The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on Wednesday that veterans and other beneficiaries will need to switch to Login.gov or ID.me over the next year to continue to access their online services.
Veterans and other beneficiaries will no longer be able to use their existing usernames and passwords for My HealtheVet after Jan. 31, 2025, or DS Logon after Sept. 30, 2025.
VA encouraged veterans to create a Login.gov or ID.me account now by visiting www.va.gov/sign-in-changes, noting that the process takes about 10 minutes.
“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 Chief Information Officer (CIO) Kurt DelBene said in a July 17 press release.
“The transition is all about putting the veteran first. 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 added.
VA estimates this transition will impact about three million veterans and other beneficiaries. The agency said it will offer training and resources to VA staff to help support veterans throughout this process.
The department said this move aligns with President Biden’s 2021 cybersecurity executive order, which calls for sign-in accounts “to meet modern security standards for identity verification and multifactor authentication.”
VA first enabled Login.gov for online services in 2022. Login.gov is the platform that the General Services Administration offers to Federal agencies to meet Federal cybersecurity requirements and serves as a single sign-on source for the American public to use when accessing government services.
The platform acts as a “front door” to the Federal government, serving more than 40 agencies and over 100 million users.
ID.me is a similar option, providing secure digital identity verification to government agencies and healthcare providers.
