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Hello {First Name},
Please Note>>
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Spring Is In The Air!
It is hard to believe it really is, since it is snowing vigorously as this is written, but by the time you receive this, we'll all be thinking about putting the snow shovels away and getting the garden shovels out. Many of us will have our taxes filed or almost done. Hopefully, spring will also bring health and satisfaction that we've made it through another winter and daylight savings time and summer are on the way.
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The VAC Commissioners meetings for 2023 will be held on the following dates
NOTE CHANGE!!!
March 8, 2023
May 17, 2023
September 20, 2023
November 15, 2023
At the Gurnee American Legion Post (749 Milwaukee Ave).
All meetings begin at 10:30 am.
Visitors are welcome to attend.
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Veteran Memorials
Around Lake County -
Gurnee
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Thanks and prayers to all our
World War II
Veterans
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AFrom the VA Benefits - February
Have you recently been contacted by a company aggressively seeking to legally represent you in filing presumptive VA claims authorized by the PACT Act? If so, be wary as the company might be seeking a portion of your VA benefits.
Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act) represents the biggest expansion of Veteran benefits in history, and many Veterans may be eligible to receive compensation for their service. The PACT Act adds 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension, with the expansion of presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure by including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure.
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The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Foundation has created a new Crisis Relief Fund (CRF) program.
Source - Terry Prince, Director of IDVA and MOAA
Background on the CRF program: It’s a new initiative providing financial assistance to individuals and families who experience a natural disaster or crisis situation. As one of, or possibly the only, fund of its kind that doesn’t require a VA disability rating from veterans, this program has proven vital to the veteran community; in four short months, they have disbursed more than $50,000 to those in need.
Click here for a description of the program.
Please feel free to share with your vet friends.
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The VAC (Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County) is chartered to represent all Veterans in Lake County, IL. Therefore, the membership of the Commission is composed of delegates from various local veteran service organizations such as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion (AML), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Veterans (AMVETS), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and many others.
The VAC was founded in 1926, in response to veterans looking for a source for assistance with a myriad of needs. The Military Veterans Assistance Act requires the VAC to serve as the central service office within each county, providing any needed services for all Veterans and their families. Since our founding, the VAC has continued to act as the premier Veterans Service Organization in Lake County by serving Veterans from all eras and conflicts.
We conduct quarterly meetings to discuss advocacy for the benefit of Veterans, budgeting, staffing, VA, Federal, and State legislative activities related to veterans.
If you are a member of a local Veteran Service Organization that has not provided your delegate appointment for Calendar year 2023, please contact your organization’s Commander to name a delegate, and to submit a signed delegation form to VAC as soon as possible. By law, delegate appointments are required annually between January 1st and March 1st. If your organization does not have an authorized delegate, it will not be able to vote on Commission programs.
If you are a member of a local Veteran Service Organization that is not currently represented, we are interested in having you join our commission by sending a delegate to our meetings, so please contact us at 847-377-3344.
In any case, if you would like to learn more about the Veterans Assistance Commission, you are welcome to attend our Commission meetings. The next one will be held on March 8, 2023 at the Gurnee American Legion Post 771, 749 N. Milwaukee Ave, Gurnee at 10:30 am.
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With the passage of Public Act 102-0732, the Illinois legislature has reinforced the defined budgeting for the Veterans Assistance Commission. The Lake County Board has also approved a budget for 2023 reflecting that change. This means that the VAC will be able to expand its resources, both staffing and facilities, beginning now.
- The hiring process is well underway for the new VSO and for the two new Administrative Assistants. We are hopeful that this process will be completed shortly.
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In tax season, how can Veterans maximize their tax benefits?
As a Veteran, you may be eligible for certain tax benefits under the tax code. It’s important to file your taxes before this year’s April 18 deadline and be aware of the benefits that apply to you.
Here’s a summary of some of the key tax benefits for military Veterans provided by accountant and tax expert Lisa Greene-Lewis of TurboTax. And don’t forget: Tax advice that applies to civilians can benefit you too.
Read the complete article.
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2022 Tax rebates are not taxable
In Illinois, the State tax rebate ($50-100) and the property tax rebate (up to $300) paid in 2022 do not need to be reported on your federal tax return.
