Veterans Affairs and ID.me – ID.me Help Center

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) works with ID.me to verify the identity of VA users requesting information online. This article explains how to verify your identity for the VA.

Sign in to the VA

If you already have an ID.me account, sign in to your account:

Go to VA.gov and select Sign in.
Select ID.me.
Enter your email address and password, then select Sign in.
If required, follow the prompts to provide any additional information.
From the Authorize screen, review the information that the VA will receive and then select Allow to consent to share that information with them.

I can’t sign in to my ID.me account

Changed your phone number? Visit I changed my phone number.
Have trouble with MFA? Visit Resetting your multi-factor authentication (MFA) method.
Unsure of your sign-in issue? Visit I can’t sign in to my account.

Verify for the VA

If you’ve never had an ID.me account, you’ll create an account before verifying your identity. After you create your account, you’ll choose how to verify:

Self-Service
Video Call
In Person

Self–Service

This process usually takes 5-10 minutes and guides you through each step on your screen.

To verify your identity, you need:

A smartphone or tablet
U.S. phone number
Your Social Security number
Your government-issued ID: Driver’s license or state ID, passport, or passport card.

To verify with Self-Service:

Select the government ID you want to upload. You can upload a driver’s license or state ID, or select Change document to upload a passport or passport card instead.
Follow the prompts to upload a photo of your government-issued ID. For help uploading documents, visit Uploading documents.
Confirm that the information on your ID is clearly legible in the photo and select Continue.
When prompted, enter your address, phone number, and Social Security number.
Review the details and make sure they are correct.
Select the checkbox for the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), then select Yes.
On the Authorize screen, review the information the VA will receive and select Allow to consent to share the information. If you select Deny, your access to the Veterans Affairs website will be limited.

After you verify your ID.me account with the VA, sign in by selecting Sign in with ID.me.

Video Call

You will enter your personal information, choose and upload your identity documents, then wait for your documents to be reviewed. After they’re approved, you’ll join an ID.me Video Chat Agent on a video call to verify your personal information and show your documents to an agent.

For step-by-step instructions, visit Verifying with an extended video call.

In person

Book an appointment and bring your identity documents and 'Registration Code' to an Identity Network Location at your scheduled time. If you choose the walk-in option, you can visit at your convenience.

For step-by-step instructions, visit Verifying your identity in person.

Troubleshoot VA verification

I want to use my Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC)

When using your VHIC to verify, keep in mind:

VHIC will not display on screens requiring documents that show your date of birth, as date of birth is not shown on the VHIC.
After you choose a primary document that includes your date of birth, VHIC will display as an option on the next document selection screen.
VHICs cannot be used as "Other government-issued photo IDs."
Veterans insurance cards cannot be used.

I live outside of the United States

If you live outside of the United States and have a Social Security number, learn how to verify your identity. If you don’t have an SSN, visit Verifying with ITIN or Verifying with a non-US passport.

I’m trying to verify with an expired driver’s license or state ID

You can still verify your identity on a video call, even if your driver’s license or state ID expired. To learn more, visit Using an expired driver's license or state ID.

I verified my identity on a video call, but I can’t access my VA benefits

After your video call, you'll receive an email from ID.me with the subject "Action Required: Complete your VA verification." Follow the instructions in the email to share your information with the VA.

Otherwise, go to VA.gov, select Sign in, then follow the prompts to sign in to your ID.me account.

I saw an error after verifying my identity

If you receive an error when attempting to access a Veterans Affairs site after verification (Error Code: PE, etc), try the following:

Clear your browser's cache and cookies. Also, enable cookies in your browser settings.
Update your browser to the latest version.

Note: If you are using Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge, try using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Close all of your browser windows before trying to sign in again.
Return to VA.gov and sign in with your ID.me account email and password.

If you continue to have trouble signing in or see an error, contact the VA for more assistance.

Who to contact for help

ID.me

ID.me can help if you have trouble with your account or verifying your identity. Common issues include:

Veterans Affairs

For any questions after you complete the verification process, contact the VA directly.