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Hello {First Name},
Please Note>> Click here to load the entire newsletter into a new window
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WE REALLY ARE MOVING - NOW!!
The new offices are located at:
Hawkston Hall II
1790 Nations Drive (second entrance to Nations Drive,
north of Grand Avenue, off of Dilley Rd).
Gurnee, IL 60031
Phone - (847) 377-3344
Email - Veterans@lakecountyil.gov
Website - www.vaclc.org
The office will be closed from July 24 - August 1.
In person appointments will begin on August 2.
Due to the move, and the fact that our editor is on leave, there is limited new content in this edition of the newsletter.
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Veteran Memorials
Around Lake County -
Lake Forest
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Thanks and prayers to all our
Afghanistan Veterans
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The VAC Commissioners meetings for 2023 will be held on the following dates
September 13, 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.
You can also use the link below to log into the meeting: https://meet.goto.com/754472005
OR dial in using your phone.
in United States, call: +1 (312) 757-3121
and use Access Code: 754-472-005
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Remember the Gold Star Families
Gold Star families have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, losing a loved one who served in the military. While we often commemorate their service on holidays like Memorial Day and Veterans Day, it's important to remember them throughout the year. These families need support and recognition beyond just those two days. By honoring their sacrifice and showing them compassion and understanding, we can help ease their burden and ensure they know their loved one's service will always be remembered. Join us in paying tribute to Gold Star families and ensuring they receive the respect and care they deserve every day of the year.
Go to the Gold Star Registry to find a gold star family in your town.
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If you notify VA of your intent to file before August 10, 2023, you may be able to get retroactive payments (payments for the time between when you submitted your intent to file and August 10, 2022). Read the article below for more details. | |
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Deadline Looms for Veterans to Get Retroactive Toxic Exposure Benefits
JUNE 30, 2023
Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images
This article by Leo Shane III originally appeared on Military Times, the nation's largest independent newsroom dedicated to covering the military and veteran community.
Veterans Affairs officials plan a public awareness blitz over the next five weeks to get as many individuals as possible to sign up for new military toxic exposure benefits ahead of an August deadline for retroactive payouts.
The Summer VetFest is part of a year-old, $11.4 million effort connected to the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (better known as the PACT Act), sweeping benefits legislation approved by lawmakers last summer. As many as one in five veterans living in America today could receive new health care or disability payouts as a result of the measure.
[MORE RESOURCES: VA.gov/PACT | MOAA.org/PactResources]
The PACT ACT provides presumptive benefit status for 12 types of cancer and 12 other respiratory illnesses linked to burn pit exposure in the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan and the War in Iraq; hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) for veterans who served in Vietnam; and radiation-related illnesses for veterans who served in several new locations in the 1960s and early 1970s.
“There are millions of veterans and survivors across America who are eligible for new health care and benefits, and we will not rest until every one of them gets what they’ve earned,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement. “That’s what this Summer VetFest is all about: educating veterans, their families, and survivors — and encouraging them to apply today.”
Since the PACT Act was signed into law on Aug. 10, 2022, more than 660,000 veterans have applied for benefits, and the department has paid out more than $1.4 billion.
[GET INVOLVED: Sign Up at MOAA’s Legislative Action Center]
Under federal law, veterans who apply for the PACT Act payouts within a year of the bill signing are potentially eligible for retroactive benefits back to that date. But veterans who enroll after Aug. 9, 2023, will only receive payouts back to their date of filing.
Veteran Affairs officials said that’s the impetus for the July outreach push. By filing ahead of the Aug. 9 deadline instead of after it, veterans who are awarded toxic exposure disability benefits could get tens of thousands of dollars more in payouts.
Department staff have held similar outreach efforts throughout the past 12 months, including a “PACT Act Week of Action” in December, when VA hosted dozens of local information events across the nation.
[RELATED: DoD Officials Offer Updates to Tenant Bill of Rights, Other Quality-of-Life Programs]
Along with new online ads and public service announcements, the new outreach push will include events in all 50 states (plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico) where veterans can apply for PACT Act-related benefits, enroll in VA health care, get screened for toxic exposures injuries, or learn more about VA services.