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Prepare Your Taxes with Free AARP Aide
With tax season here, file now with the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide Service. The volunteer-run program helps the military community file state and federal tax returns. Trained Tax-Aide volunteers are nationwide and IRS-certified each year to ensure they understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Tax-Aide is free and available either virtually or in-person (by appointment only) to all Veterans, service members, and their families regardless of age or whether they are AARP members.
Here's the complete VA News Article.
To find a Tax-Aide link for lake County and northern Cook County locations, click here.
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What The Recently Signed SECURE 2.0 Act Means
Congress has recently expanded the requirements for creating retirement plans, especially for smaller companies, and also for managing your retirement plans. Here are some of the highlights:
- Catch up contributions will be enhanced for older employees.
- RMD Age will go up. RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) applies to original IRAs where you must begin taking distributions at a specific age.
- QCDs (Qualified Charitable Donations) has been expanded to include one-time donations to charitable trusts.
- Roth IRAs have some new enhancements.
- Penalty calculations are changing, some new exceptions and reduction for missed withdrawals.
- Coming in the next couple of years is automatic enrollment in companies.
Click to read a more detailed description of the scope of the Secure 2.0 Act.
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Headline and part of this article are taken from Daily Herald, 1/23/2023. Click here to read the original article.
This article highlights the importance of getting to a safe place for crisis care at the nearest hospital facility and it implies that the treatment will be free for veterans. The initial, emergency care treatment will, in fact, be free – as it is for everyone (Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA ) passed 1986). The implication of the article is that the whole hospital stay will be free – if the veteran meets the veteran qualifications. However, there is a bit of a glitch in this implication. Not only must a veteran meet the service qualifications, but they must also be registered with the Veterans Administration. If they are not registered, it is likely that the bill for service beyond emergency care will be paid out of their own pocket.
Following the Daily Herald article, the VA had a more clarifying article:
VA Announces Free Emergency Health Care for Veterans in Suicidal Crisis - Discuss on RallyPoint Now
VA recently announced that Veterans in acute suicidal crisis can go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit.
For Lake County, the primary veteran facility is the James A. Lovell Federal Health Center in North Chicago. For emergency crisis care call 988. For non-emergency mental health care, contact the Mental Health Clinic at 224-610-3744.
The BIG implication of this, to avoid any last minute issues with who might be paying the bill, is that every veteran should become registered with the most convenient VA facility whether they want to use the services right away or not. In this way, when there becomes an emergency that does require VA support, they will be visible and “pre-qualified” in the VA system.
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Adapted from Article provided by Hill & Ponton P.A. Updated: February 8, 2023
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has introduced budget options that might significantly reduce your veteran’s disability benefits. First, the VA may stop making Individual Unemployability (IU) payments to veterans age 67 or older, which is the full retirement age for social security benefits. Second, veterans receiving IU after December 2021 would no longer receive those payments after they reach age 67 and no new applicants age 67 or older would be eligible for IU benefits after that date. Third, congress is trying to narrow eligibility for for VA’s disability compensation by excluding veterans with low disability ratings.
What is Individual Unemployability?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides disability compensation to veterans with medical conditions or injuries that were incurred or worsened during active-duty service.
The amount of this compensation depends on the severity of the disability, which is rated on a scale from zero to 100 percent.
In addition, the VA may increase certain veterans’ disability compensation to the 100 percent level even though the department has not rated their service-connected disabilities at that level.
To receive the resulting supplemental compensation, termed Individual Unemployability (IU), disabled veterans must apply for the benefit and meet the following criteria:
· Must be rated between 60 and 90 percent disabled
· VA must determine veteran cannot maintain substantially gainful employment because of the severity of their disability
Receipt of IU is not based on age, voluntary withdrawal from work, or other factors.
If you believe this might affect your disability compensation, contact the VAC at 847-377-3344.
Click to read the full article.
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Jesse Brown was the first African-American Naval Aviator to see combat.
American Legion | By Adam Makos
On Dec. 4, 1950, Navy pilot Jesse Brown was shot down over North Korea.
