How to Verify Your Identity for VA.gov: Login.gov or ID.me

To verify your identity for VA.gov, create an account with either Login.gov or ID.me and confirm who you are using a government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number, and a phone or authenticator app for multi-factor sign-in.¹ The whole process takes about ten minutes if your documents are in order. Once you’re verified, you can view your medical records, file and track disability claims, refill prescriptions, and manage the rest of your VA benefits online.

The older sign-in options are gone. My HealtheVet usernames stopped working on March 5, 2025, and DS Logon was retired on November 18, 2025.² If you haven’t switched, Login.gov or ID.me is now the only way in. Your VA records and benefits themselves aren’t affected; you just need the new credential.

Login.gov or ID.me: Which One to Pick

Login.gov is run by a federal agency. ID.me is a private company under contract with the VA. Both work for signing in to VA.gov, and either is fine for most people.³

Choose ID.me if any of these describe you:

You live outside the United States.
You don’t have a Social Security number.
You don’t have a current driver’s license or state-issued ID.
Your phone plan isn’t in your name and you want to verify online.
Your ID lists a PO Box as your address.

If none of those apply, either provider works. Login.gov gives you a single credential you can reuse across many federal agencies. ID.me accepts a wider range of documents and offers more in-person and video options.

What to Have Ready

Pull these together before you start so you don’t stall halfway through:

An unexpired government photo ID: driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or permanent resident card. It needs to be in good enough shape for a camera to read.
Your full nine-digit Social Security number, which has to match Social Security Administration records.
A current address that matches what’s printed on your ID. Address mismatches are one of the most common reasons verification fails.
A personal email address that isn’t shared with anyone else. It becomes your login and receives security alerts.
A phone that can receive text codes, or an authenticator app. Both providers require multi-factor authentication every time you sign in.

A smartphone with a working camera makes online verification the smoothest option because you’ll photograph your ID and take a selfie. It isn’t strictly required. In-person options at Post Office and UPS Store locations exist for anyone who can’t or would rather not use a phone camera.

Verifying Online, Step by Step

Go to VA.gov and select “Sign in.” Pick Login.gov or ID.me, then create an account if you don’t have one. During setup you’ll enter your name, date of birth, and email, and choose a multi-factor authentication method. The system then walks you into identity verification.

First you’ll photograph both sides of your ID. Use good lighting, hold the phone steady, fill the frame, and keep glare and shadows off the text. The software checks security features and confirms the data on the card is consistent.

Then comes a live face scan. Hold the phone at face level and follow the prompts. The software compares your live image to the photo on your ID and checks for signs that it’s a real person in front of the camera and not a printed photo or a video. This is the step that trips people up most: take off hats and glasses, face a light, and keep a neutral expression.

Once you submit, verification usually finishes within minutes.¹ If everything matches, you’re in. If something doesn’t, you’ll be prompted to retry or routed to another verification method.

Verifying in Person at a Post Office or UPS Store

If online verification isn’t working or you’d rather deal with a person, both providers offer in-person options. The steps depend on which one you picked.

Login.gov at USPS Locations

Login.gov partners with the U.S. Postal Service. Start online: enter your personal information, upload your ID, and select the in-person option. Login.gov emails you a barcode to bring to a participating Post Office. Tell the clerk you’re there for identity verification; they’ll scan the barcode and check your ID.⁴

Two catches. The barcode expires after seven days, so don’t sit on it. And Login.gov’s in-person option only accepts a driver’s license or state ID card; a passport won’t work at the Post Office. You’ll get an email within 24 hours confirming whether verification succeeded.⁴

ID.me at The UPS Store

ID.me partners with The UPS Store. After starting the ID.me verification flow, pick the in-person option, enter your ZIP code to find nearby locations, and either book an appointment or plan to walk in. You’ll get a QR code to bring along with two or three identity documents.⁵ The QR code stays valid for 30 days.

Verifying by Video Call

ID.me also offers a live video option with a trained agent it calls a “Trusted Referee.” Select the video call option inside the ID.me flow, join the virtual waiting room, and when connected, hold your documents up to the camera and answer the agent’s questions. ID.me says the call itself averages under five minutes once you reach an agent.⁶ Waits to reach one can stretch, so don’t start ten minutes before you need to be somewhere. Login.gov does not offer a video call option.

If You Live Outside the United States

Overseas veterans have to use ID.me. Login.gov requires a U.S.-based phone number and address that ID.me can work around. In the ID.me flow, select “I don’t live in the US” when prompted, and you’ll verify by video call. If you don’t have a Social Security number, you’ll need a valid U.S. passport as one of your documents.⁷

Without a U.S. phone number for multi-factor authentication, choose “Get a code via mail” during the phone step. A letter with a verification code is mailed to you and stays valid for 30 days, so allow for international delivery time.¹

Fixing Common Errors

Most verification failures come down to a handful of fixable problems. Before troubleshooting anything else, check these:

Turn off your VPN. Both Login.gov and ID.me can block VPN connections.
Disable browser extensions. Ad blockers, privacy tools, and automation software interfere with the verification flow.
Try incognito mode. A fresh browser session without cached data clears up many unexplained errors.
Fix iPhone photo format. iPhones save photos as HEIC by default, which some upload systems reject. In Settings, open Camera, then Formats, and select “Most Compatible” to switch to JPEG.

⁸

Address Mismatches

This is the single most common reason Login.gov verification fails. The address you type has to match the one printed on your uploaded ID exactly. If you’ve moved since your ID was issued, enter the address on the ID rather than your current one. You can update your address with the VA separately after verification.⁸

ID.me Verification Errors and Account Locks

If you see error E401, 402, or 403, select “retry” and check the fields on screen. Correct anything wrong, and if everything looks right, try entering a previous address. If it still fails, switch to video call or in-person verification. Error A0104 or A0100 usually means your authenticator app was deleted or you have a new phone; reset your multi-factor authentication method. Error 1015 means the account is temporarily blocked for unusual activity, and clearing your cache, switching browsers, or using incognito mode often clears it.⁸

If too many failed password attempts lock your ID.me account, use the unlock link on the error screen. Enter your email, open the unlock message from ID.me, and follow the link inside within 15 minutes. If it doesn’t work the first time, wait 24 hours before trying again.⁹

If you can’t resolve an error yourself, call VA technical support at 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711). Have the specific error code and message in front of you.⁸

Helping a Family Member or Veteran You Care For

You can’t verify identity on someone else’s behalf, and sharing login credentials creates security and legal risks. Submitting false information to a federal agency is a federal offense that can carry fines and up to five years in prison.¹⁰ The legitimate path is the VA’s Veteran Delegation Tool: the veteran verifies their own account, then uses the tool to authorize a caregiver or family member to view their VA data.¹¹

1
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Verifying Your Identity on VA.gov
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Prepare for VA’s Secure Sign-In Changes
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Should I Create a Login.gov or ID.me Account to Sign in to VA.gov?
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Login.gov. Verify Your Identity in Person
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ID.me Help Center. Verify Your Identity in Person With ID.me at a Retail Location Near You
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ID.me. Virtual In-Person Proofing Explainer
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. How Can I Verify My Identity on VA.gov if I Live Outside the U.S.?
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Support for Common Login.gov and ID.me Issues
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ID.me Help Center. Unlock Your ID.me Wallet
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1001 – Statements or Entries Generally
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veteran Delegation Tool