Hey there! Are you a brave service member, a respected veteran, or a proud Gold Star family member looking to save some money on your Verizon bill? You've come to the right place! Verizon offers some fantastic discounts as a small token of gratitude for your incredible service. Let's dive deep into understanding how much you can save and how to get started.
How Much is the Verizon Military Discount? A Comprehensive Guide
Verizon offers a range of discounts for eligible military personnel, veterans, and their families, on both mobile phone plans and Fios Home Internet services, as well as on accessories and optional perks. The exact discount amount can vary based on the number of lines on your account for mobile plans, and the internet speed tier for Fios.
Step 1: Are You Eligible? Let's Find Out!
The first and most crucial step is to determine if you qualify for the Verizon military discount. Verizon extends its gratitude to a broad range of the military community.
Who Qualifies?
Active Duty Military: This includes members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, and Space Force. It also extends to active-duty commissioned officers of the Public Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Reservists and National Guard: Members currently serving in the Reserve or National Guard components are eligible.
Veterans: Individuals who have honorably served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Retirees: Military personnel who have retired from service.
Gold Star Family Members: The immediate next of kin (spouse, children) of a service member who died in service or as a result of a service-connected disability.
Cadets: Those enrolled in military academies.
Military Business Owners: Small business owners who are eligible military members or veterans may also qualify for specific business discounts.
Important Note:
The person applying for and validating the discount must be the military member or Gold Star Family member AND the Verizon Account Owner or an Account Manager.
Step 2: Understanding the Mobile Plan Discounts
The discounts on Verizon's mobile plans are structured based on the number of lines you have on your account. These discounts apply to eligible Unlimited plans (such as Unlimited Ultimate, Unlimited Plus, and Unlimited Welcome).
Here’s a breakdown of the typical mobile discounts:
1 phone line: You can receive a $10 discount per account per month.
2-3 phone lines: The discount increases to a substantial $25 discount per account per month.
4+ phone lines: For larger families, you'll receive a $20 discount per account per month.
It's important to note that while the discount for 4+ lines ($20) might seem less than for 2-3 lines ($25), the per-line cost often becomes significantly lower when you have more lines, making it a better value overall.
What about other plans or perks?
For most other advertised Verizon mobile phone plans (not the specific Unlimited tiers mentioned above), you might receive a 15% discount off the plan's account access charges.
Additionally, military customers can often get 12% off most optional perks (like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix & Max, Apple One, etc.) and a 25% discount on accessories when ordered online (or 10% in-store). Do keep in mind that Apple products are generally excluded from accessory discounts.
Step 3: Exploring Fios Home Internet Discounts
Verizon also extends discounts to eligible military members and veterans for their Fios Home Internet service. These discounts are applied monthly and vary based on the internet speed tier you choose.
Fios Internet Discount Tiers:
Fios 300 Mbps customers: Receive an additional $5/month discount.
Fios 500 Mbps customers: Qualify for a $10/month discount.
Fios 1 Gig and 2 Gig customers: Enjoy a more significant $15/month discount.
Bundle and Save Even More!
If you have both eligible Verizon mobile service and Fios Home Internet, you may be eligible for an additional $15/month Mobile + Home Discount. This can lead to significant savings when bundling your services. For instance, with the military discount and the Mobile + Home discount, Fios 300 Mbps could be as low as $30/month with Auto Pay.
Step 4: The Verification Process – Getting Your Discount Applied
Now that you know what you might be eligible for, let's talk about how to get that discount applied to your account. The primary method for verification is through a secure third-party service called ID.me.
Step-by-Step Verification:
Visit the Verizon Military Discount Page: Head over to the official Verizon website's military discount section.
Choose Your Status: You'll typically be given options like "Already a Verizon wireless customer?" or "Not yet a Verizon wireless customer?". Select the one that applies to you.
Start ID.me Verification: Click on the "Verify military status" or "Get Started" button, which will redirect you to the ID.me verification portal.
If you already have an ID.me account, simply sign in with your credentials.
If you don't have an ID.me account, you'll be guided through a quick registration process.
Provide Documentation (if required): ID.me will typically verify your status quickly. However, in some cases, you might be asked to upload supporting documents. These could include:
For Active Duty/Reservists/National Guard: Military-issued email, military pay stub (LES) within the last 60 days, or a Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) status report.
For Veterans: DD Form 214, Veteran's ID Card, Military Retiree Account Statement, or enrollment in a VetRewards Card from Veterans Advantage.
For Gold Star Family Members: DD Form 214 (with appropriate information to validate next of kin status).
