Hello {First Name},
Please Note>>
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Happy Birthday to the United States Navy
October 13, 1775
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And you thought there was nothing going on! | | |
The VAC Commissioners meetings for 2022 will be held on the following dates:
November 16, 2022
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 - Legion Post 771
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Thanks to all our
Vietnam War Veterans
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September was Suicide Prevention Awareness month. At IDVA, veteran suicide prevention is front and center of our efforts. We have a team of professionals working to educate the community about veteran suicide prevention and to inform veterans in crisis that we are here for them – that there is help available. We have teamed up with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Illinois Governor’s Challenge to harness our resources and knowledge to develop meaningful programs to prevent suicide among service members, veterans, and their families. Our mission is to save lives. Veterans are one and a half times more likely to die from suicide than those who have never served in the military. The average of veterans who die from suicide ranges between 17-22 a day. VA data shows that from 2001-2019, the suicide rate amongst veterans rose by 36 percent. We must be bold, even aggressive in reaching out to veterans. Something as simple as a text message or phone call letting them know, “How are you doing? I’ve got your six. I’ve got your back.” You may never know the tremendous impact this simple gesture could have on the veterans and may even save a life. I challenge everyone to contact a veteran once a week. Imagine if just a quarter of all Illinoisans made that call, that would be 3 million calls a week, easily 3 times as many calls as there are veterans in Illinois.
Click to see the complete newsletter from IDVA
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The PACT Act is a historic new law that will help VA deliver for millions of Veterans — and their survivors — by empowering us to presumptively provide care and benefits to Vets suffering from more than 20 toxic exposure-related conditions. It will also bring generations of Veterans into VA health care, which will improve Veteran health outcomes across the board.
- You can apply for PACT Act-related benefits now by filing a claim at the VAC.
- As President Biden announced at the bill signing, we are making all 23 presumptive conditions in the PACT Act eligible for benefits effective today, August 10, 2022.
We at VAC are ready to implement the PACT Act and deliver for toxic-exposed Veterans and their survivors. If you think you might be eligible for PACT Act benefits, The VAC has developed a clearly written document outlining eligible veterans from all conflicts and the covered diseases.
Click here to download the VAC document.
Click here for a more detailed document from the VA.
Some BIG Words of Caution
With the passage of the PACT Act, you can expect to find the lawyers reaching out in all sorts of ways to help you file your claims for all sorts of diseases related to burn pits and other causes of contamination. Remember that the role of the Veterans Assistance Commission is to help you sort through the new law, your eligibility for filing any claims and then to actually file these claims - all for free!
Advocates Worry Scammers Will Soon Target Vets Due to Receive New Burn Pit Benefits
17 Aug 2022
Military.com | By Drew F. Lawrence
Veterans who have been waiting more than a decade for dedicated burn pit compensation and health care might have one more thing to worry about as they wait for last week's historic toxic exposure legislation to take effect.
Scammers.
President Joe Biden signed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act into law last week. Just days later, as veterans are submitting their claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress is working out funding, one nonprofit is cautioning former service members to be wary of unsolicited contact from people looking to cash in on the moment.
Camp LeJeune Water Contamination - One challenge the VAC cannot file a claim for is the water contamination issue at Camp LeJeune. This problem does not fall under the jurisdiction of the VA. It is a legal claim against the base and the surrounding legal authorities. Therefore if you and/or your family have been affected and wish to file a claim, you must retain a lawyer and sue the government. We have no jurisdiction nor can we help you find the lawyer. We can however assist in helping you to understand what this all means as "coaches" and provide informal support during your process.
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A Last Minute Update
The Lake County Forest Preserve Planning Committee held a good meeting on August 29th which was attended by crowded room full of Veterans from around Northern Illinois, and they listened to approximately twenty of them speak their minds about how important the Fort Sheridan Cemetery is to them. At the end the Committee polled and they were unanimously in favor of moving the 4.7 acre land transfer forward as quickly as possible. It is still a pretty bureaucratic process between 4 government units, but a couple speakers encouraged them to move issues and processes in parallel paths rather that waiting for one after another.
