How do i get my dad a vet ID card he can use/discounts at places like Home Depot?

I want to make sure and go to a legit website since i have his sensitive information.

Thanks!

Abner

 

If you call your local, county, or state Veteran's Service Office (each state has a different name for it), they'll put you in touch with a VA Service Officer, who works out of VA facilities, but are actually employed by the American Legion, VFW, or DAV. They can access your dad's DD-214 online if he doesn't have a copy, and will set him up with everything he needs. My VSO practically held my hand through the entire process.

 

At present the VA can only issue you an ID if you qualify for medical services. This excludes a good number of vets. They will begin issuing IDs to all vets, regardless of what services they qualify for beginning on 2017.

Some states, like Virginia, issue veterans ID cards. Other states, like New York, put a "veteran" designation on your driver's license. New York, and many other states, also have veteran ID issued at the local level. I have a veteran ID card from Onondaga County which required me to present my DD214 to the county clerk.

I would highly recommend you not pay a non-government ID card provider. There are plenty of companies out there selling veteran IDs. These are largely meaningless. Even a VFW and American Legion, both private organizations, ID tends not to satisfy people for a discount since there are circumstances where non-vets can become associate or auxiliary members and stores don't want to spend time hashing that out.

So, you can:

1. Get a VA ID if your dad qualifies for services
2. Wait until 2017 to get the new ID card for everyone
3. Contact your state's department of veteran affairs (not the U.S. Dept of VA, many states have their own with their own services)
4. Contact the sheriff or county clerk where your dad lives and see if they have a locally issued veteran ID card

Alternatively, and most affordably, you can photocopy his DD214, block out his social and fold it up nicely to tuck in a wallet. I did this for years before the veteran designator and county ID cards were in full swing and was never denied a discount.

 

ASAIK, Home Depot doesn't give discounts to vets, only current active duty with a CAC card, except on memorial day and veteran's day.

 

I go to the Home Depot with my vet neighbor. He just flashes them his vet ID card and they give him discounts. I don't know what the official store policy is, but he has been doing it for years and years now.

 

Interestingly, that's also the policy of Lowes:

However, my Lowes just gives me the discount with my driver's license designation. On the one hand I can understand why they don't want to lob 10% off the bill of every single person who served but trying to limit it to a veteran who receives "VA Benefits" seems a bit misguided.

I received the GI Bill and a VA Home Loan. Those are "VA Benefits." But I do not have a VIC because I don't receive medical benefits. I imagine this will get more complicated for them once the VA begins issuing IDs.

Alternatively, it would be wise to either offer the discount to all vets or to no vets. You aren't "veteran friendly" if you pick and choose which veterans are worthy of discounts and which ones aren't.