ILLINOIS      Compensation Benefits   Vietnam Veteran Survivors CompensationSurvivors 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.      Global War on Terrorism Survivors' Compensation   A $3,000 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.      Burial Benefits  Cartage and Erection Fees    When the federal government has furnished a headstone or marker, the ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS shall pay up to the allowable reimbursement amount for the setting of such marker within Illinois. Currently, the maximum amount is $100.00 payable upon approval of the application.       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 contact your local county Veterans Assistance Commission for more information.Related Links        Education Educational Opportunities for Children (Age: 10-18)   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, beginning February 1, 1955, the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, 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).       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 an honorably discharged 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; and 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.        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.       Children of Veterans Scholarship   Each county in the state shall be entitled, annually, to one honorary scholarship at the University of Illinois, for the benefit of children of veterans of WWI, WWII, Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict and any time on or after August 2, 1990 and until those persons in service are no longer eligible for the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Preference is 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 Approving Agency - GI Bill   The State Approving Agency (SAA) approves college and non-college degree programs, vocational flight training, apprenticeships and other on-the-job training so that federal educational assistance benefits may be paid to veterans and other eligible persons under the several programs administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.       The types of approved training establishments include the following:  Colleges and Universities Vocational Schools Business Schools Professional Schools Vocational Flight Schools High Schools Apprenticeships On-the-Job Training Programs Licensing and Certification Tests   Tax Relief   More Illinois veterans and persons with disabilities will be eligible for tax relief as a result of legislation recently enacted.  Public Act 98-1145 and Public Act 99-0375 expand the existing property tax homestead exemptions and mobile home exemptions, helping more Illinois veterans with disabilities and their families.   Veterans and their spouses who qualified for the Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities (35 ILCS 200/15-165) for the 2014 tax year will receive additional property tax relief on their 2015 property tax bills. The Specially Adapted Housing Exemption benefit was increased, providing a reduction in the assessed value for specially adapted housing of up to $100,000 (previously $70,000).  Those veterans and their families who qualify for the specially adapted housing benefit on their mobile home will continue to be fully exempt from the full amount of the Mobile Homes Local Services Tax Act.    The benefits for this exemption will increase as follows:   Veterans or surviving spouses of veterans with at least 30% service-connected disability, but less than 50%, will receive a $2,500 annual exemption.  Veterans or surviving spouses of veterans with a service-connected disability of 50%, but less than 70%, will receive a $5,000 annual exemption.        State of Illinois Veteran Handbook http://www.veterans.illinois.gov/benefits/documents/vetsbenefits.pdf

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