--- kind: "section" citation: "38 U.S.C. § 5706" title: "38" title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits" number: "5706" heading: "Veterans identification card" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/5706" units: - "Part IV — General Administrative Provisions" - "Chapter 57 — Records and Investigations" - "Subchapter I — Records" --- # §5706. Veterans identification card - (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) Affairs shall issue an identification card described in [subsection (b)](#b) to each [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) who— - (1) requests such card; - (2) presents a copy of [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense form DD–214 or other official document from the official military personnel file of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) that describes the service of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2); and - (3) pays the fee under [subsection (c)(1)](#c-1). - (b) **Identification Card.—** An identification card described in this subsection is a card issued to a [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) that— - (1) displays a photograph of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2); - (2) displays the name of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2); - (3) explains that such card is not proof of any benefits to which the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) is entitled to; - (4) contains an identification number that is not a social security number; and - (5) serves as proof that such [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)— - (A) served in the [Armed Forces](/usc/38/101.md?p=10); and - (B) has a [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense form DD–214 or other official document in the official military personnel file of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) that describes the service of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2). - (c) **Costs of Card.—** - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall charge a fee to each [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) who receives an identification card issued under this section, including a replacement identification card. - (2) - (A) The fee charged under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall equal such amount as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) determines is necessary to issue an identification card under this section. - (B) In determining the amount of the fee under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall ensure that the total amount of fees collected under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) equals an amount necessary to carry out this section, including costs related to any additional equipment or personnel required to carry out this section. - (C) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall review and reassess the determination under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) during each five-year period in which the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) issues an identification card under this section. - (3) Amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited in an account of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) available to carry out this section. Amounts so deposited shall be— - (A) merged with amounts in such account; - (B) available in such amounts as may be provided in appropriation Acts; and - (C) subject to the same conditions and limitations as amounts otherwise in such account. - (d) **Effect of Card on Benefits.—** - (1) An identification card issued under this section shall not serve as proof of any benefits that the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) may be entitled to under this title. - (2) A [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) who is issued an identification card under this section shall not be entitled to any benefits under this title by reason of possessing such card. - (e) **Administrative Measures.—** - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall ensure that any information collected or used with respect to an identification card issued under this section is appropriately secured. - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may determine any appropriate procedures with respect to issuing a replacement identification card. - (3) In carrying out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall coordinate with the National Personnel Records Center. - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may conduct such [outreach](/usc/38/6301.md?p=b-1) to advertise the identification card under this section as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) considers appropriate. - (f) **Construction.—** This section shall not be construed to affect identification cards otherwise provided by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) to [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) enrolled in the health care system established under [section 1705(a) of this title](/usc/38/1705.md?p=a). ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 114–31, § 2(b), July 20, 2015, 129 Stat. 428.) ## Notes ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date Pub. L. 114–31, § 2(d), July 20, 2015, 129 Stat. 430, provided that: “The amendments made by this Act [enacting this section] shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 20, 2015].” ### Veterans Identification Card; Findings Pub. L. 114–31, § 2(a), July 20, 2015, 129 Stat. 428, provided that: “Congress makes the following findings: Effective on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [July 20, 2015], veteran identification cards were issued to veterans who have either completed the statutory time-in-service requirement for retirement from the Armed Forces or who have received a medical-related discharge from the Armed Forces. Effective on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, a veteran who served a minimum obligated time in service, but who did not meet the criteria described in paragraph (1), did not receive a means of identifying the veteran’s status as a veteran other than using the Department of Defense form DD–214 discharge papers of the veteran. Goods, services, and promotional activities are often offered by public and private institutions to veterans who demonstrate proof of service in the military, but it is impractical for a veteran to always carry Department of Defense form DD–214 discharge papers to demonstrate such proof. A general purpose veteran identification card made available to veterans would be useful to demonstrate the status of the veterans without having to carry and use official Department of Defense form DD–214 discharge papers. On the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs had the infrastructure in place across the United States to produce photographic identification cards and accept a small payment to cover the cost of these cards.”