Illinois Benefits Guide for Disabled Veterans 

Yes. Illinois offers two types of free license plates for disabled veterans. The first set of plates is issued at no cost for both options, and applications are processed through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office in Springfield, either in person or by mail. 

Disabled Veteran License Plates 

The Disabled Veteran License Plates are available to any veteran who has a military-service disability and certification from a licensed physician confirming that the disability qualifies them for a disabled plate. Vehicles displaying these plates may park in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities.  

Required documentation includes a VA letter verifying the service-connected disability, a physician’s certification (Disabled Veteran Certification for Parking Placard/Plates), and a DD-214 showing honorable or under honorable conditions discharge. Learn more. 

ISERVE License Plates for 50% Disabled Veterans

Service-Connected Disabled Veteran (ISERVE) License Plates are available to veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected disability rating from the VA, even if their disability does not qualify them for a standard disabled parking plate. Veterans must provide a VA letter confirming a disability rating of 50% or more and a DD-214. Learn more. 

Do Veterans Get Free Car Registration in Illinois?

The first set of Disabled Veteran or ISERVE license plates in Illinois is issued at no cost, which includes the registration fee for that initial set. For renewals and additional vehicles, standard registration fees may apply. Electric vehicles with special military plates are subject to an additional $100 registration fee. 

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Sales Tax on Vehicles in Illinois?

Illinois does not currently offer a general sales tax exemption on vehicle purchases for disabled veterans. Veterans purchasing a vehicle in Illinois are subject to the same state and local sales tax rates as other residents. 

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Tolls in Illinois?

Illinois does not currently provide a blanket toll exemption for disabled veterans on the Illinois Tollway system. However, the Illinois Tollway’s I-PASS Assist program is available to income-eligible individuals and families (household income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines). 

Veterans who need to travel to VA medical appointments can use the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System to be reimbursed for travel costs (including tolls) to and from approved VA healthcare facilities. 

Does Illinois Offer College Benefits to Veterans?

Yes. The Illinois Veteran Grant covers tuition and certain mandatory fees at all Illinois public colleges and universities for eligible veterans. The grant provides up to 120 eligibility units (equivalent to roughly four years of full-time study) and can be used for undergraduate or graduate programs.  

The Ilinois Veteran Grant is not limited to disabled veterans but is available to all qualifying Illinois veterans. The grant covers resident tuition and mandatory fees but does not cover housing, refundable fees, or extramural fees. Find out more. 

To be eligible, a veteran must have been an Illinois resident for at least six months before entering active duty, must have returned to Illinois within six months of separation, must have served at least one year of active duty (unless discharged earlier due to a service-connected disability), and must have received an honorable discharge. 

Do Disabled Veterans’ Dependents Get Free Tuition in Illinois? 

Yes. The Deceased, Disabled, and MIA-POW Veterans’ Dependents Scholarship covers full tuition at any state-supported Illinois college or university for up to four calendar years (120 points), including summer terms. This scholarship is available to the spouse and children of veterans who are either: 

1. 100% service-connected disabled
2. Deceased as a result of service-connected causes 
3. Classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action 

Applications are submitted online through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) student portal. For questions, contact the ISAC Special Awards Unit at 800-899-4722 or the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs at 217-782-3564. 

Additionally, Illinois provides an Educational Opportunity Grant of $250 per year for each child between the ages of 10 and 18 whose parent is a veteran who is 100% service-connected disabled, killed in action, a prisoner of war, or missing in action. 

Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training Support

Illinois supports veterans who prefer “earning while learning” through traditional trade apprenticeships.

• State Approving Agency (SAA): The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs oversees the approval of apprenticeship programs. This ensures that veterans can use their GI Bill for non-traditional education paths like carpentry, firefighting, or heavy equipment operation. 
• On-the-Job Training: Similar to apprenticeships, OJT programs allow veterans to receive VA monthly benefit checks while they are being trained by an employer for a specific skilled position. 
• Employment Preference: Completion of a state-certified apprenticeship can often satisfy the experience requirements for various state and municipal civil service positions. 

Illinois State Veterans Hiring Preference

Illinois grants hiring preference points to veterans applying for state merit positions under the Illinois Personnel Code (20 ILCS 415/8b.7). The points are added to a veteran’s passing examination score: 

• 10 points: Veterans with a service-connected disability or Purple Heart recipients 
• 5 points: Veterans who served during a period of hostilities 
• 3 points: All other qualifying veterans (including National Guard and Reserve members with at least six months of service) 

A 10-point preference is also available to one parent of an unmarried veteran who died from a service-connected cause or whose disability prevents them from qualifying for civil service employment. 

To claim the preference, veterans must submit a certified DD-214 (or NGB-22 for National Guard) and, for the disability preference, a VA letter documenting service-connected disability.

The Veterans Outreach Program provides personalized career counseling and can be reached at (800) 643-8138 or VeteransOutreachByEmail@illinois.gov.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Preference 

Illinois’s Veterans Business Program (VBP) establishes a goal that at least 3% of the total dollar amount of state contracts (representing over $300 million annually) is awarded to certified veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.  

Eligible businesses must have annual gross sales under $150 million, be 51% owned by one or more qualified veterans or service-disabled veterans, and the owners must reside in Illinois. Businesses already certified by the VA or Cook County can take advantage of an expedited certification process. Learn more about VBP certification.

Yes. Illinois resident disabled veterans and former prisoners of war are eligible for free admission and free camping at all Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) state parks and recreation areas. This benefit extends to the veteran’s immediate family (spouse, minor children, and grandchildren under 18) when accompanying the veteran.

To qualify, veterans must obtain a Veterans Disability Certification Card from any IDVA field office. Required documentation includes proof of disability from the VA, Department of Defense, or Military Personnel Records Center. Find out more.

