An estimated 459,569 veterans live in Illinois, making up 4.7% of the state's population or the 44th-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Illinois Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay is tax free.
Illinois Veteran Property Taxes
Returning veterans: Qualifying "returning" veterans receive a $5,000 reduction to their home's assessed value for two consecutive tax years: the tax year when the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict and the following year.
Disabled veterans: Veterans with a service-connected disability may receive a reduction to their home's assessed value. For veterans with a disability rated 30% to less than 50%, the exemption is $2,500; and for veterans with a rating of 50% to less than 70%, the exemption is $5,000. Veterans with a rating of 70% or more are exempt from property taxes on their primary residence.
Specially adapted housing: Up to a $100,000 reduction in a property's value for taxation purposes is available for homes purchased or modified with a federal Specially Adapted Housing grant for as long as the veteran, spouse or unmarried surviving spouse lives there. Mobile homes purchased with the Specially Adapted Housing grant are exempt from county mobile home tax.
Surviving spouses: The unmarried surviving spouses of service members killed in the line of duty are exempt from property taxes on their primary residence.
Illinois Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
Members of the Illinois National Guard or a Reserve component may qualify for the Illinois Veteran Grant Program, which pays tuition and mandatory fees at state-supported colleges, universities and community colleges. Honorably discharged veterans and currently serving troops may also qualify.
Military Dependent Education
POW/MIA Scholarship: The Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Scholarship provides payment of tuition and certain fees to a state institution consisting of the equivalent of four calendar years of full-time enrollment.
POW/MIA Grant: The Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Grant provides $250 in financial assistance to an eligible veteran or surviving spouse for educational expenses for each child, between the ages of 10 and 18 years, of veterans who died or became totally service-connected disabled.
Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver: The four-year consecutive in-state tuition waiver at the University of Illinois is for natural, step- or legally adopted children of service members who are war conflict veterans.
Illinois Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Honorably discharged veterans who served during wartime get preference in state job hiring.
Educational requirements to join the Illinois State Police are waived for honorably discharged veterans with a campaign service medal for Afghanistan or Iraq. The Illinois Conservation Police waive educational requirements for honorably discharged veterans who have certain campaign medals. The educational requirement for a firefighter or municipal police officer is waived for veterans discharged honorably after 24 months of active duty or 180 days in combat.
Military Spouse Employment
The spouse of a military member transferred to Illinois may receive a temporary expedited professional license good for six months while the full licensure process takes place.
Illinois Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Illinois' five state veterans homes are in Anna, Chicago, LaSalle, Manteno and Quincy. The homes are open to Illinois veterans with military service of one day or more. Veterans who served during a period of war are given precedence in admission, though peacetime veterans, spouses, surviving spouses and Gold Star parents are also eligible. Monthly costs are based on income.
Homeless Veterans
The state's Prince Home at Manteno is a residential program for homeless and disabled veterans. Opened in 2007, it provides housing and supportive services for homeless Illinois veterans.
Through the Veterans Cash Program, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs provides monetary support to nonprofits that assist veterans with housing and homelessness challenges.
Adaptive Housing
See exemption above under "Property Tax."
Illinois Veteran Financial Assistance
Vietnam veteran survivors: Survivors of Vietnam veterans are entitled to $1,000 if the veteran's death is service-connected or is the direct result of service-connected disabilities incurred in the period specified.
Wartime service: A $100 bonus is payable for service during one of the following periods:
- Korea: June 27, 1950-July 27, 1953
- Vietnam: Jan. 1, 1961-March 28, 1973
- Vietnam Frequent Wind: April 29-30, 1975
- Persian Gulf: Aug. 2, 1990-Nov. 30, 1995
- Global War on Terrorism: Sept. 11, 2001-TBD
Veterans must also have one of the following medals: Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Era Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal; and have been a resident of Illinois for 12 months immediately prior to entering service. Some service periods require an honorable discharge and foreign service.
POW compensation: Active-duty members on or after Jan. 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, may receive $50 for each month held captive.
Illinois Veteran Legal Assistance
No state-funded legal services.
Illinois Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Fishing and hunting licenses are not required for disabled veterans receiving 10% or greater service-connected compensation or total disability pension benefits. Veterans who served abroad may be eligible for half-price licenses.
Parks/Camping
State resident veterans with a 100% service-connected disability may receive a lifetime camping fee waiver, available from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, as may former POWs and veterans with the service-connected loss, or loss of use, of one or more limbs.
Illinois Veteran Transportation Benefits
County Veterans Assistance Commissions (VAC) often provide transportation to and from VA medical appointments. Some municipalities provide free bus services to active duty, Guard and reserve members.
Illinois Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
The State of Illinois Veterans Center Cemetery is in Manteno, and the Illinois Veterans Home Cemetery is in Quincy.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits
Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox.
