Veterans in Illinois are eligible for the same federal VA disability compensation as veterans in any other state. However, each state offers some of its own unique benefits for veterans who are considered disabled by the VA. We share some of these state benefits below.
Don’t fight the VA alone
In this article about Illinois disabled veteran benefits:
Veteran mortgage benefits
The state of Illinois offers a couple options for aid in home loans and mortgage benefits specifically for veterans.
Illinois veterans can qualify for $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance and lender-paid mortgage insurance.
Veterans living in 10 counties in the state may be eligible for $7,500 in down payment, closing cost assistance and a 30 year, fixed-rate mortgage with a competitive interest rate.
A variety of other mortgage financing benefits are available to both veterans and nonveterans, which can be found here.
Veteran property tax benefits
Illinois offers two property exemption options for veterans.
The first option is the Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities. This exemption applies to veterans who own or lease a home in Illinois and are responsible for paying its property taxes, and who have a VA disability rating of 30% or higher.
Exact exemption amounts depend on disability rating, and break down as follows:
- 30% or 40% VA disability rating:$2,500 reduction in EAV
- 50% or 60% VA disability rating: $5,000 reduction in EAV
- 70% – 100% VA disability rating: the first $250,000 of EAV is exempt from taxes
The second option for veterans is the Veterans with Disabilities Exemption for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH). It provides up to a $100,000 reduction on the assessed property value.
To qualify, the veteran must have a home that has been constructed or adapted for their permanent and total disability needs. Specifically, funds to build, remodel, or adapt the house must come from federal financial assistance for service-connected disabled veterans. Homes or special adaptations to accommodate a disability that are donated by a nonprofit organization can also qualify, as long as the veteran is also approved to receive a SAH grant from the VA.
Veterans with a VA disability rating of less than 30% can also explore whether they qualify for the Illinois Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities, which is not veteran-specific.
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Veteran vehicle registration benefits
Honorably discharged veterans in Illinois can get a veteran designation on their license or state ID card.
Illinois offers a variety of specialty license plates for service members and veterans based on awards, branches of service, and more.
Veteran with a 50% VA disability rating or higher are eligible for a free military license plate of their choosing.
Veteran education benefits
Illinois provides qualifying veterans and their children a variety of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid for education.
Most notably for veterans, the Illinois Veterans’ Grant covers tuition and fees at Illinois state-supported schools. To qualify, the veteran must have been honorably discharged, meet residency qualifications, and have served on active duty for at least a year.
For dependents and children of veterans, education benefits include the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans’ Dependents Scholarship and the University of Illinois Children of Veterans Scholarship.
A full list of educational benefits can be found on the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Veteran hunting and fishing licenses
Veterans in Illinois can get a free hunting and fishing license if they have a 10% VA disability rating or higher.
Other VA disability benefits in Illinois
Disabled veterans and former POWs can camp for free at Illinois state parks.
There are four Illinois Veteran Homes for veterans in need of skilled nursing assistance, full-time care, and more.
Additional benefit information can be found on the state’s website here.
VA facilities in Illinois
We share more about where to find VA facilities in Illinois including regional offices, medical facilities, Vet Centers, and VA cemeteries.
VA regional offices in Illinois
Each state has at least one VA regional office (VARO) that provides in-person services to help veterans with VA benefits and claims. Offices also offer information about veteran medical help, education and career counseling, memorial benefits, aid for homeless veterans, and more. Below is the VARO in Illinois.
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Chicago VA Regional Benefit Office | 2122 W. Taylor Street Chicago, IL, 60612 View on Google Maps |
VA medical facilities in Illinois
VA medical facilities offer medical information and assistance for veterans. Vets may also receive their compensation and pension (C&P) exam at many of these facilities. The VA uses the information gathered at a C&P exam to determine how severe a veteran’s condition is and whether it is service connected. Below is a list of VA medical facilities in Illinois.
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center | 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL, 60612-3728 View on Google Maps |
| Chicago Heights VA Clinic | 211 Dixie Highway Suite 4 Chicago Heights, IL, 60411-1696 View on Google Maps |
| Lakeside VA Clinic | 211 East Ontario Street Suite 1200 Chicago, IL, 60611-3276 View on Google Maps |
| Auburn Gresham VA Clinic | 7731 South Halsted Street Chicago, IL, 60620-2412 View on Google Maps |
| Chicago VA Clinic | 1141 South California Avenue Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC) Chicago, IL, 60612-9998 View on Google Maps |
| Danville VA Medical Center | 1900 East Main Street Danville, IL, 61832-5100 View on Google Maps |
| Bob Michel Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic | 7717 North Orange Prairie Road Peoria, IL, 61615-9323 View on Google Maps |
| Decatur VA Clinic | 792 North Sunnyside Road Decatur, IL, 62522-1156 View on Google Maps |
| Springfield VA Clinic | 5850 South 6th Street Suite A Springfield, IL, 62703-5162 View on Google Maps |