Is Camping Free for Disabled Veterans? 

Resident veterans camp free any day of the week at Illinois state parks if they have either: 

1. a 100% service-connected disability
2. permanent loss of use of a limb
3. a disability requiring a wheelchair or crutches for mobility

 Visit nps.gov for details and how to get your free access pass.

Immediate family (spouse and minor children or grandchildren) can also camp at no additional cost as long as they are staying at the same site with the disabled veteran. 

For premium campsites (Class A, AA, A-P, B/E, B/E-P), there is no camping fee but a $10 utility fee applies if the site has utilities. For basic campsites (Class B/S, B/S-P, C, D), there is no camping fee and no utility fee.

Disabled veterans are also exempt from shelter reservation fees. Veterans must present their IDVA Veterans Disability Certification Card to park staff when obtaining camping permits. See all camping discounts.

Do Disabled Veterans Get Free Hunting and Fishing Licenses in Illinois?

Yes. Veterans receiving 10% or greater service-connected compensation or total disability pension benefits receive a free, permanent hunting and fishing license with no expiration date.

To get a free hunting or fishing license, veterans must present a DD-214 and a Disability Affidavit, both of which can be obtained through a local IDVA Veteran Service Office. Once issued, the license does not need to be renewed. Find out more.

Non-disabled veterans can get a fishing license, a hunting license or a sportsmen’s combination license at one-half the current fee. See all military fee exemptions.

Illinois provides healthcare services to veterans through a combination of federal VA medical facilities and state-operated Veterans’ Homes. The primary federal VA healthcare systems serving Illinois veterans include the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, and the VA Illiana Health Care System, among other facilities throughout the state. 

Illinois State Veterans’ Homes 

Illinois operates five Veterans’ Homes across the state, offering affordable long-term skilled nursing care to aging and disabled veterans and their eligible spouses. Services range from independent domiciliary living (available in Anna and Quincy) to 24/7 skilled nursing care at all five locations. 

1. Illinois Veterans’ Home at Anna: 792 N. Main Street, Anna, IL 62906 | Phone: (618) 833-5394 
2. Illinois Veterans’ Home at Chicago: 4250 N. Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634 | Phone: (773) 794-3763 
3. Illinois Veterans’ Home at LaSalle: 1015 O’Conor Avenue, LaSalle, IL 61301 | Phone: (815) 410-8375 
4. Illinois Veterans’ Home at Manteno: 1 Veterans Drive, Manteno, IL 60950 | Phone: (815) 907-3506 
5. Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy: 1707 N. 12th Street, Quincy, IL 62301 | Phone: (217) 640-2488 

To be eligible for admission, a veteran must have received an honorable discharge, served at least one day of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, and either have service credited to Illinois or have resided in Illinois for at least one year before applying. Find out more. 

Illinois provides several burial and survivor benefits for veterans and their families. These include: 

• Headstone or Grave Marker Reimbursement: When the federal government furnishes a headstone or marker, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs pays up to $125 for the setting of that marker within Illinois. 
• Indigent Veterans Burial: County Veterans Assistance Commissions provide burial assistance for honorably discharged indigent veterans and their immediate family members who lack sufficient funds for funeral expenses.

In addition to Illinois’s specific benefits, disabled veterans also get a wide range of federal VA disability benefits, including: 

• Monthly tax-free compensation payments based on disability rating (calculate it here) 
• Medical care, including mental health services and counseling 
• Special compensation, Aid & Attendance and other financial benefits 
• Home loans and housing benefits 
• Vocational rehabilitation and employment services 
• Education benefits through the GI Bill 
• Survivor benefits 
• Federal hiring preference 

Eligibility for some of these benefits depends on the disability rating percentage. Use the links below to see what federal benefits Illinois veterans can get with a rating of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, etc. 

• 50% VA disability benefits
• 60% VA disability benefits
• 70% VA disability benefits
• 80% VA disability benefits
• 90% VA disability benefits

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

Veterans with a 100% disability rating receive the highest level of federal VA benefits, including: 

• Full monthly VA compensation
• Full VA healthcare coverage
• Dental care
• Adaptive equipment grants

See all federal benefits for a 100% disabled Illinois veteran → 

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents 

Spouses and family members of 100% disabled veterans may also be able to get several benefits: 

• CHAMPVA healthcare  
• DIC eligibility  
• Education benefits  
• Continued property tax exemption  
• Access to Illinois state resources  

Illinois veterans and veterans who served at a military base in Illinois and developed disabilities may be eligible for compensation and VA benefits. 

Illinois Military Bases with Known Toxins 

• Scott Air Force Base (Belleville, IL) 
• Naval Station Great Lakes (Lake County, IL) 
• Chanute Air Force Base (Rantoul, IL) 
• Rock Island Arsenal (Rock Island, IL) 

Hill & Ponton has decades of experience in helping veterans get compensation for conditions caused by exposure to dangerous substances, from Agent Orange to burn pits, jet fuel, and more. Find more bases with toxic exposure or get in touch with our VA disability lawyers for a free evaluation of your case.

Attorney Matthew Hill has written THE book on how to get VA disability compensation and benefits. Get it here free of charge. We also offer a free downloadable version for easy, immediate access.

Legal Resources for Disabled Veterans 

• Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA): Veteran Service Officers available statewide to assist with benefits claims. 
• County Veterans Assistance Commissions (VACs): Local county-level support and advocacy for veterans. 
• Illinois Attorney General Military and Veterans Rights Helpline: Phone: 1-800-382-3000.

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law

Our VA-accredited disability lawyers proudly represent Illinois veterans who were denied or underrated by the VA, with no upfront costs. Contact us for a free evaluation: even if we don’t take your case, we’ll point you in the right direction!