Since there are a number of stumbling blocks ahead, we still encourage all veterans to send a short letter to the Lake County Board members voicing your feelings about transferring this 4.7 acres to the NCA or click the link below to sign the electronic petition.
The electronic petition reads:
We urge the board members of Lake County & Lake County Forest Preserve District to approve the transfer of 4.7 acres of forest preserve property adjacent the Fort Sheridan National Cemetery to the Veterans Administration. If approved the VA has agreed to relieve the district from maintaining the cemetery. The additional land will extend the use of the cemetery for 50 years. We believe that the Fort Sheridan Cemetery is the proper place of honor for our nations defenders and provide comfort for their families. All the chartered Veteran organizations support this project.
Click here to complete and submit the electronic petition
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If you prefer, this petition was recently sent to everyone. In case you missed it, we are including it here also. If you have already submitted your signature, please DO NOT send another one.
We are now in the process of collecting petitions to be submitted to the Forest Preserve District Board (whose members are also the Lake County Board Members). We need your help to reach 20,000 petition signatures. Please click here to print out the petition and sign it. Then ask your neighbors to also sign it. Then mail it to:
Colonel Mike Peck (USA, Ret)
3327 Hutchinson Rd
Mundelein, IL 60060
With your support, we want to submit 20,000 signatures to the Board.
Thanks for your help.
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Have an Appointment at VA? Check in with Your Phone
Smartphone check-in is now available at most VA health facilities including James A Lovell FHCC. Click the title above for easy instructions on how smartphone check-in works. As with so much of the world, this will become the only way to check in for appointments very quickly.
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We now have access to the web at
James A. Lovell FHCC!
Look for the network named "SSID"
the Userid is Guest-VA
and the password is Welcome1
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Get Your Estate Documents in Order!
If you are being treated at Lovell or any other VA center, and you are relying on your spouse or other caretaker to get information, you must have them named and appointed in your Power of Attorney, any HIPPA document and Living Will needed to make decisions about your care. Without the appropriate legal documentation, the staff at Lovell or other medical facilities cannot provide any information to them.
While you're at it, be sure that you have a current will and/or trust documents so that you have defined your desired plans for your estate. Case in point - the children of a deceased vet are attempting to claim assets from a second wife. The trust and will have been able to prevent that.
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From the Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Dear Retiree,
As you may know, Congress made changes to the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to phase out the offset for surviving spouses who are also receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
On January 1, 2023, the SBP-DIC offset will be fully eliminated. That means, beginning in 2023, SBP payments will no longer be offset (reduced) by DIC. Spouses will receive full SBP (issued by DFAS) and full DIC (from the VA).
There is no action you need to take as a retiree for the changes to apply to your surviving spouse. However, you should check your RAS to ensure your SBP beneficiary is up to date. This is especially important if you have a former spouse. Find out more: https://www.dfas.mil/SBPforspouse.
Also, if your monthly premiums are not automatically deducted from your pay, you should ensure your account does not have unpaid monthly premiums. If you pass away with unpaid monthly premiums, this could cause hardship for your survivors. Learn more: https://www.dfas.mil/payforSBP.
For more details on the changes to SBP, see our special SBP-DIC News webpage: https://www.dfas.mil/sbpdicnews
Sincerely,
DFAS Retired & Annuitant Pay
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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.
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"Honoring Those Who Served"
With the attention on the Fort Sheridan National Cemetery, a Vietnam Vet suggested that this would be a good time to remind vets and their spouses about the DOD burial program.
The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to Veterans who have defended our nation.
Upon the family's request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of "Taps." The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the Veteran's parent service of the armed forces.
Click here for more details
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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 the VA Supports Long Term Care Needs
The VA long-term care services include:
- 24/7 nursing and medical care
- Physical therapy
- Help with daily tasks (like bathing, dressing, making meals, and taking medicine)
- Comfort care and help with managing pain
- Support for caregivers who may need skilled help or a break so they can work, travel, or run errands
You can get this care in many different settings—some run by VA and others run by state or community organizations that we inspect and approve.
Care settings may include:
- Nursing homes
- Assisted-living centers
- Private homes where a caregiver supports a small group of individuals
- Adult day health centers
- Veterans’ own homes
See our guide to long-term services and supports.
