Illinois state benefits
Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities (30%+)
30%+- Illinois veteran with a VA-certified service-connected rating who receives disability compensation
- 30% to 49%: $2,500 off equalized assessed value (EAV) · 50% to 69%: $5,000 off · 70%+: the first $250,000 of EAV is exempt
- For your primary residence (any commercial-use part is excluded; renting it out over 6 months counts as commercial)
- An unremarried surviving spouse keeps it while living there (and some surviving spouses qualify on their own, including DIC recipients)
Specially Adapted Housing Exemption: Up to $100,000
Other rules- Veteran with a disability whose home was bought, built or adapted with VA specially adapted housing funds (or donated adaptations when VA approved SAH funds)
- Up to $100,000 off the assessed value; also available on a mobile home
- Lasts while the veteran, spouse or unremarried surviving spouse lives there
- You can't take this and the item 1 exemption in the same tax year
Free Hunting & Fishing (10%+)
10%+- Veteran receiving 10% or more service-connected compensation, or a VA total disability pension
- No hunting or fishing license purchase required, whatever your state of residency
- You must carry the IDVA Disability Affidavit and show it when asked while hunting or fishing
Free Camping at State Parks
100%+- Illinois resident veteran receiving 100% service-connected compensation (or military disability retired pay, not TDRL)
- Or with permanent loss of use of a leg, an arm or both, or unable to move without crutches or a wheelchair; former POWs also qualify
- No camping fee at IDNR parks any day of the week (the $10 utility fee still applies at sites with utilities)
- Your spouse, minor children and grandchildren under 18 qualify when camping with you
Disabled Veteran Plates: No Registration Fee (50%+)
50%+- Veteran with a VA service-connected rating of 50% or more: special plates with no registration fee for one vehicle (car, motorcycle or truck up to 8,000 lb)
- A veteran whose service-connected disability qualifies for a disability plate (certified by a physician, PA or APRN) can get plates with the access symbol, also with no registration fee
- Renewals need eligibility proof again unless the disability is permanent
Military Retired Pay Not Taxed
Other rules- Illinois lets you subtract the federally taxed part of government retirement and government disability pay, including military plans
- Applies to military retired pay included in your federal adjusted gross income
Family Education Benefits (100% P&T)
100% + P&T- Veteran rated by VA 100% permanent and totally disabled from service-connected causes (including by unemployability), or MIA, POW, or died of service-connected causes
- MIA/POW Scholarship: the spouse or child gets full tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois state-supported colleges for the equivalent of 4 years (120 points)
- Illinois residency rule: resident when entering service, within 6 months after, or living in Illinois when you apply after at least 15 straight years here since entering active duty
- Educational Opportunity Grant: $250 a year per child aged 10 to 18 at an Illinois school or home school (veteran 100% P&T, including IU, or MIA/POW/service-connected death); apply every year
Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG): Tuition and Fees
Other rules- Honorably discharged veteran (or honorably serving) with at least one full year of active duty (or served in a foreign country in a time of hostilities)
- Lived in Illinois within 6 months before entering service and came back within 6 months of discharge, or live in Illinois now after 15 straight years here since leaving active duty
- Pays tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois state-supported colleges, universities and community colleges
Federal benefits to look into
CHAMPVA: health coverage for your spouse and kids
P&TIt's for family members, not the veteran: the spouse or dependent child of a veteran rated P&T from a service-connected disability. It's a cost-sharing program: VA shares the cost of covered care with the family. Not free. Family members eligible for TRICARE can't get CHAMPVA.
DEA (Chapter 35): school money for your spouse and kids
P&TChapter 35 / DEA education benefits are available to the spouse and children of a veteran who is P&T due to a service-connected disability. For school or training that started on or after Aug 1, 2018, DEA pays up to 36 months of benefits.
Social Security: faster disability decisions
100% + P&TSSA expedites disability claims from veterans rated 100% P&T. Say "veteran rated 100% P&T" (or enter "Veteran 100% P&T" in the online Remarks). It doesn't guarantee approval; SSA's own rules still apply.
Dental insurance for CHAMPVA families (VADIP)
P&TCHAMPVA covers dental only in limited medical cases; enrollees can buy dental insurance at reduced cost through VADIP.
Your Benefit Summary Letter (proof of your rating)
All veteransYou can download your Benefit Summary Letter (sometimes called an award letter) on VA.gov.
VA dental care (Class IV)
100% (or paid at 100% for TDIU)Per VA, you qualify for any needed dental care if you have a service-connected disability rated 100% disabling, or you're paid at the 100% rate because of TDIU. A temporary 100% rating does not qualify.
DoD ID card and base privileges (100%)
100% (or paid at 100% for TDIU)A 100% disabled veteran (DAV) and eligible family members can get a DoD Uniformed Services ID card. It gives commissary, exchange and MWR privileges and base access. It is not TRICARE.
Base retail access for all service-connected veterans
Any ratingAll service-connected veterans can use commissaries, exchanges and MWR retail facilities, in person and online, per VA's matrix.
Federal student loan discharge (TPD)
100% (or paid at 100% for TDIU)Veterans whom VA has determined have a service-connected disability rated 100% or are rated totally disabled based on individual unemployability (TDIU) can have eligible federal student loans discharged.
No VA home loan funding fee
10%+Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability are exempt from the VA home loan funding fee, at any compensable rating, not just 100%.
America the Beautiful Access Pass
Other rulesA free, lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability. It doesn't have to be 100% or service-connected.
Military Lifetime Pass (federal lands)
All veteransVeterans (and Gold Star families) can get a free lifetime pass to federal recreation lands. No disability is needed.