Using your HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

What the Veterancard Card can do for you

OwningIt’s an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is the quickest and easiest way to prove your veteran status and maintain your service identity.

You can use the card to:

• vote in UK elections
• access support services for veterans
• prove your identity on British Airways domestic flights
• access the many services, discounts and special offers that organisations make available to veterans

How to get a Veteran Cardcard

If youyou’ve left theservice armedsince forces2019, in 2019 or later, you should have received aan HM Armed Forces Veteran Card when you left service.leaving.

If you left service before 2019, you can apply online.

Youfor canone now also download a digital version of your card directly to your smartphone.online.

Apply now

WhenExamples toof usewhen youryou Veterancan Carduse the card

YouThe card can usebe youruseful cardany whenevertime you need to prove your veteran status. ExamplesSome include:examples are outlined below.

Voting in UK elections

UseYou can use your veteran card to prove your identity when voting.voting in UK elections.

Looking for work

UseYou yourcan use the card to:

• access employment schemes, such as:

  • Great Place to Work
  • Going Forward into Employment
  • Advance into Justice
  • Step into Health
• claim National Insurance contributions relief for your first civilian employer after service
• access benefits support

Find out more about finding an ex-military job after leaving the armed forces.

Managing your health

UseYou yourcan use the card to:

• register with your GP as a veteran
• access Op COURAGE
• access, Opthe RESTOREgovernment-backed (GPNHS referralmental required)health support pathway for veterans

Find

Getting discounts

UseYou yourcan use the card to:

• get a Defence PrivilegeDiscount Card , providing access to discounts from over 12,000 restaurants and retailers on the high street and online
• access armed forces schemesschemes, like:
  • such as the Armed Forces Free Swimming Scheme (Wales)
  • in Wales and free or subsidised gym access (someto gyms from some English councils)councils
• get discounted entry to certain museums and attractions

Find out more about getting discounts as a veteran.

Making travel easier and cheaper

UseYou yourcan use the card to:

• prove your identity onwhen Britishtravelling Airwayson domestic flights with British Airways
• get a Veterans Railcard , entitling you up to a third off most rail travel in England, Scotland and Wales
• get a Veterans Oyster photocard, offering free travel at any time on London’s buses, tubes, trams, DLR, and Overground services, as well as free travel on most National Rail services within London

Getting housing support

UseYou yourcan use the card to:

• access Op FORTITUDE , the government-backed support pathway for veterans experiencing homelessness
• getaccess referred to the Veterans Nomination Scheme , a programme that helps veterans in need find rented social housing
• claim exemption from a local connection test when applying for social housing

Find out more about finding a civilian home as a veteran and getting homelessness support as a veteran.

Getting support from criminal justice agencies

UseYou yourcan use the card to:

• accessaccessing Op NOVA
• access, NOVAthe Scotland
• accessgovernment-backed NHSsupport Veteranspathway Wales

Findfor outveterans morewho aboutare gettingin helpcontact with criminalthe justice issuessystem asin a veteran.