Important: Remember to black out any sensitive personal information like salary, tax amounts, banking information, Social Security Number, or Employee ID Number.
Return to Verizon: Once your military status is successfully verified by ID.me, you'll be automatically redirected back to the Verizon website.
Apply the Discount: Follow the on-screen prompts to apply the military discount to your existing account or to select plans if you're a new customer.
Confirmation: Verizon will send you an email confirmation once the discount is successfully applied.
What if I prefer to do it in-store or by mail/fax?
While online verification via ID.me is the most common and efficient method, military personnel, veterans, and first responders can also sign up in a Verizon retail store. You might also be able to send documents to Verizon's Correspondence Team via mail or fax, but it's best to confirm this option directly with Verizon support.
Step 5: When Will the Discount Appear?
Patience is a virtue! After your verification is complete and the discount is applied, it typically takes 1-2 billing cycles for the discount to begin appearing on your Verizon bill. You can always check your bill in My Verizon to verify that the discount has been added.
Step 6: Important Considerations and Additional Benefits
No Combining Discounts: Generally, you cannot combine the Verizon military discount with other "Those Who Serve" discounts (like First Responder, Nurse, Teacher, or Student discounts) or with employer-based "Deals at Work" discounts. However, you can usually combine it with other general discounts like Auto Pay and paper-free billing discounts, and the Mobile + Home Discount.
No Annual Renewal Required: Unlike some other discounts, the Verizon military discount typically does not require annual renewal. However, Verizon may request revalidation from time to time.
Deployment Options: Verizon offers flexible options for deployed military customers, including short-term and long-term service suspensions. During a short-term suspension (less than 90 days), your line may be charged $10/month or your monthly service price, whichever is lower. For longer deployments (90 days to 3 years), you may be able to avoid charges for services and features on the suspended line, including device payment installments.
Tracfone Special Pricing: Tracfone, a prepaid brand powered by Verizon's network, also offers 10% off all $20/month or higher Unlimited Talk and Text Plans for veterans and active-duty personnel.
Other Exclusive Offers: Beyond monthly discounts, military customers may receive other benefits, such as:
Dedicated parking at select Verizon retail locations.
Premium phone setup experience at select locations.
Extensive career tools and resources.
Access to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs VA Video Connect telehealth app with zero data charges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to know if I'm eligible for the Verizon military discount?
You are eligible if you are Active Duty, National Guard, Reservists, a Veteran, a Retiree, a Cadet, or a Gold Star Family member. The person applying for the discount must be the military member/Gold Star family member and the Verizon Account Owner or Manager.
How to apply for the Verizon military discount online?
You can apply online by visiting the Verizon military discount page, selecting your customer status (new or existing), and then verifying your military status through ID.me. Once verified, you'll be redirected to apply the discount to your account.
How to apply for the Verizon military discount in a store?
Yes, you can visit a Verizon retail store and a representative can assist you with the verification and application process. Be sure to bring your valid military identification documents.
How to verify my military status for Verizon?
Verizon primarily uses ID.me, a secure third-party verification service. You'll typically log in or create an ID.me account and provide documentation like a military-issued email, LES, DD Form 214, or Veteran's ID Card if prompted.
How to find out the specific discount amount for my plan?
For mobile plans, the discount depends on the number of lines: $10/month for 1 line, $25/month for 2-3 lines, and $20/month for 4+ lines on eligible Unlimited plans. For Fios Internet, it ranges from $5-$15/month based on your internet speed. Check Verizon's official military discount page or contact customer service for the most up-to-date and specific details for your plan.
How to combine the military discount with other Verizon offers?
You generally cannot combine the military discount with other "Those Who Serve" discounts (like teacher, nurse, or first responder discounts) or employer discounts. However, it can usually be combined with the Auto Pay & paper-free billing discount and the Mobile + Home Discount for Fios Internet.
How to check if my military discount has been applied to my bill?
After applying, the discount typically appears on your bill within 1-2 billing cycles. You can check your monthly bill in your My Verizon account online or through the My Verizon app.
How to renew my Verizon military discount?
Verizon's military discount generally does not require annual renewal. However, Verizon may request revalidation of your status from time to time, and they will notify you if this is needed.
How to get a military discount on Verizon Fios Home Internet?
You can get a monthly discount on Fios Home Internet by verifying your military status through ID.me and ensuring you have an eligible Fios plan. The discount amount varies by speed tier ($5-$15/month).
How to get discounts on accessories with my military discount?
Eligible military customers typically receive a 25% discount on accessories purchased online through My Verizon and a 10% discount on accessories purchased in a Verizon store. Note that Apple products are generally excluded.