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FOR
VETERANS, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR DEPENDENTS
Are you a veteran with benefit/services
questions and don’t know where to turn? Look no further! Palatine Township is
the only Township in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs to include within the Township
Center a full-time Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veterans’ Service
Officer (VSO).
Our VSO, Jim Lopez, is available for
consultation at Palatine Township Center, 721 S. Quentin Road, Palatine, every
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding Holidays. Walk-ins
are welcome and he can be reached at (847) 485-2772 to answer any questions you
may have prior to or following your consultation.
For employment assistance,
please contact:
Andrew Michnowski
amichno@ides.state.il.us
Veteran Representative LVR
Illinois Department of
Employment Security
723 West Algonquin Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Phone: (847) 437-5788
Fax: (847) 981-7493
This veterans’ benefit assistance office can
help you with any or all of the following benefits issues. (Click the blue
titles below for further details.)
State of Illinois
Veterans’ Benefits
Federal Veterans’ Benefits
Burial
Compensation
Aid and Attendance or Housebound
Federal Civil Service Preference
Re-Employment Rights
VA Home
Loans
Hospitalization – VA Hospitals
Outpatient Medical Care
Educational Benefits
Also,
click here
to visit the Palatine Township Services
Directory and select "Veterans' Affairs" for more in-depth services information and direct links
to service provider websites and e-mail.
State of Illinois Veterans’ Benefits
World War II.
A bonus of $10 per month for
domestic service and $15 per month for Foreign Service is payable to Illinois
residents who served on active duty between September 16, 1940 and September 3,
1945, and received an honorable discharge. Survivors are entitled to a benefit
of $900, if the veteran’s death was service-connected and within the period
specified. -back to top-
Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Conflict
Bonus.
A $100 bonus is payable for
service during one of the following periods:
| Korea |
June 27, 1950 - July
27, 1953 |
| Vietnam |
January 1, 1961 - March
28 1973 |
| Vientnam Frequent Wind |
April 29, 30, 1975 |
| Persian Gulf |
August 2, 1990 -
November 30, 1995 |
The claimant must also be in receipt of one
of the following medals: Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Era or the Southwest Asia Service Medal; and
have been a resident of Illinois for 12 months immediately prior to entering
service and have received an Honorable Discharge. (Individuals currently on
active duty who served in the Persian Gulf may apply.)
Survivors are entitled to a payment of
$1,000, if veteran’s death is service-connected or is the direct result of
service-connected disabilities incurred in the period specified. $1,000.
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POW Compensation.
Persons on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or employed by
the United States Government on, or after, January 1, 1961, who were residents
of Illinois 12 months prior to entry, and who were taken and held prisoner by
hostile forces in Southwest Asia, are entitled to $50 for each month or portion
thereof while being held captive.
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Survivors’ Compensation.
A $1,000 bonus is payable to survivors of certain persons killed by terrorist
acts or hostile activities during performance of military service in periods not
recognized as wartime by United States campaign or service medals. Residency of
1 year in Illinois prior to entering military service is required.
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Cartage and Erection Fees.
When the federal government has furnished a headstone or marker, the ILLINOIS
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS shall pay the allowable reimbursement amount for
the setting of such marker within Illinois.
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Graves Registration.
The ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS shall maintain a card file Role of
Honor of all veterans buried in the State of Illinois. Every person, firm or
corporation owning or controlling any cemetery or burial place in this State is
required to keep a permanent record of the burial of each U.S. war veteran or
memorial marker erected for this purpose.
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Educational Opportunities for Children (10-18
Yrs.).
Financial aid is provided annually to each child between the ages of 10 and 18
years of a veteran who died or became totally disabled as a result of service in
the Armed Forces during World War I or II, the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts or
beginning February 1, 1955, until such individuals are no longer eligible for
induction under the Universal Military Training and Service Act. Attendance
means a state educational institution of elementary grade, a high school or
business college, vocational training school or other educational institution.
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MIA/POW Scholarship.