In a violent crash, his Corsair fighter came to rest on a snowy mountainside behind enemy lines. The impact snapped the nose of his plane, pinning the ensign within the wreckage. Smoke appeared, the telltale sign of a fire. It was about 3 p.m., during one of the coldest winters on record.
Ten minutes earlier, Brown had been flying close air support to try to save U.S. soldiers and Marines who were surrounded at the Chosin Reservoir, outnumbered 10 to one. That’s when a lucky shot from a Chinese Communist soldier hit his oil tank.
Read the whole story here:
'We'll Be Back For You': Jesse Brown and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
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The University Center of Lake County is comprised of both public and private universities providing a variety of academic programs to help our residents best prepare for their current or future careers. We provide over one hundred majors for students to choose from among bachelor degrees, graduate certificates, including teacher endorsements, and professional development courses. Our programs prepare our students in areas such as Business, Computer Science/Information Systems, Education, Engineering, Health Care & Human Services, Legal Studies, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Technology.
Students apply to and graduate from an individual college or university who offer fully-accredited degrees where academic standards and quality are rigorously maintained by the faculty of each institution.
Flexibility is key therefore, classes are scheduled in a variety of delivery formats that appeal to adult learners: evenings or weekends; face-to-face, online, or hybrid; vary in duration by semester (16 weeks), quarter (10 weeks), or quad (6-, 7-, 8-weeks).
The Center is hosting two new events, a FAFSA workshop and an event new to the University Center of Lake County, “Zoom In Express Advising”.
These events are exciting and informative for the students who are considering returning to college.
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Another Banner Year for the VAC!
- $191,375,379 – Total VA Compensation and pension payments won for Lake County Veterans
- $12,539,932 – New VA Benefits won for Lake County Veterans
- $243,936 – Total Financial Assistance provided to needy and indigent Lake County Veterans
- 2300 – Nights of emergency housing provided
- 80% - Claim approval rate
- 6,513 – Total VA Forms filled out
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IDVA Released Its 5-year
Strategic Plan
Action items fall under three priorities:
- IDVA People
- Veteran Experience
- Operational Excellence
Read the full strategic plan here
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What is a Secondary Claim?
Secondary service-connected claim—file a claim for a new disability that’s linked to a service-connected disability you already have.
You can file a secondary claim to get more disability benefits for a new disability that’s linked to a service-connected disability you already have.
For example, you might file a secondary claim if you:
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Develop arthritis that’s caused by a service-connected knee injury you got while on active duty, or
- Develop heart disease that’s caused by the high blood pressure you were diagnosed with while on active duty and that we’d previously concluded was connected to your service.
Contact the VAC (847-377-3344) if you think you might be eligible for filing a secondary claim.
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Northern Illinois Food Bank provides food through a network of 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth and senior centers, and has a number of other direct distribution programs to assist hungry neighbors. The Food Bank acquires donated food directly from manufacturers, as well as retail stores through our Food Recovery and Direct Connect programs.
You might have noticed the schedule of mobile food pantries further down in this newsletter. In the newsletter, these only cover Lake and McHenry Counties. However, there are also mobile pantries in 9 additional Counties. In addition there are "Pantry Express" sites where you can order food to be picked up at one of the Pantry Express locations, or, if you meet to mileage requirement, have the food delivered to your home.
If you are interested in supporting Northern Illinois Food Bank by volunteering (as I do), Click here to see the types of volunteer opportunities you can sign up for and where they are.
If you have any questions, contact Allan Ayers at 847-377-3344
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IACVAC Hosting A Seminar for VSOs
This all-day seminar will include several topics of immediate interest to VSOs:
- Pact Act
- Veteran Suicide Prevention
- Disability Compensation and Appeal Options
- VA Health Care
- State of Illinois Veteran Benefits
- Non-Service-Connected Pension and Survivor Benefits
Register with Steven Fixler by clicking here
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The American Legion Illinois Premier Boys State is a week that shapes a lifetime!
If you haven’t heard about it, click here to learn more about it.
86th Session – June 10th – 16th, 2023 – Hosted at Eastern Illinois University
If you have a young an who might be interested in this program, contact the 11th District Commander, Virgil Oikian, at 815-302-3015 or email him at kingbear43@yahoo.com.