Veterans or their family members can also get information about PACT Act benefits by visiting the department’s web site or by calling 1-800-MYVA411 (1-800-698-2411).
Veterans can also get more information and filing support from the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County - call 847-377-3344 for an appointment ASAP in order to file tyour intent to file before the August 10, 2023 deadline.
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What the Rule of 55 Means for Your Retirement Distributions | |
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By: Lila Quintiliani
June 07, 2023
AscentXmedia/Getty Images
(This article originally appeared in the June 2023 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)
Generally, you must be 59½ years old before you can start withdrawing money from your retirement accounts penalty-free. This might make retirement planning challenging for those who wish to retire earlier.
Fortunately, an IRS provision makes it possible for those who want, or are forced, to leave their job earlier to take distributions from their retirement savings: the Rule of 55.
What Is It?
The Rule of 55 allows workers who leave their job during or after the year they turn 55 to avoid paying the 10% early withdrawal penalty on their retirement account distributions.
It doesn’t matter why you are leaving, but you must be at least 55 years old in the calendar year you are leaving your job. Not every retirement plan offers early withdrawals, so you will have to ask your employer whether your retirement plan supports this rule.
Read more:
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Finding Caregiver Support While Trying to Build a Life We Don’t Want to Escape From
Thank you Rally Point and Rachel Moyers
Caregiving and caregiver are words that have become everyday vocabulary for many in this country. I not only use these words in my professional life, I also proudly claim veteran caregiver as part of my personal identity.
Over the years, life has thrown my family a few sets of brick walls that we had to navigate around, one being medical retirement. When my husband went through medical retirement, I had no idea that there was a name for the new role I was already taking on. I felt isolated and stressed. We were navigating medical appointments, medications, 2 children under the age of 5, out processing, finding a new place to live and I was in the process of completing my doctorate. In the midst of all this stress, I realized I was lonely and missing the connections I once had with our active-duty family. They didn’t quite understand since we were now on the other side of active-duty life. I ultimately learned I needed what was called peer support.
Click to read the complete article.
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Volunteer Help Wanted!
Catholic Charities Veterans Bike Project is looking for volunteers that know how to do basic bike repairs. We get gently used bikes and would like someone knowledgeable to look them over and do what is needed to have them safe and ready to give to veterans.
This is a 5-year-old program run by the Catholic Charities Veterans Employment Program.
For more information about volunteering please call Mitch Siegel at 847-782-4219.
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What Are Witness Slips
and how do we use them?
Witness slips are a device we can use to communicate with congressional committees as a group of people with a specific interest. Once you figure out how to use them, they are quite easy and allow you to provide your opinion on specific legislation coming through the process.
Click here to see the ILGA user manual that describes how to enter a slip, or to see the slips that are entered.
To make life easier if you are willing to sign witness slips, you probably want to register so you don't have to repeat all your personal information every time. Then it becomes pretty straightforward to get to hearings where you want to post a witness slip and to see who else has posted. You do need to be told what the house or senate bill number is that you are witnessing to.
Click here for a step by step with screen shots to enter and to view witness slips.
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Register your Vet-owned Business to be posted on the VAC Website
The VAS is all about helping veterans in any way possible. One of those ways to to refer vet-owned businesses to our readers. To see what you can present, Click to go to the Partners page and scroll down to the Veteran Owned Businesses. Send an email to the VAC (veterans@veteransassistancecommission.com) with a subject line of "Veterans Business", or contact the VAC through the VAC website directly.
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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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Another Museum worth visiting -
The National Veterans Art Museum,
4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. 2nd floor
Chicago, IL 60641
The sculpture in the picture, dog tags for all the warriors who lost their lives in Vietnam, is currently on exhibit at the Harold Washington Library.
(312) 326-0270 | info@nvam.org
Visit their website
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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.
- Family problems - In Lake County, contact 211 for referral to proper resource.
