Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

Rules, Procedures & Eligibility Standards

The Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of HENRY County is a County Governmental Agency operated by and for U.S. Veterans. The VAC is authorized to act as the central committee for veterans' assistance in HENRY County under the Military Veterans Assistance Act (330 ILCS 45/1 et. seq.) and is funded in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/1-1001 et. seq.).

The Veteran Assistance program is an emergency and interim financial assistance program and should NOT be considered to be an ongoing financial supportive program.

All assistance provided by the VAC is predicated on the established standard of need as set forth by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). It is not the intent of either the Commission or the County to provide assistance either less than or in excess of the levels of assistance adopted by the IDHS.

Applicants

Applicant for the Veterans Assistance shall be residents of HENRY County and unable to provide food, shelter, and medical care for themselves or their dependents. Applicants must have applied for Public Aid including the township where the veteran lives, (examples include but are not limited to AFDC , Food Stamps and medical) and registered and working with IDES, Vet Reps; if able to work.

To be determined exempt from employment, a veteran must provide documentation from the VA, the veteran's VA physician or another federal or state agency which unambiguously states the veteran is presently unable to work due to a disability. If the documentation does not state the reason for remaining unemployed is PERMANENT and TOTAL, the veteran shall update the VAC as to employment every 3 months.

Applications

Every veteran has the right to receive and submit a written application for Veterans Assistance.

Eligibility

Applicants for assistance from the VAC must present a DD-214 or Certificate of Service showing Honorable Discharge or General Under Honorable Conditions.

If the applicant does not have a DD-214 or Certificate of Service, he/she must authorize the VAC to obtain a copy of the appropriate records before assistance can be approved.

  • Eligible Veterans
    • A veteran whose last period of active military service was Honorable and met the "time in service" requirement for the era in which the veteran served or the veteran was discharged for a disability incurred in the line of duty (not as a result of the member's own misconduct) that was found to be service connected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Veterans Who Began Active Service After September 7, 1980
    • Must complete a minimum of 24 consecutive months of active duty or one day of combat during a period of hostilities as recognized by the President and Congress of the United states of America (38 CFR 3.12(a))
  • Veterans Who Began Active Service Before September 8, 1980
    • Must complete a minimum of 181 consecutive active duty days or one day of combat during a period of hostilities as recognized by the President and Congress of the United States of America
  • Reservists or National Guard Members
    • Who were activated or federalized by the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense during a period of hostility, was mobilized to the theater and completed the term for which the member was activated
  • Any Honorably Discharged Reservist or National Guard Member
    • Who was federally activated and served honorably for a minimum of 24 consecutive active duty months for service other than active duty for training
  • Service Connected Disability
    • If a chronic illness or injury found to be related to the veterans military service to a degree of 0% or greater by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Residency
    • As provided by the Illinois Counties Code (55ILCS May 5, 2006), the funds provided by the VAC of HENRY County for its assistance programs are obtained solely from appropriated tax monies levied on property owners in HENRY County. Therefore, all veterans, and their families, seeking assistance from the VAC of HENRY County shall be residents of the state of Illinois and shall have been residents of the county of HENRY for at least sixty (60) consecutive days prior to seeking assistance, with no present intent to move from HENRY County
  • Indigence
    • Standards of indigence are applied by the Department of Human Resources in the State of Illinois and the Standards of Indigence set by the Veterans Assistance Commission
  • Veterans Death
    • Eligible Dependents/Spouses upon Death of Veteran: If the dependent is less than 18 years of age and/or you are the spouse of the veteran, assistance may be granted. (Death Certificate required)
  • Misconduct
    • Involves deliberate or intentional wrongdoing with knowledge of or wanton and reckless disregard of its probable consequences. Such a discharge would bar a veteran from Veterans Assistance

Definition of Terms

Honorable Discharge

  • Is a discharge in which the character of discharge is described as honorable. A General Under Honorable Conditions does not meet these criteria unless the service members discharge was the result of a service connected disability as recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and not the members own misconduct. (guidance provided by the IL 2nd Circuit April 2010, 2-01-0787)

Last Period of Service

  • Refers to the last period of active military service or discharge, whether the veteran has served more than one term of Active Military service and has more than one discharge. (330 ILCS 45/2)

Active Military Service

  • Is full time service in a branch of the United States Military as opposed to Reserve duty where a member is still in the military but not actively engaged. Active duty for training, service as a Cadet or Midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy, United States Air Force Academy, or in any component of the Reserve Officers Training Corps is not considered as qualifying service. (38 USC § 3.6)

Assistance Provided upon Qualification

Currently, we are limited to $200 assistance per month per eligible, qualified veteran.

Food Purchases & Personal Items

  • Dependent upon the number of qualifying household members

Utility Bills

  • Utility payments will be made, providing the applicant qualifies in other respects. No deposits or past due charges will be paid to the utility company

Rent Payments

  • This Veterans Assistance office does not pay security deposits, back rents or home finding fees. Rents shall not be paid to relatives; unless it is a separate rental dwelling


Other Services We Provide

  • Free Transportation to VA Medical Center in Iowa City and to Community Based Out-Patient Clinic (CBOC) in Davenport (21 days advance notice is required)
  • Help in obtaining military records (Standard Form 180)
  • Memorial Day Flags, Markers, and Rods for Veterans' gravesites
  • Assistance with the VA Healthcare Enrollment Application (VA Form 10-10EZ)