Verifying your identity on VA.gov

If you have a Premium My HealtheVet or Premium DS Logon account, you already verified your identity when you got your Premium account. You can use your existing account to sign in to VA.gov to manage many of your benefits and services. 

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To manage certain tasks and information on VA.gov, like changing your direct deposit information, you’ll need to create a Login.gov or ID.me account and verify your identity. 

Learn about creating an account for VA.gov 

We’ll help you verify your identity using Login.gov or ID.me.

Here’s what you’ll need to verify your identity with Login.gov: 

• Your driver’s license or non-driver’s license state-issued ID, and 

• Your Social Security number, and 

• A phone number on a phone plan that’s in your name 

Here’s what you’ll need to verify your identity with ID.me: 

• A smartphone (or a landline or mobile phone and a computer with an internet connection), and
• Your Social Security number, and
• Proof of your identity. You can use your driver’s license or passport as proof. Or, you can answer questions based on private and public data (like your credit report) to prove you’re you. 

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If you need support from Login.gov or ID.me, go the account service’s website. 

Go to the Login.gov help center 

Visit the ID.me support section 

If you’re a VA patient, you can verify your identity at your local VA health facility as part of the process of getting a Premium My HealtheVet account. You can then use this account to sign in to VA.gov without having to verify your identity online.

You’ll need to bring a government-issued photo ID. You can use your Veteran Health Identification Card or a valid driver’s license.

A VA staff member will verify your identity. They’ll then record your information in the MyHealtheVet system, and confirm that you’re eligible for a Premium account. 

Find your nearest VA health facility

While we’re trying to verify your identity, if we find that your credit is frozen, we’ll give you a link to an Experian page that offers you a free single-use personal identification number (PIN). This PIN will let you give us one-time access to your credit information that we need to verify your identity.

Your credit freeze will stay active. Verifying your identity doesn’t affect your credit score.

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If your address is outside the U.S., you can use ID.me to verify your identity. You’ll need to show your identity documents on a video call with an ID.me representative.

Learn more about verifying your identity if you live outside the U.S. on the ID.me website

Make sure to have your identity documents ready. 

Learn about primary and secondary identification documents on the ID.me website

Note: If you don’t have a U.S. Social Security number, you’ll need to show a valid U.S. passport as one of your identity documents.

Yes.

Entering your phone number is the last step in the Login.gov identity verification process.  

If you don’t have a U.S. phone number registered in your name, click on Get a code via mail instead. 

You’ll have to wait to receive a letter in the mail with the code. You can then follow the instructions to enter the code and complete the process.

You’ll need either a landline or mobile phone, and a computer with an internet connection.

At this time, we can’t support:

• Phones registered under a family member or spouse
• Virtual phone services like Skype or Google Voice
• International phone numbers

If you don’t have a phone that can receive text messages, during the set-up process:

• Choose “phone call” when asked how you’d like to receive your 6-digit code to set up your phone for 2-factor authentication.
• Choose “email” when asked how you’d like to receive the link to download the ID.me Wallet app to get started using ID.me.

If you don’t have a phone that can take photos, during the set-up process:

• Choose the “verify by answering questions” option when asked how you’d like to verify your identity, or
• Be sure you have a photo of either your driver’s license or passport on your computer, or that you can scan one in, so you can upload it to verify your identity using one of these forms of ID.

Try answering the personal security questions again, following these tips:

• Pull a copy of your credit report from Experian, a credit reporting company, and use it to double-check that the answers you’re providing to ID.me during the proofing process match the information in your report.
  Go to Experian.com to get your credit report
• If you think your credit report has the wrong information, you’ll need to file a dispute with Experian.
  Go to Experian.com to file a dispute
• If you’ve recently moved, changed names, or have a different permanent address, try using your previous information.
• Make sure you enter a phone number that’s registered in your name.

You can try using your driver’s license or passport to verify your identity. Be sure to follow the image guidelines provided when you upload a copy of your driver’s license or passport.

Multifactor authentication is an extra layer of protection on your account. It helps us make sure that it’s you trying to access your account—and not a hacker. It’s also sometimes called 2-factor authentication.

Each time you sign in to a VA website or app, you’ll use multifactor authentication to verify you’re you. You’ll do this using a device that only you should have, such as your mobile phone. 

You’ll get a unique code by text message or phone call, or through another option you choose. Other options may include a supporting app like Google Authenticator, a security key, or backup codes. You’ll then enter that code to access your account. 

This way, even if someone were to guess or steal your username and password, multifactor authentication can stop them from accessing your account. 

Play our video on multifactor authentication (YouTube)

Learn more about authentication options on the Login.gov website

Learn more about multifactor authentication on the ID.me website

Go the account service’s website. 

Go to the Login.gov help center 

Visit the ID.me support section