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In all the situations below, you can always contact the VAC (847-377-3344) directly for further assistance. If you are struggling with rent or mortgage payments with the elimination of pandemic forbearance programs, Call the VAC immediately!
- Rent or Mortgage payments or Emergency Housing
- Utility payments
- Food - Northern Illinois Food Bank - See Schedule or
- Midwest Veterans Closet (See the calendar below)Medical Care - Contact VAC when civilian benefits lost - Do not go to VA if not registered with them. Contact the VAC to get you registered.
- Most VA visits are currently by Video Conference
- Family problems - In Lake County, contact 211 for referral to proper resource.
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How to Get a VA Certificate of Eligibility
If you couldn’t get in on the low interest rates of earlier this year, but you want to get a VA loan or a Native American Direct Loan to buy a house, interest rates are still about one percent below commercial rates. The first step is to get your COE. National Guard members and reservists are eligible for a VA home loan if they have completed at least six years of honorable service, are mobilized for active duty service for a period of at least 90 days, or are discharged because of a service-connected disability. See the reservist details here.
In any case, the first step is getting your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). It confirms for your lender that you qualify for the VA or NAD home loan benefit. Learn how to apply for your COE online.
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Lovell FHCC is hosting a
Women's Health tele-townhall
Tuesday, March 21, at 11 a.m. - Our monthly Tele-Town Hall will be focused on our female patient population and our Women's Health Clinic in March, but open to all patients who would like to listen in, or ask a question of leadership. It is applicable to both TRICARE and VA patients.
A small sample size of our Women's Health Clinic patient populations will be called to participate in these events. If you would like to sign up to participate or opt out of this event or future events, send an email with your phone number to FHCC.Feedback@va.gov.
If you are not already on the call list, contact nicholas.sanchez@va.gov to be added.
For more information, click here.
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If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, you can file a claim for disability benefits 180 to 90 days before you leave the military. This may help speed up the claim decision process so you can get your benefits sooner. Find out how to file a claim through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program—and what to do if you have less than 90 days left on active duty.
The VAC also assists in filing BDD Claims.
You can use the BDD program if you meet all of these requirements.
All of these must be true:
- You’re a service member on full-time active duty (including a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or Coast Guard), and
- You have a known separation date, and
- Your separation date is in the next 180 to 90 days, and
- You’re available to go to VA exams for 45 days from the date you submitted your claim, and
- You can provide a copy of your service treatment records for your current period of service when you file your claim.
Learn more here.
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Heads Up, Folks -
Some Lovell support functions are moving to Bldg 135: Med Records; Release of Info; DAV; Amvets; others. The VAC LC is also expected to have offices there shortly.
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VA is Here for You During Times of Emotional Distress
Feeling distress is a normal response to negative events, especially events that feel personal. Veterans and those who care about them are encouraged to learn more about available mental health and healing resources.
Call the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 at 988.
Every VA facility has mental health specialists. Find one near you.
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Call 211 for Social Services
in Lake County
Anyone in Lake County who needs help finding health and human service support can call 211 and get quickly connected to available resources. Lake County 211, provided by United Way of Lake County, is a free, confidential information and referral helpline that will enable Lake County residents to get the help they need 24 hours a day, regardless of the language they speak or where they live.
The 211 network also answers dozens of crisis hotlines, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Know Someone Who Can Use Veteran Benefit Assistance?
If you have a veteran parent or know someone who might be eligible for some kind of benefits for their service, we encourage you to mention the VAC to them. We can assist with many different issues:
- Aid and Attendance Assistance
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Survivor spousal benefits
- Burial arrangements
- Upgrading disability status
- Job skill preparation
- Referrals for services we cannot support.
If you or another veteran you know needs help, give us a call at 847-377-3344.
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Your Coin Helps Vets In Need Through the VAC Not For Profit
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Coins are $5.00 and you can pick one up when you come into the office, or you can send a check (make the check out to "Lake County VAC - Not-for-Profit - and mail to the address below) and we'll mail it to you. Mail check to:
Veterans Assistance Commission
501 North Route 21, Suite 106
Gurnee, IL 60031
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If you're wondering what the VAC and other veterans organizations are doing. | | |
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Sunrise Rotary Comedy Event
Make a party out of supporting the Sunrise Rotary fund raising event. This Rotary Club has been very generous with the Allen J Lynch MOH Foundation and other veteran programs, so we ask that you help them raise the funds to continue supporting the veteran community.
