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 a veteran who was a resident of Illinois at time of entering service, served at least 60 days on active duty between September 16, 1940 and September 3, 1945, and received an honorable discharge. Survivors are entitled to a benefit of $1,000, if the veteran's death was service-connected and within the period specified.

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
Vietnam 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 prior to discharge.)

You can download a copy of the bonus application in PDF format, print it out, fill it in, and mail it to us.

If you don't have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free.

Vietnam Veteran Survivors Compensation-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. A separate application is required.

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.

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 recognized as wartime by United States campaign or service medals. Residency of 1 year in Illinois prior to entering military service is required.

Cartage and Erection Fees. A government marker will be provided free of cost for an eligible veteran from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs upon application. Effective December 27, 2001, a provision now allows the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish an appropriate headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries, whose deaths occur on or after September 11, 2001, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a non-government marker.

When the federal government has furnished a headstone or marker, the ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS shall pay a maximum of $100.00 per marker for the setting of such marker within Illinois.

Graves Registration. The ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS shall maintain a card file Roll 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.

Indigent Veterans. The county Veterans Assistance Commission shall provide burial for any honorably discharged indigent veteran, or their mothers, fathers, spouse or surviving spouse, or minor children without sufficient means to defray the funeral expenses. The expense of such burial shall not exceed the sum of $600. Emergency food, transportation, etc. are provided in certain cases. Please visit www.iacvac.org for a list of county offices.

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. The financial aid applies to a state educational institution of elementary grade, high school or vocational training school.

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).

State Approving Agency. Approves training for veterans in the areas of higher education, apprenticeship training, vocational training, and on the job training.

Veterans' Grant. The Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program pays tuition and certain fees at all Illinois state-supported colleges, universities and community colleges for Illinois residents. An individual must:
· be a veteran; and
· reside in Illinois six months before entering the service; and
· have at least one full year of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces which includes veterans who were assigned to active duty in a foreign country in a time of hostilities in that country, regardless of length of service
· return to Illinois within six months of discharge from the service
Applications and additional information are available from field offices of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, college financial aid offices or the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, 1755 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, 60015, telephone 847/948-8550 or 800/899-ISAC, web site address www.collegezone.com.

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, web site address www.collegezone.com.

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 deceased 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's Financial Aid Office.

State Government/Employment Preference. Preference is given in Central Management Services entrance examinations to honorably discharged veterans who served in times of hostilities and peacetime. Contact the Veterans Outreach Program for more information at (217)524-1313 or toll free at 1-800-643-8138.

Jobs for Vets. The Department of Employment Security/Illinois Job Service provides a trained "Veterans Representative" to help you get the training and job you need. An electronic statewide job search information system is available at different locations throughout the State of Illinois. Contact your local Employment Security office for more information.

The Department of Human Services provides services for veterans with mental/physical disabilities that assist them in returning to gainful employment.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs have a number of Small Business Administration loan and Job Training Programs.

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.

Specially Adapted Housing. Assistance is provided for service-connected disabled veterans for the purpose of acquiring or remodeling suitable dwelling units with special fixtures or moveable facilities made necessary by the veteran's permanent and total service-connected disabilities.

Quality nursing and health care services are provided for Illinois Veterans with military service of one (1) day or more during WW I, WW II, 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.

You may receive any one or all of the Veterans' Home brochures from any of the Veterans Service Offices listed in this brochure or from the Department of Veterans' Affairs Central Office.

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.

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. To acquire a permit, contact your local Veterans Service office.

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 day-long program of drum corps, drill teams, and color guard competition. Admission is FREE to people 60 and older on Senior Day.

Necessary Documents to File Claims. Certificate of Discharge DD 214, death certificate, marriage license, insurance policies and in some cases medical documentation.