|
 Raoul’s Benefits for Illinois Veterans guide was
created by his Military and Veterans Rights Bureau to provide
veterans and their families with information regarding federal and
state veteran benefit laws.
“The men and women who have served in the military deserve our
recognition and our support for the sacrifices they and their
families have made to protect our nation,” Raoul said. “My office is
dedicated to ensuring that veterans and active duty service members
receive the benefits they have earned, and this comprehensive
veterans’ benefits guide will ensure Illinois veterans and their
families know their eligibility and how to apply for federal, state
and municipal benefits.”
The 2022 edition of the Benefits for Illinois Veterans guide
features new and updated information on veterans’ benefits
including:
Health care for female veterans: The U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a variety of services for female
veterans, including primary care and specialized services such as
reproductive services, rehabilitation and mental health.
Additionally, the VA has expanded mammograms to all eligible female
veterans. The guide provides updated contact information for female
veterans seeking medical care.
Veterans experiencing homelessness: The Jesse Brown VA
Medical Center in Chicago, which offers a variety of services to
combat homelessness, hosts a medical clinic with a Homeless Patient
Aligned Care Team that offers primary and urgent care for veterans
experiencing homelessness. The clinic offers walk-in access to
medical staff and social services. The guide also offers updated
information regarding the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA)
Prince Home in Manteno, Illinois, which offers residential care for
homeless and disabled veterans. Vietnam
War-related exposures: Vietnam veterans, including Blue Water
Veterans who served on U.S. military vessels, may be eligible for
compensation due to their exposure to Agent Orange. Children of
Vietnam veterans may be eligible for compensation for birth defects
connected to their veteran parent’s exposure to Agent Orange. The
guide provides information regarding qualifying medical conditions,
qualifying military service, and the claims process.
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Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure: The
VA offers health care and compensation to veterans who served at
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River
between August 1953 and December 1987. Veterans and dependents who
have developed certain diseases or conditions related to their
contact with contaminated drinking water now receive a presumption
that their conditions are service-connected. The guide lists the
presumptively connected conditions and provides guidance on how to
file for benefits.
Iraq and Afghanistan service-linked illnesses: Veterans who
served in Iraq and Afghanistan may be eligible for benefits if they
have been diagnosed with certain chronic illnesses due to exposures
from burn pit smoke, depleted uranium and extreme temperatures. The
guide describes VA Environmental Health Coordinators and Veterans
Service Officers who can assist veterans with their questions or
concerns pertaining to military toxic exposure.
Attorney General Raoul’s Military and Veterans Rights Bureau handles
a wide variety of financial and legal concerns affecting service
members and veterans, such as military employment rights, housing,
consumer fraud, and scams connected with benefits provided by the
VA. Military service members, veterans and their families can visit
Raoul’s Military and Veterans Rights Bureau website for more
information. Veterans and their families can request a free, printed
copy of the Benefits for Illinois Veterans guide or request other
assistance by email at mvrb@ilag.gov or by calling Raoul's Military
and Veterans Rights Helpline at 1-800-382-3000 or 1-800-964-3013
(TTY).
[Illinois Attorney General's Office] |