Dependents of a veteran who has been declared by the Department of Defense or
U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs to be a prisoner of war; missing-in-action;
to have died as the result of a service-connected disability; or be permanently
disabled from service-connected causes with 100% disability; and, who was an
Illinois resident or was an Illinois resident within six months of entering
service may be eligible for the scholarship. Eligible dependents are entitled
to full payment of tuition and certain fees to any state supported Illinois
institution of higher learning consisting of the equivalent of four (4) calendar
years of full-time enrollment including summer terms (i.e., 120 points).
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State Approving Agency.
Approves training for veterans in the areas of higher education, apprenticeship
training, vocational training and on the job training.
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Veterans’ Grant.
The Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program pays tuition and certain fees at all
Illinois state-supported colleges and universities.
Applications and additional information are
available from field offices of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs,
college financial aid offices, or Illinois Student Assistance Commission, 1755
Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, 60015, telephone 847/948-8550 or 800/899-ISAC.
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Illinois National Guard Scholarship.
Any enlisted person or Lieutenant or Captain with at least one (1) year service
in the Illinois Army/Air National Guard may participate. Available for eight
(8) semesters or twelve (12) quarters of full-time or part-time undergraduate
study or graduate study at any Illinois state-controlled university or community
college. Recipient is entitled to payment of tuition and certain fees.
Applications and information on the scholarship may be obtained from the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission, 1755 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield,
Illinois, 60015, telephone 847/948-8550 or 800/899-ISAC.
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Honorary Scholarships.
Each county in the state shall be entitled, annually, to one honorary
scholarship in the University of Illinois, for the benefit of children of
veterans of WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam Conflict periods with preference being
given to the children of diseased and disabled veterans. Such children shall be
entitled to receive, without charge for tuition, instruction in any or all
departments of the University for a term of at least four (4) consecutive
years. Details may be obtained from the University or College’s Financial Aid
Office. -back to top-
Tax Exemption.
This exemption is allowed on the assessed value of real property for which
federal funds have been used for the purchase or construction of specially
adapted housing for as long as the veteran, or the spouse, or unmarried
surviving spouse resides on the property.
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Specially Adapted Housing.
Assistance is provided for service-connected disabled veterans for the purpose
of acquiring and remodeling suitable dwelling units with special fixtures or
moveable facilities made necessary by the veteran’s permanent and total
service-connected disabilities.
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Illinois Veterans’ Homes.
Quality nursing and health care services are provided for Illinois Veterans with
military service of one (1) day or more during WWI, WWII, the Korean or Vietnam
conflicts, or during any period of time now, or in the future, recognized by the
U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs as a period of war. The veteran must have
either been an Illinois resident upon entering the service, or have resided in
the State of Illinois for one (1) year preceding application for admittance into
a Veterans’ Home. Peacetime veterans with one (1) year of HONORABLE military
service may also be eligible. OTHER QUALIFYING CONDITIONS, AS REQUIRED, MUST BE
MET. A spouse, or surviving spouse, may also qualify for admittance to the
Quincy Veterans’ Home.
Since each of the Veterans’ Homes specialize
in a variety of health care and social services, each Home provides a special
brochure describing the human services available.
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Camping & Admission Fees.
This benefit provides for the exemption of camping and admission fees for
certain disabled persons and former prisoners of war who are Illinois residents
and wish to camp in parks under the control of the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources. Documentation is required.
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Hunting and Fishing Privileges.
Fishing and hunting licenses are not required for disabled veterans who are
Illinois residents and receiving 10% or greater service-connected compensation,
or total disability pension benefits.
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Public Records.
Certified copies of public records will be furnished on first request without
charge. Additional requests for certified copies of public records or for
public records outside of the State may require a fee.
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State Fair.
Honorably discharged veterans of all ages and their families shall be admitted
FREE, when they properly identify themselves, on Veterans’ Day at the fair.
Veterans’ Day includes a daylong program of drum corps, drill teams, and color
guard competition. Admission is FREE to people 60 and older on Senior Day.
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Necessary Documents to File Claims.
Certificate of Discharge DD 214, death certificate, marriage license, insurance
policies and in some cases medical documentation.
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Federal Veterans’ Benefits
Burial Assistance and Plot or Internment
Allowance.
