The state Veterans Affairs department is not the only place to find assistance.

Organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars can provide a variety of assistance and information about veterans’ benefit programs.
Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, thinks those local Legion and VFW posts are a better place for veterans to sign up for benefits.

“Veterans feel more comfortable being with their own at their VFW or American Legion post,” Sandoval said.  “DVA offices are sometimes long distances from many of our folks’ homes. The VFW and American Legion are more accessible.”

Sandoval sponsored a bill awaiting Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s signature to give veterans’ organizations about $3 million. That money would be used to pay for additional staff trained to help veterans obtain benefits.

A myriad of other organizations, both statewide and local, also provide information and assistance. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn’s office maintains a Web site, operationhomefront.org, that contains information about benefit programs and also contains links to other organizations that provide assistance to veterans.

For veterans seeking employment — either new jobs or better ones — the Illinois Department of Employment Security has 67 people stationed in offices throughout the state specifically trained to help veterans. Rich Wuthrich, assistant veterans coordinator with IDES, said the representatives will review a veteran’s qualifications and any medical, family or housing issues that could present “barriers” to employment. The office also will help veterans deal with the stress of job interviews.

“Only veterans get the personal, one-on-one treatment,” Wuthrich said.

The IDES representatives are also meeting with employers, encouraging them to hire veterans and informing them of a newly created $600 tax credit available for hiring veterans of the Middle East conflicts. However, results of the tax credit program will not be known until next year when employers file their state tax returns.

The state also offers a low-interest loan program to veterans to cover 80 percent of the purchase price of a home. Veterans wanting to continue their education can qualify for 128 credit hours at any university, community college or technical school receiving state funds.

Not all aid available to veterans is financial. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the state Department of Healthcare and Family Services plan to launch a 24-hour hot line that will provide psychological assistance to all Illinois veterans. The state also plans to start mandatory screening of all returning Illinois National Guard personnel for traumatic brain injuries. Both post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries may not have obvious symptoms when soldiers return from overseas duty.

--GateHouse News Service