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This website was developed with the assistance of Lake County Veterans and Family Services. | | |
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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.
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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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Lynch Foundation 7th annual Shoot For The Vets event
Saturday October 8th 2022
Support Our Veterans.
Illinois Largest Outdoor Shooting Facility.
Aurora Sportsman’s Club in Waterman, IL
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WOD for Warriors is a national fundraiser and functional fitness WOD (workout of the day) to honor our nation’s veterans and support Team RWB on Veterans Day.
As part of WOD for Warriors, participants across the nation will complete the Armistice WOD at an in-person event or virtually in the Team RWB App. The WOD includes six rounds representing the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces,11, 19, and 18 reps marking the end of World War I on 11/11/1918, and a 2-minute rest representative of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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Assorted Military Association Meetings
We have now compiled a list of posts, detachments and various associations (currently MOAA, MOWW, ROA, Navy League) and their normal meeting dates and locations. This schedule will expand as we get additional information.
Click here to find your favorite meetings
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Veterans Path to Hope
See website for Veteran Support Resources
805 McHenry Ave Ste D, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815-321-HOPE (4673)
Food Pantry and Home Furnishings
Click for Food Truck - every month, 3rd Thursday)
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Midwest Veterans Closet
Mobile Food Pantry and Clothing
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
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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
-- Mobile Food Pantry and CLC Pop-up Pantry
See below for the Lake and McHenry locations and times
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The rain was pouring and there was a big puddle in front of the pub just outside the Navy base. A ragged old Marine Gunnery Sgt. was standing near the edge with a fishing rod, his line in the puddle.
A curious young Navy fighter pilot came over to him and asked what he was doing.
“Fishing,” the old guy simply said.
“Poor old fool,” the Navy officer thought and he invited the ragged old Marine into the pub for a drink.
As he felt he should start some conversation while they were sipping their whiskey, the smart-ass fighter pilot asked, “And how many have you caught?’
“You’re the eighth,” the old Marine Gunny answered.
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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 - October 2022
VA News -8/31/22 -
Veterans and spouses can connect with companies ready to hire Salesforce professionals through the Hiring Our Heroes Salesforce Fellowship Program, a paid 12-week fellowship involving 55 companies, including Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton, and PenFed Credit Union.
VA News – 9/7/22 – –
- Scammers are Targeting Veterans to Access Their PACT Act Benefits
On August 10, President Biden signed the PACT Act into law. This bill helps millions of Veterans and their survivors, but scammers are now targeting them for their benefits. Download tips (PDF) to avoid these scams.
Watch a video
Click for more information
VA News – 9/14/22 -
· Veterans can receive around $150 per day serving as a county poll worker.
· 60% of counties report a shortage of poll workers for the 2022 election cycle.
· It's easy for Veterans to apply to be poll workers.
VA News – 9/21/22 -
American Corporate Partners (ACP) and its Fortune 500 mentors can help Veterans find meaningful employment outcomes, whether it’s a higher paying job or a promotion. The average starting annual salary for Veterans who use ACP is $86,000.
There are several life insurance programs available for service-connected Veterans. Upcoming changes will expand the benefit to even more Veterans in honor of their service.
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MOAA 8/31/22
While in uniform, we became accustomed to changing jobs or duty locations every few years to support our professional growth and career advancement. That mindset of constantly moving forward may serve you well in your civilian careers.
A provision in the Honoring Our PACT Act allows victims to sue the government for injuries related to exposure at the installation.
From “auxiliary members” to “surviving spouses,” the mission, efforts, and accomplishments of this group continue to grow
MOAA 9/7/22
Here’s what you need to know about the COLA process, which hits major milestones in the coming weeks.
The department will speed up the scheduled, phased-in approach to new benefits outlined in the Honoring Our PACT Act.
A new RAND analysis says data still doesn’t exist to prove claims that community care is a better choice for most veterans.
MOAA 9/14/22
“I encourage others to try and do what I’m doing … not so much competing, but exercising and keeping healthy.”
MOAA 9/21/22
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Here're some sample articles I found recently:
+ + + + + + +
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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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