Certain benefits are available to assist with the burial expenses of deceased
veterans. Eligibility is established if the veteran was entitled at the time of
death to pension or compensation (or but for the receipt of military retired pay
would have been entitled to compensation). Eligibility is also established if
the veteran died while hospitalized or domiciled in a VA facility or other
facility at VA expense. -back to top-
Flag.
A flag of the United States may be furnished by the VA to drape the casket of a
deceased veteran discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. Flags are
available from most funeral homes or local Post Offices.
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National Cemetery Burial.
Veterans of all wars, peacetime service, and certain members of their families,
are eligible. -back
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Grave Marker or Headstone.
The VA will furnish a headstone or marker without charge for the unmarked grave
of a veteran who was separated from military service under conditions other than
dishonorable or a person who died while on active duty. A Medal of Honor
recipient is entitled to a headstone or marker, regardless of the character of
discharge for the last period of service.
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Compensation.
Available to all veterans of all wartime or peacetime service eras who are
discharged by injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active service in
the line of duty and released or discharged under honorable conditions.
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Compensation for Service-Connected Deaths.
Before January 1, 1957, amounts payable to an eligible surviving spouse,
children, or dependent parents, are not affected by deceased veteran’s rank or
length of service.
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Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for
Service-Connected Deaths.
On or after January 1, 1957, for eligible dependents of deceased servicemen of
all wartime or peacetime service eras.
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Pension for Non-Service-Connected
Disabilities.
A wartime veteran with ninety (90) or more days of service, or separated from
such service for a service-connected disability and became permanently and
totally disabled from reasons not traceable to service may be eligible for a
pension. Income limitations apply.
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Pension for Non-Service-Connected Deaths.
For surviving spouse and children of veterans who served in wartime who died
from non-service-connected conditions and who meet income and other qualifying
conditions. -back to
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Aid and Attendance or Housebound.
Veteran or surviving spouse who is a patient in a nursing home or otherwise
determined to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, or
is permanently housebound, may be entitled to higher income limitations or
additional benefits, depending on the type of pension received.
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Federal Civil Service Preference.
Veterans separated under honorable conditions from any wartime period, and
certain dependents, shall be given preferential consideration in training
programs, job retention and restoration and appointments. Disabled veterans
will be given first consideration.
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Re-Employment Rights.
Restoration by prior employer to the position the veteran would have held had
he/she not been in service. Length of service shall have not exceeded four (4)
years unless at the request and convenience of the federal government, but no
longer than five (5) years maximum. Satisfactory completion of active duty and
a certificate to that effect is required. Application must be made within
ninety (90) days after completion of military service.
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VA Home Loans.
VA home loan guarantees may be used by qualified veterans and service members to
purchase, improve or refinance a house or condominium, and to purchase or
refinance a manufactured home at below normal loan interest rates.
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Hospitalization – VA Hospitals.
First priority to veterans for treatment of service-connected disabilities, and
veterans who have a service-connected disability needing treatment for a
disability not related to the service-connected condition. Veterans with
wartime service may be admitted for treatment of a non-service-connected
condition. Emergency conditions shall be given immediate consideration.
Co-payments for treatment may be required.
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Outpatient Medical Care.
Available to veterans discharged or retired under conditions other than
dishonorable and in need of treatment for a disability incurred in or aggravated
by military service.
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Educational Benefits.
For the spouse, surviving spouse, and children of veterans whose death or
permanent total disability was service-connected.
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Vocational Rehabilitation.
Veterans who served honorably, suffered a service-connected disability, and are
determined by the VA to need vocational rehabilitation could be eligible under
this program. -back
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Vet Center Readjustment Counseling.
Veterans who served on active duty may be provided counseling to assist the
veteran in readjusting to civilian life.
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Education – VEAP.
Available to veterans who entered on active duty after December 31, 1976, who
served for more than 180 days and voluntarily participated in the contributory
education assistance program. Eligibility expired ten (10) years after
discharge or release from active duty.
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Education – Montgomery GI Bill.
The VA administers programs for active duty servicepersons who entered military
service after July 1985. Individuals who, while on active duty contributed to
the “educational payroll deduction” program are eligible for matching funds.
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Montgomery GI Bill Selective Reserve.
Selected Reserve members, including the National Guard, who meet certain
requirements are eligible to receive educational benefits.
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