Tickets and show details can be found at "https://one.bidpal.net/secondcity"
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From Military Outreach USA
You are invited to participate in an educational ZOOM SBMH (Stand-by-me Heroes) Townhall – every 4th Thursday, 7 pm Central. The topic will be “Suicide prevention/Solutions”. These ZOOM SBMH Townhalls are meant to help those quietly suffering and asking for anyone to “stand-by-me”. Click here for the details about these ZOOM townhalls.
Stand-by-me Heroes (SBMH) is a program of Military Outreach USA MOUSA).
See www.militaryoutreachusa.org and Stand-By-Me Heroes – MILITARY OUTREACH USA
MOUSA CEO Major General (Retired) James H. Mukoyama and Executive Director Chappy Ferrer are dedicated to reducing veteran suicides (22+ per day, possibly 40+) and First Responder suicides. Since 2018, this grass-roots program has effectively impacted our heroes and their families changing mind, body and soul with a simple framework, called Warrior Hope.
MOUSA can be reached at 877-734-4244 • MilitaryOutreachUSA.org
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Midwest Veterans Closet
Food Pantry,Clothing, Shoes/Boots
Housewares, Linens
Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday -
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Food (Grocery Style selection)
Clothing, Housewares, and
LOTS of Furniture
2323 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL
847-354-2108
Mundelein Park District
Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies
1401 N. Midlothian Rd, Mundelein, IL
mundeleinparks.org - 847-566-0650
Click for details
Lake Zurich American Legion Post 964
51 Lions Drive
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Coffee and Donuts - Every Tuesday, 8:30 - 10:30 AM
Mundelein American Legion Post 867
145 N. Seymour (Behind Taste of Paris, next to Rogan Shoes
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Coffee and Donuts - Every Wednesday, 8:00 - 10:00 AM
Chicagoland North Chapter, Team RWB
Click for Chapter website
Contact David Christensen
Lots of events scattered around Lake County
Lake County Honor Flight Reunions
Meet 4th Saturday each month (Dec meet 3rd Saturday)
Lunch - Mission BBQ, Gurnee - Feb 18, 11:00
Breakfast Golden Corral, Gurnee - Mar 22, 2022 10:00
Animal Therapy for Veterans
Veterans and their families are invited to
Veterans’ Weekend at the SOUL Harbour Ranch, Barrington, IL
Last Sunday of each month.
TIME: 10:30am to Noon
WHERE: SOUL Harbour Ranch
22093 N. Countryside Lane, Barrington, IL 60010
www.soulharbourranch.com/
RSVP: Jodie @ 855-408-SOUL (7685)
QUESTIONS: Contact veteran liaison
USAF Pilot, Lt. Colonel Gina Stramaglio 316-708-9788
Northern Illinois Food Bank
There are three types of resources within NIFB
-- My Pantry Express
Pre-register at the link and order from list of items - limited locations and times -
See below fore the Lake and McHenry County locations and times, or click to see other counties.
-- Mobile Food Pantry and CLC Pop-up Pantry
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Funny (and maybe not so funny) Tax Quotes
- “If you put the Federal Government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there would be a shortage of sand.” – Milton Friedman
- “I could end the deficit in 5 minutes… You just pass a law that says anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for reelection.” – Warren Buffet
- “An economy constrained by high tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance the budget, just as it will never create enough jobs.” – John F. Kennedy
- “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: if it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it.” – Ronald Reagan
- “Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt.” – Herbert Hoover
- “In case you didn’t know, ethanol is made by mixing corn with your tax dollars.” – Paul A. Gigot, Wall Street Journal Editor
- “Where there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.” – Plato
- “Few of us test our powers of deduction, except when filling out an income tax form.” – Laurence J. Peter
Thank you Tax Facts, Inc.
