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ILLINOIS VETERANS’ BENEFITS

HEALTH CARE

Illinois Warrior Assistance Program

symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress

Disorder (PTSD) and to provide Traumatic Brain

Injury (TBI) screenings.

Veterans’ Care Program

Provides affordable, comprehensive health care to

Illinois’ uninsured veterans. Call the agency at 1-

877-483-8779 to apply for the program.

VETERANS’ HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA)

312-836-5200 for more information.

AUTOMOBILES

Disabled Veteran License Plates and Parking

Disabled veteran license plates may be issued at no

cost for the first set of plates to any U.S. Armed

Forces veteran if (1) the veteran holds proof of a

service-connected disability from the U.S.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs (2) a licensed

physician has certified that because of the service-

special registration plates are available without fee.

Military Retirees and Armed Forces Reserves and

National Guard soldiers are eligible for registration

plates for vehicles of the first or second division

upon establishing proof of eligibility and payment of

a registration fee. A universal veteran’s license plate

is also available. A decal applicable to the veteran’s

service record may be affixed to the license plate

and must be purchased from the State Headquarters

of the American Legion, P.O. Box 2910,

fees at parks under the control of the Illinois

Department of Natural Resources. The veteran must

be an Illinois resident. Apply at your nearest veteran

service office.

Hunting and Fishing Privileges

Free fishing and hunting licenses are issued for

disabled veterans who are receiving 10 percent or

greater service-connected compensation, or total

disability pension benefits. The veteran may obtain

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BONUSES

World War II

A bonus of $10 per month for domestic service and

$15 per month for Foreign Service is payable to

Illinoisans 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

result of service connected disabilities incurred in

the period specified. A separate application is

required.

Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Conflict

Bonus

A $100 bonus is payable for service during the

following periods:

Korea - June 27, 1950 - July 27, 1953

Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Vietnam 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 $1000, if

veteran’s death is service-connected or the direct

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.

Line of Duty Compensation

This is a benefit administered by the Illinois Court of

Claims. It provides approximately $300,000 for

surviving next of kin of Illinois service members killed

in the line of duty in support of the Global War on

Terrorism.

The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund

The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund (IMFRF)

their families defray the costs of food, housing,

utilities, medical services and other expenses that

become difficult to afford when a wage earner has

temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on

A $100 bonus is payable to veterans who served on

or after September 11, 2001 and were residents of

Illinois for 12 months immediately prior to entering

service.

The claimant must also have served at least 30

consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days of foreign or

sea service and be in receipt of one of the following

medals:

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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 the state is required to keep a

permanent record of the burial of each U.S. war

veteran or memorial marker erected for this purpose.

of such burial shall not exceed the sum of $900.00.

Financial aid is provided annually for each child

between the ages of 10 and 18 years of a veteran

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.

Troops to Teachers is a nation-wide transition

learning consisting of the equivalent of four (4)

calendar years of full-time enrollment including

summer terms (i.e., 120 points).

Approves training for veterans in the areas of higher

education, apprenticeship training, vocational

training, on the job training, license and certification,

universities. 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

899- 4722 or via the web at www.isac.org.

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

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EMPLOYMENT

State Veterans’ Employment Preference

Preference is given in Central Management Services

entrance examinations to honorably discharged

veterans who served in times of hostilities and

peacetime. Visit work.illinois.gov to apply.

apply. For further information, please contact the

Illinois State Police.

authority and responsibility to review applications for

EMT licensure from honorably discharged service

demonstrates that the training and experience meets

prescribed standards. For further information, please

contact the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The Department of Employment Security provides a

trained “Veterans Representative” to help you get

the training and job you need. In cooperation with

the Department of Employment Security a system is

used describing in excess of 8,000 job titles. The

Assessor’s Office.

The Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead

Exemption provides a reduction in a property’s EAV

to a qualifying property owned by a veteran with a

service-connected disability. A $2,500 homestead

to receive this exemption. To apply for this

exemption, please contact or visit your local County

Assessor’s Office.

Specially Adapted Housing

disabled veterans for the purpose of acquiring and

remodeling suitable dwelling units with special

disabilities.

Illinois veterans with one day or more of service

during any wartime period recognized by the U.S.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs as a period of war

may qualify. Veterans must have entered military

service from the State of Illinois or been a resident

for one year prior to applying to an Illinois Veterans’

Home. Applicants must pass background checks