BVA National Secretary Tracy Ferro took the lead yesterday in discussing the VA Health and Benefits App, including logging onto the appropriate platform, in the most recent of the Association’s Town Hall and Educational Series. Tracy has been working with VA Section 508 compliance officials in the development of improved accessibility for veterans with sight loss, facilitating an opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with Town Hall participants. Also joining the meeting was one of Tracy’s most helpful VA contacts, Martha Wilkes, Lead Accessibility Strategist and Designer in the VA Office of the Chief Technology Officer. A detailed instructional document related to the Town Hall is available via the link below.
The Town Hall discussion emphasized that veterans throughout the VA system will soon no longer be able to sign onto VA websites and mobile applications with their MyHealtheVet user ID and password. The original date for the retirement of this credentialing service was originally January 31, 2025, but was extended last week to March 4, 2025.
After September 30, 2025, veterans will also be unable to sign in with a DS Logon username and password. An extension of that deadline is not anticipated at this time. The MyHealtheVet portal for individual veterans can still be used after those dates, but they will need to use either a Login.gov or ID.me account to sign into VA.gov, VA mobile apps, and other VA online services.
Most VA beneficiaries are already using Login.gov and ID.me to access MyHealtheVet and other digital services, but VA will use the additional time resulting from the extension to ensure that as many veterans and beneficiaries as possible make the switch before the old MyHealtheVet username and password system is retired on March 4. In addition, VA ls increasing its outreach to veterans who have yet to make the switch and will provide in-person assistance at VA Medical Centers across the country.
In addition to the document Tracy has composed, all beneficiaries are encouraged to visit the VA-produced document entitled Prepare for VA’s Secure Sign-In Changes.
