Tens of thousands of Ohio veterans have an easier way to prove their eligibility for benefits they've earned through their service. Over a dozen counties now offer a Veterans ID Card. Military discharge records are used to prove eligibility for certain benefits. Mike McKinney with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services says leaders in Franklin, Stark and other counties offer the cards as an alternative to having vets carry that paperwork with them.
Franklin County has been issuing the cards for a year, and County Recorder Terry Brown says they are well received by veterans.
The cards typically cost one dollar and may also be used for discounts at some local retailers and restaurants. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers an Armed Forces stamp to be placed on a driver's license or state I-D.