VA pushes vets to Login-dot-gov or ID-dot-me for online access

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced on Wednesday that veterans will be required to transition to one of two digital identity verification platforms over the next year to continue accessing their benefits and healthcare services online. 

VA said that veterans who use “VA.gov, VA mobile applications and other VA online services” will be required to create Login.gov or ID.me accounts as part of an effort to adopt “a more modern, streamlined online login process.”

The department is phasing out the MyHealtheVet user ID system after Jan. 31, 2025 and the Defense Department's DS Logon after Sept. 30, 2025.

Login.gov is a single-sign-on platform that includes identity proofing capabilities and allows Americans to access applications from participating federal agencies. ID.me is an external authentication provider that also includes identity verification tools. The VA received a $187 million investment from the Technology Modernization Fund in 2021 to adopt the Login service.

In a statement, VA Chief Information Officer Kurt DelBene said “modern accounts like Login.gov or ID.me enhance the existing security and safety of online interactions, offering a robust defense against unauthorized access and identity theft.”

VA began using Login.gov as a sign-on option in March 2022 and previously offered veterans the opportunity to create an account through ID.me. The department estimated that roughly 3 million veterans and beneficiaries will be required to transition to one of the two required identity verification platforms.

“By streamlining accounts, simplifying access and providing tailored support, we’re empowering veterans with a more user-friendly and modernized online experience that caters to their needs,” DelBene said.

VA said the move “consolidates sign-in options for a simplified experience” while also aligning with the goals of President Joe Biden’s December 2021 executive order on improving the experience of federal customers. 

VA said that adoption of the sign-on tools would enhance the security of veterans’ information, particularly through the retirement of the outdated My HealtheVet option. 

The department also said the transition to Login.gov and ID.me fulfills requirements included in Biden’s May 2021 executive order on improving agencies’ cybersecurity by requiring its sign-on services “to meet modern security standards for identity verification and multifactor authentication.”