| Mattoon VA Clinic | 501 Lakeland Boulevard Suite D Mattoon, IL, 61938-5283 View on Google Maps |
| Bloomington VA Clinic | 207 Hamilton Road Bloomington, IL, 61704-7527 View on Google Maps |
| Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center | 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL, 60064-3048 View on Google Maps |
| Evanston VA Clinic | 1942 Dempster Street Evanston, IL, 60202-1016 View on Google Maps |
| McHenry VA Clinic | 3715 Municipal Drive McHenry, IL, 60050-5483 View on Google Maps |
| Edward Hines Junior Hospital | 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL, 60141-3030 View on Google Maps |
| Joliet VA Clinic | 1201 Eagle Street Joliet, IL, 60432-2031 View on Google Maps |
| Kankakee County VA Clinic | 581 William Latham Drive Suite 301 Bourbonnais, IL, 60914-2450 View on Google Maps |
| Aurora VA Clinic | 161 South Lincolnway Suite 120 North Aurora, IL, 60542-1659 View on Google Maps |
| Hoffman Estates VA Clinic | 4885 Hoffman Boulevard Hoffman Estates, IL, 60192-3726 View on Google Maps |
| LaSalle VA Clinic | 4461 Progress Boulevard Peru, IL, 61354-1109 View on Google Maps |
| Oak Lawn VA Clinic | 10201 South Cicero Avenue Oak Lawn, IL, 60453-4023 View on Google Maps |
| Freeport VA Clinic | 750 Kiwanis Drive Suite 250 Freeport, IL, 61032-7119 View on Google Maps |
| Rockford VA Clinic | 816 Featherstone Road Rockford, IL, 61107-6300 View on Google Maps |
| Quincy VA Clinic | 6020 Broadway Street Quincy, IL, 62305-7919 View on Google Maps |
| Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic | 1090 West Sandburg Drive Carl Sandburg Mall Suite 100 Galesburg, IL, 61401-1387 View on Google Maps |
| Sterling VA Clinic | 2901 East Lincolnway Suite M Sterling, IL, 61081-1766 View on Google Maps |
| Marion VA Medical Center | 2401 West Main Street Marion, IL, 62959-1165 View on Google Maps |
| St. Clair County VA Clinic | 1190 Fortune Boulevard Shiloh, IL, 62269-7358 View on Google Maps |
| Mount Vernon VA Clinic | 4000 South Water Tower Place Mount Vernon, IL, 62864-2079 View on Google Maps |
| Effingham VA Clinic | 1011 Ford Avenue Effingham, IL, 62401-1701 View on Google Maps |
| Carbondale VA Clinic | 1130 East Walnut Street Suite 100 Carbondale, IL, 62901-5007 View on Google Maps |
| Harrisburg VA Clinic | 608 Rollie Moore Drive Harrisburg, IL, 62946-2344 View on Google Maps |
| Heartland Street VA Clinic | 3403 Heartland Street Marion, IL, 62959-6393 View on Google Maps |
| Scott Air Force Base VA Clinic | 310 West Losey Street Scott Air Force Base, IL, 62225-5250 View on Google Maps |
Vet Centers in Illinois
Vet Centers provide veterans with counseling and referral services, many of which are community-based. These centers also offer services for family members of veterans.
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Richton Park Vet Center | 4511 Sauk Trail Richton Park, IL, 60471 View on Google Maps |
| Chicago Vet Center | 8658 South Sacramento Avenue Chicago, IL, 60652 View on Google Maps |
| Forest Park Vet Center | 1515 South Harlem Avenue Forest Park, IL, 60130 View on Google Maps |
| Peoria Vet Center | 5015 American Prairie Drive Peoria, IL, 61615 View on Google Maps |
| Evanston Vet Center | 1901 Howard Street Evanston, IL, 60202 View on Google Maps |
| Springfield, IL Vet Center | 2980 Baker Drive Springfield, IL, 62703 View on Google Maps |
| Metro East Vet Center | 228 West Pointe Drive Swansea, IL, 62226 View on Google Maps |
| Quad Cities Vet Center | 465 42nd (Avenue of the Cities) Suite 140 East Moline, IL, 61244 View on Google Maps |
| Orland Park Vet Center | 8651 West 159th Street Suite 4 Orland Park, IL, 60462 View on Google Maps |
| Aurora Vet Center | 750 Shoreline Drive Suite 150 Aurora, IL, 60504-6201 View on Google Maps |
| Rockford Vet Center | 7015 Rote Road Suite 105 Rockford, IL, 61107 View on Google Maps |
VA cemeteries in Illinois
VA cemeteries can be found all over the U.S. and are dedicated resting places for those who honorably served their country. Veterans or families can make arrangements to be laid to rest in a VA cemetery. Qualifying spouses of veterans may also be eligible. You can find eligibility requirements for VA cemeteries here. Below is a list of VA cemeteries in Illinois.
Illinois military bases with toxic exposure
Dangerous toxins have been found in the groundwater and soil at various military bases in Illinois such as Chanute Air Force Base and Fort Sheridan.
Veterans who were subject to toxic exposure at an Illinois military installation and later developed health complications may be eligible for VA disability benefits. Below is a list of Illinois military bases that have been affected by toxic exposure.
For more information about toxins at Illinois military bases and how exposure may affect your health, check out our Military Bases Toxic Exposure Map.
Woods & Woods: VA disability appeal lawyers for Illinois veterans
Woods & Woods is an accredited VA disability law firm that serves veterans nationwide. Our team of VA disability lawyers serve Illinois from Chicago to Springfield and everywhere in between. We have helped tens of thousands of veterans across the country fight the VA for the full benefits they deserve, including countless veterans in Illinois.
If you are looking for an experienced and professional VA disability appeal lawyer in Illinois, call us today for your free case evaluation.
Let’s appeal your VA decision today
Frequently asked questions
Illinois does not offer benefits that are specifically for veterans with 100% disability rating. However, 100% disabled veterans, along with other veterans with a 70% VA disability rating or higher, can qualify for a significant property tax exemption. They can also qualify for a variety of other state benefits available to veterans with lower VA disability ratings.
Due to the nature of VA law, most VA disability lawyers can work with veterans nationwide. The accredited lawyers at Woods & Woods work with veterans in all U.S. states and territories, including Illinois.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
