VA ID card Alert

[mickeyd]

Seems that those veterans who have been issued an ID card by the Veterans Administration may have a potential problem with their SS# being too available.

http://youtu.be/4ycbVaOk6To

 

[braumeister]

I don't see the big deal. The SSAN is encoded in a bar code, but it's right out in plain text on the Social Security card. I carry both of them in my wallet.

 

[meierlde]

I don't see the big deal. The SSAN is encoded in a bar code, but it's right out in plain text on the Social Security card. I carry both of them in my wallet.

I used to do that but have read that carrying the SS card is a bad idea. It now is in a desk drawer. About the only time you would need it is if you open a new bank account at a new bank,or start a new job, so you need not carry it very often.

 

[Alan]

I've only had a SS card for 26 years, still in pristine condition as I've never carried it. Rare is the occasion that I've needed to produce it.

 

[W2R]

I had a new SS card made in 1975, 38 years ago, when I married and therefore changed my name. At that time, I laminated it.

IIRC, I have not needed to actually produce the physical card even once since I laminated it in 1975. I carried in my wallet for a couple of decades but now it resides in a desk drawer.

 

[braumeister]

Oops!
What I meant, of course, is my Medicare card.
Every doctor's office wants to scan it at every visit, so I carry it.
The SS number is printed on it in large clear characters.

 

[rescueme]

I take my VA card along only 2x/year.

Once when I go to the local VA clinic to get my flu shot.

Once when I go to the local Olive Garden to get my "free meal" ...

BTW, our local Olive Garden started asking for "proof" that you are a vet this year. Apparently they had a number of indivudials in the past just saying they were vets in order to get the meal.

For a military retiree or user of the VA system, you have the proof. However for the majority of vets that did not retire from the military or VA participant, there's a problem. I doubt if many former vets walk around with their DD214 just in case it is needed.

 

[Alan]

Oops!
What I meant, of course, is my Medicare card.
Every doctor's office wants to scan it at every visit, so I carry it.
The SS number is printed on it in large clear characters.

That sounds more like it.

My HI card used to have it printed on it until the regulations changed some years ago requiring them to remove it. I can't see why Medicare still insist on having the full SS# printed on the cards.