder discounts only.
- Browse the offers and stores that offer first responder discounts. Each store will show how much their discount is.
- When you find a discount you’d like to use, select Unlock to Save or Shop Now. You’ll be redirected to the partner’s website.
- When prompted, select Verify with ID.me. This displays most often at checkout. You may need to also select that you are verifying for first responder status. You will be redirected to the ID.me sign in page.
To get started:
- Go to the ID.me Shop Canadian First Responder offers, then browse the available offers. Each store will show how much their discount is.
- When you find a discount you’d like to use, select the retailer’s card. You’ll be redirected to the partner’s website.
- When prompted, select Verify with ID.me. This displays most often at checkout.
Select Canadian First Responder, then select Continue to sign in. You will be redirected to the ID.me sign in page.
2. Verify first responder status
To verify your first responder status:
- Sign in to your ID.me account if you already have one. If you don’t have an account select Create an ID.me account, then confirm your email address.
- Select the first responder occupation that applies to you. This will be the sub-community (also known as subgroup) you will verify for. If you are unsure, visit First responder eligibility.
- EMT / Paramedics - Select if you are state certified. If you are, choose your state.
- Firefighters - Choose the state you are in and if you are ProBoard Certified or not.
- Law Enforcement Officers
- 911 Dispatchers
- Select Begin.
- Follow the prompts to enter your personal and first responder information. You may be prompted to upload documentation. Review the acceptable documents to verify first responder status.
- Select a document type, then select Choose file and select the file from your device. Select Continue to upload and submit your document.
You’ll see a “You’re verified!” screen if your first responder verification is successful.
After you verify
After you are verified as a first responder, you can take more steps to get the most out of your ID.me account.
Save with ID.me Shop
Below are resources for ID.me Shop:
- Searching for ID.me Shop discounts
- Getting discounts using ID.me Shop
- Learning about new discounts
- Find other discounts using your ID.me account
Secure and access your account
Explore ID.me
Use your ID.me account to access benefits and services with other ID.me partners:
Troubleshooting
If your verification isn’t approved, select Retry verification to start again. Make sure:
- You enter your information correctly.
- The document type you choose matches the document you upload.
- You upload an acceptable verification document and follow our document best practices.
ProBoard certification issues
If you have trouble using your ProBoard certification to verify, visit Using your ProBoard certification for first responder verification.
My discount isn’t working
If the first responder discount you tried to use isn’t working, visit I'm having trouble claiming a discount.
Who to contact for support
Who you need to contact for help depends on if you have completed the verification process or not.
ID.me
ID.me can help if you have trouble verifying for a specific community, like nurses, teachers, military, etc. Common issues include:
- Fixing documents that were rejected
- Not meeting the criteria for your community
- The information you enter during the verification process doesn’t match the records we use for verification
Retailers and brands
Retailers and brands can help with questions and next steps after you complete the verification process. For example, you may have trouble getting a discount or using a promo code. Before contacting the retailer or brand:
- Confirm your verification was successful
- Confirm you shared your information with the retailer or brand
- Review our best practices and sample messages of how to request help from ID.me partners