Veteran's Cards

[Mogwi]

Sent them an e-Mail today and got this useful reply!!

Thank you for contacting the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card Team. If you are interested in applying for a veteran card, please be advised that we have now reached the limit for our latest round of applications.
Our full online application service will launch on GOV.UKlater in January. Details of the online service, and how we will be rolling out cards to veterans in phases, will be published soon. Please look out for updates on GOV.UK.
If your enquiry relates to an existing application or a recent invitation to apply, then one of the team will be in touch soon.

Kind regards,
HM Armed Forces Veteran Card Team

[Janda]

I put in my request on Tuesday and was quite surprised to get a response on Wednesday. I followed the link eventually getting to the ID proof on the Gov website. Had an issue with my camera reading the passport chip but eventually got a positive ID response. I was then redirected back to the Veterans website which told me that my ID had not been confirmed. So I am now waiting for the paper version of the application. Fingers crossed I will get the paper work early in the new year.

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

The Beta application process appears to have been offered to 600 people. This was the body of the acknowledgement:

We’ve received your application

Do not reply to this email as the service it was sent from does not accept incoming messages.
If you need to contact us, you can email us at [email protected].

What happens next?

If we’re able to match your information to the armed forces service records we hold, we’ll start to process your veteran card. We’ll contact you if we need any more information.
The process can take around 4 to 6 weeks to complete. Your card will be sent to the address you gave us.
NEO

[ORAC]

Well I applied and jumped through all their hoops, waiting to see how long it takes for the card to actually arrive.

[Ninthace]

I have managed this long with just a Defence Discount Card, I can wait a bit longer for an ID card that nobody recognises as yet.

[MG]

Originally Posted by ORAC

Well I applied and jumped through all their hoops, waiting to see how long it takes for the card to actually arrive.

About six weeks as I got mine a couple of days ago.

[Ninthace]

And now that you have it, what can you do with it?

[Compass Call]

Janda
That happened to me. Went back after 10 minutes and the clearance had gone through.
No need to ask for a paper application form.

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

Originally Posted by Ninthace

And now that you have it, what can you do with it?

A mate I served with got a retirement gig with MOD business service, whatever that is. He told me the plan is for the card to replace most current cards, combining them into one. Bus pass, railcard, NHS services etc.

NEO

[Ninthace]

That I should live so long!

If it could find an NHS dentist, that would be a start!
I hope it has a chip in it if it is to achieve all those things in one card.

[diginagain]

Originally Posted by Ninthace

I hope it has a chip in it if it is to achieve all those things in one card.

Not a biometric card, no chance it'll do more than shift a light dusting from your windscreen, other than be a tangible reminder of service along with the tinnitus and sore knees. My GP has never heard of the concept of a veterans identity card getting you access to veteran-specific service-provision, nor has my local authority for theirs.

[MG]

Originally Posted by Ninthace

And now that you have it, what can you do with it?

Not a lot! I applied because I could. Didn’t really think of why.

[ORAC]

Personally,

Having served 25 years as a Cold War warrior I have no medals of any description and my uniforms and the like went another 25 years ago.

My commissioning scroll has faded so it is unreadable, and is tucked away in a frame beside a bookcase.

. It will be nice to have something indicating my service.

[Ninthace]

My commissioning scrolls are both in the tubes they came in, they never were framed. Perhaps I will get round to it one day but when you start where do you stop? There are degrees and all sorts of other stuff I could do. My uniform went ages ago although I still have my Kuwait Armed Forces combat jacket ranked to Staff Major, with Royal Air Force in Arabic over one pocket and my name, misspelled in Arabic over the other. I also have the Kuwait Military Driving Licence that went with it - that is ranked to Brigadier in case I was stopped while in mufti.

I suppose the Veteran’s card scratches that itch we all acquired when someone took the scissors to our ID card on the last day we were allowed inside the wire.​​​​​,

[Whenurhappy]

Originally Posted by Speedywheels

I suspect there are some crossed wires on this thread. The item in your wallet is the Defence Discount Service card which provides discount services from a host of retailers and service providers. The new Veteran’s card is an ID and will carry your photo for recognition purposes.
Quoting the government website “Veteran Cards have two primary functions: to ensure that veterans can quickly verify their status to access public and charitable sector support if they need it and to provide a recognition of service in the Armed Forces. The service will officially launch by the end of January 2024”
I presume the DDS card will be obsoleted by the Veteran’s ID card.

No, mine is the veterans ID card, which loosely resembles the MOD form 90 - for obvious reasons I won't post a photograph of it here. I have yet to find a regular use for it; it has not been accepted as a form of photo ID except as part of a wider application for my TFL Veteran disability travel card. It has a 10 year shelf life.

I do have a DDS card and used that last Summer for discounts on DFDS channel crossings; tbh it was hardly worth the hassle as I had to speak with an operator, who was very helpful, to get the 10% discount. I suppose the savings allowed me to get s bottle of wine or two in France.

On the matter of the TfL travel card, I had to provide up to date evidence that I was still in receipt of my service invaliding pension, and initially they rejected the application as the correspondence I sent was more than 12 months old. Veterans UK very kindly sent me a letter outlining my entitlement which was accepted by TFL Of all the discounts that are available, for me the TFL one is worth the most. It saves about £10 a day when traveling in London, which is several days a week.

[Blue_Circle]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

So not acceptable as a photo ID then? rather a waste of space, it was one of the main advantages that it could have had when dealing with the bureaucracy that one finds the country over.

I’m not sure why anyone is surprised when in a lot of cases an active service ID card isn’t accepted either.

[Janda]

Slightly off topic. I have recently tried booking a mini cruise to Amsterdam with DFDS. I initially went through the DDS website that showed a 30% discount. I also went direct to DFDS who offered an early booking discount of 20%. The result was that booking direct with DFDS was £25 cheaper than the DDS offer. I have had similar experiences with the DDS card in the past. However, I have also had some success especially with Samsung products and British Airways flights.

[EngAl]

A few years ago while on holiday in America I used my RAFA membership card to get discounts all over the place and in some instances slightly warmer attitude from the assistants!
I suspect a DDS card will have the same effect. But if you have neither and there's a prospect of going to the States it would be sensible to get a Veterans' card. And who knows it may prove useful in some instances here?

[downsizer]

Originally Posted by ORAC

Personally,

Having served 25 years as a Cold War warrior I have no medals of any description and my uniforms and the like went another 25 years ago.

My commissioning scroll has faded so it is unreadable, and is tucked away in a frame beside a bookcase.

. It will be nice to have something indicating my service.

One would have thought the pension would scratch that itch, certainly does for me. I guess you need a "look at me" trinket.

[ORAC]

You seem somewhat jaundiced for someone who only left in May…

Veteran's Cards