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VA Life Insurance
If you still need/want to carry some life insurance, the VA has several different options to satisfy different needs. Click on any of the items below to learn more about the coverage and eligibility requirements.
Options and eligibility
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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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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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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:
Until end of July:
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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Post Your Event Flyer
If you want a vet-oriented event posted, please send a flyer to the VAC (veterans@lakecountyil.gov) with a subject line of event flyer not later than the 25th of the month for the next month and we'll include it.
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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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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
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SHERO UNCORKED: VIN EN NOIR
Sunday, August 6, 2023
Shero Uncorked: vin en noir stands alone as a one-of-a-kind event, dedicated to exclusively honoring the experiences of women who served in the military. Grab your ticket and connect to the people, the food, the wine, and the music as we build a bridge of understanding through story telling in an outdoor setting.
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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
Breakfast Anastasia, Waukegan - June 24 2022 10:00
Lunch - Mission BBQ, Gurnee - July 22, 11:00
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
Native American Heritage Council
Building 617 - Base Library
Naval Base Great Lakes
2nd Thursday of Month - 10:00 am
Click here to see complete flyer
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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* What’s the difference between a Navy aircrewman and an otter?
The otter knows he’s not a seal.
* Where do Generals keep their armies?
In their sleevies.
* Why do SEALs fall backwards off the boat?
If they fell forward, they’d still be in the boat.
* Air Force pilot to a seaman: “You’re telling me that you’re in the Navy but can’t swim?”
Seaman: “You’re in the Air Force. Can you fly?”
* Just because there are no complaints, doesn’t all mean parachutes are perfect.
* My papa was a veteran, and he used to boast about how he saved more than 300 sailors from dying from an excruciating death. Turns out he fired the cook.
* What’s the purpose of the propeller?
- To keep the pilot cool. Doubt it? Stop the propeller and watch the pilot sweat.
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Contents From Our Previous Issue
To read the July 1, 2023 Newsletter, go to our prior edition.
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What to Expect at Your C&P Exam
VA compensation and pension (C&P) exams, which are sometimes also called claim exams, are an important part of your claims process. C&P exams help VA rate your disability, which affects how much disability compensation you’ll receive. Watch our YouTube playlist to learn what to expect during your exam.
A personal lesson learned from my recent exam - the C&P results may have a significant impact on your disability compensation so be prepared to challenge the results with doctor's statements and get the support of the VAC for professional skills at contesting the C&P results.
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t Helps to Stay In Touch With the
James A. Lovell FHCC
To stay in touch with the James A. Lovell FHCC, subscribe to the “Launch”, the Lovell Newsletter.
To get a subscription, – click here.
Here is a directory of the resources at James A. Lovell FHCC. To access the electronic directory, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Herre 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.
Click here to subscribe to the Weekly VA Newsletter.
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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 - July 2023
With a VA cash-out refinance loan you can replace your current loan with a new one under different terms. If you want to take cash out of your home equity or refinance a non-VA loan into a VA loan, a cash-out refinance loan may be right for you. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply.
- Disability Benefits for Eligible Dependents
If you have a 30% or higher disability rating from VA, you can add dependents to increase your compensation benefits. A spouse, child, or in some circumstances, a parent can be considered a dependent. For Veterans who didn’t add any eligible dependents to their benefit claim when you originally submitted, it’s not too late. Learn how to add a dependent to your VA disability benefits.
VA News - 7/5/23 -
United Through Reading keeps military families reading ready, no matter the distance, providing the opportunity for service members and Veterans to video record story time for a child they love. You can download their FREE app from your favorite app store and send your story today.
VA News - 7/12/23 -
Discounts offer the benefits of connecting with nature without breaking the bank. Whether you opt for a peaceful tent-stay under the stars or an extended scenic adventure, as a Veteran you and your family have many options to save when planning your next expedition.
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Insights from MOAA
(Military Officers Association of America)
MOAA 7/5/23
After the death of your spouse, you face decisions like where and with whom to live. One surviving spouse shares her experience.
MOAA 7/12/23
The procedures target multiple diseases, including breast and prostate cancer, and help determine the best treatment options.
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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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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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