Veterans Service offices closed next
week
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[April 11, 2015]
SPRINGFIELD
– All of the State’s Veterans Service Offices will be closed for
annual training, as the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Veteran Service Officers (VSO) will be attending mandatory annual
training at the Chateau Conference Center & Hotel, Bloomington, from
Tuesday, April 14 through Friday, April 17, 2015.
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The IDVA’s Veterans’ Service Offices are part of a statewide
network that assists Illinois veterans in navigating those benefits,
resources, and programs available to them. Offices are staffed by
professionals - men and women who are all veterans themselves - who
provide accurate, up-to-date information, answer questions, and
assist with preparing and filing of claims for federal, state and
local benefits completely free of charge.
Assistance provided by VSOs includes:
- Compensation Benefits and Document Assistance – Combat and
service-related bonus payments and compensation, DD214
certificates.
- Survivor and Burial Benefits – Graves registration, grave
markers.
- Educational Benefits – G.I. Bill, Troops to Teachers,
Scholarships.
- Employment Benefits – Employment preference, Jobs for Vets
program.
- Real Estate and Permits – Homestead and Disabled Veterans
Standard Homestead exemptions, Adapted Housing exemptions,
camping and admissions fees, hunting and fishing licenses.
- Referral Assistance – Facilitating access to federal VA
health care and counseling services.
- Illinois Veterans’ Homes – Assist in applying for admission
to one of four IDVA-managed homes throughout Illinois.
Veterans wishing to contact a VSO during this training period
are asked to use the “Stand Up and Be Counted” (SUBC) online
portal at www.veterans.illinois.gov or to call 1-800-437-9824.
Veterans enrolling in SUBC will be assisting the IDVA and their
fellow veterans by helping the entire veteran advocacy community
to gain a better understanding of the location and number of
Illinois’ veterans. This will in planning future services,
seeking additional federal VA funding and facilities, and
generally help to serve Illinois’ veterans better.
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Illinois’ long and proud history of service to veterans began in
1886 with the establishment of the Illinois Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Home for Civil War Veterans. Created through legislation enacted in
1945, the Illinois Veterans’ Commission was responsible for state
services to veterans until 1976, when it was succeeded by the
Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA). The IDVA, created
by Public Act 79-376, is charged with responsibility for the welfare
and needs of Illinois veterans, their dependents and survivors. IDVA
maintains administrative offices in Springfield and Chicago, four
veterans’ homes, and more than 71 full and part-time field offices
servicing the 102 counties of the state.
For media interviews with IDVA personnel, please contact Ryan
Yantis, communication manager, IDVA, ryan.yantis@illinois.gov or
312-814-0778.
[Illinois Department of Veteran
Affairs]
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