Veterans used as ‘case study’ for Digital ID cards to help them access care and services | UK | News
Military veterans will be used as a “case study” for digital ID cards following the launch of an online version of their existing physical ID. Government today launches a digital ID for veteransIt is aimed to enable people who have done military service to prove their status faster and provide easier access. The services they deserve.
The launch comes a month after the Prime Minister announced plans to introduce a mandatory digital ID for everyone working in the UK as part of efforts to crack down on illegal working. Minister for Veterans and Community Affairs Louise Sandher-Jones said the introduction of the digital ID demonstrated the Government’s commitment to helping veterans with their post-service lives. He told the Daily Express: “The digital veterans card is part of us that demonstrates our commitment to veterans. “We have a wide range of initiatives that demonstrate our absolute commitment to veterans.
“The digital card is a true-to-life replica of the physical card, but the great thing about it is, for people like me who always carry a smartphone but rarely carry a wallet, this means I can reach for it and it will be there.
ID aims to make it easier for veterans to register their service history with their GP to access healthcare opportunities, verify their military history to access supported housing through Op FORTITUDE, and get support for high-value careers with Op ASCEND, a free government-backed service that connects them with careers advisors and veteran-friendly employers.
Digital Government Minister Ian Murray acknowledged the introduction of digital cards for veterans could demonstrate to the public how credentials work and ease some fears about their rollout.
The Edinburgh South Labor MP said: “This is probably a demonstration to the public by default in that sense, on the basis that this is the first use case of having digital credentials on your smartphone, and digital credentials are the first verifiable kind that the Government is now introducing.
“So using a closed group of like 300,000 veterans is a really good case study to show that this works.
“And that’s going to be very useful, it shows that the technology works, which shows that we can prove and dispense with some of the legitimate concerns around privacy, security and those kinds of issues.”
However, the veteran said the purpose of the card is not a test run for digital identities.
He added: “The launch of this card is about making veterans’ lives easier, providing access to government services and the benefits of this card, rather than illustrating the much broader issues you’ve mentioned in terms of digital identity.”
This statement was met with reaction from veterans.
Garrath Williams, founder of Veterans Can, agreed that digitizing veterans’ credentials is an inevitable step, but acknowledged the emotional response some military service members may have.
He told the Daily Express: “In principle I have no problem with it, after all it is an improvement and soon we will all be on hoverboards!
“However, while physical wallets are still valid, many veterans like the idea of having their Veteran ID card where their military ID is.”
The Veteran card is the first digital document stored in the One Login application that the Government is developing.
It also plans to launch digital driver’s licenses.