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I blame my lack of observational skill on my age now, but I just noticed that there are a set of menu tabs on the #VetResources page of the weekly VA News (Vantage Point). These tabs have lots of information and are generally easy to follow. | |
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VA Benefits - February 2023
If you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or is rated permanently and totally disabled, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, also called Chapter 35. Find out if you're eligible for DEA.
VA News - 2/1/23 -
If you served in the Vietnam, Gulf War or Post-9/11 eras, you may be eligible for expanded VA benefits. The PACT Act provides disability compensation, health care, free toxic exposure screens and more to Veterans who were exposed to toxins during their military service. You can submit a claim for your PACT Act-related benefits now. Visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MY-VA-411 to learn more and file your claim.
VA News - 2/8/23 -
VA Women’s Health Reengagement Training (heaRT) discusses how to apply for and use VA health care to educate women Veterans on the VA health care they earned and deserve. Here are seven things you need to know about the training.
VA News - 2/15/23 -
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Insights from MOAA
(Military Officers Association of America)
MOAA 2/2/23
MOAA 2/15/23
We’ll return to Capitol Hill in person in April. Learn about our fight to protect earned benefits and support the all-volunteer force.
Learn more about the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, commonly known as Chapter 35 benefits
The group will advocate for women servicemembers and military families.
MOAA 2/22/23
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Here're some sample articles I found recently:
There are mistakes on your resume. Wrong words. Missing words. Misspelled words. Repeated facts. Why is it that veterans and spouses work so hard on their resumes and still make embarrassing mistakes? You are not stupid. Your brain is sometimes a really clumsy helper. Be sure your resume is error free with our guide.
+ + + + + + +
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There is far too much in the various issues of Military.Com to write or even extract from them. The trick is to find the pieces that are important to you. Therefore, we have provided a graphic that shows the various dropdown choices. As you will see, there is information on general news – with the choice to see the news for your own branch, service benefits, Job and transition support, military life and family issues. I get several versions, and then I’ll scan for titles that seem to be related to me. For example, I decided to try the the Veteran Jobs tab for Lake County. It provided over 400 postings for Lake County and Northern Cook County. See the dropdowns below. Then you can click on military.com to set up a subscription and select versions that you are interested in.
In addition, there are a wide assortment of resource links (including discounts for vets and families) to find other specific information. You might want to give the magazine a look.
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Below are the available hot links to some of the various VA Resources available. The actual hot links can be accessed at the bottom of the welcome kit . | |
How do you get "Veteran" on your driver's license?
Effective January 1, 2020, it will be easier to get "VETERAN" recorded on your driver's license. To get the “VETERAN” designation, veterans can bring their DD214 or other acceptable discharge document directly to a Secretary of State Driver Services facility.
If veterans choose to add the designation prior to their renewal date, they may obtain an updated driver’s license for $5 and an updated ID card for $10. Veterans over the age of 65 can obtain an updated state ID card at no cost.
A special note - If you are an older Vet and your DD214 was lost in the St. Louis fire in the early 1970's, you can obtain a "certificate" that replaces the DD214. However, for one vet we know, the DMV didn't accept that certificate.
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If you need a complete set of your military records
If you need a set of your military records for any reason, you can obtain them by faxing or mailing a request to the National Personnel Records Center. While they will accept a letter (if you get all the right information into it) it is best to use the standard form SF-180 to request it. You can download that form at Standard Form 180
Mail the completed form to:
National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63138.
OR
Fax the form to 314-801-9195
If you need the records in emergency circumstances, contact our office (847-377-3344) and we can help you expedite the process.
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Deerfield - co-located with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Deerfield Facility
1755 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 1409
Deerfield, IL 60015-5209
847-948-6981 and 847-948-6982
Hours Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Palatine - located in the Palatine Township offices at:
721 S. Quentin Rd, Room 102
(847) 485-2772
Hours Monday -Thursday
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Factual Accuracy and Disclaimer:
Accuracy is important to us. if you believe an error has been made, please email the Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission at veterans@lakecountyil.gov. Use of social media does not imply endorsement on the part of the VAC. Content on these sites is not edited for accuracy and may not necessarily reflect the views of the VAC.
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Have a good week,
Veterans Assistance Commission, Lake County
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