State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Illinois

Illinois offers military-pension tax relief, a disabled-veteran homestead exemption, and tuition benefits for qualifying veterans and National Guard members. State service officers provide free benefits assistance, and veterans can use state homes and qualifying recreation and employment benefits.

Checked against official state sources on October 3, 2026.

Free help in Illinois

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

Illinois' state department for veterans.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: 217-782-6641

Free help with VA claims

Accredited state Veteran Service Officers give free assistance to veterans, dependents, and survivors. Use IDVA's VSO lookup.

Find a local office (opens in a new tab)

Not sure what applies to you?

Answer seven questions and the Benefits Finder builds a checklist of federal and state benefits, deadlines and free help.

Open the Benefits Finder

Property tax relief

Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities

Who qualifies
Main pathway described here: veterans with a service-connected disability of 70% or more who own or lease their primary single-family residence and are liable for its property taxes.
What you get
The first $250,000 of equalized assessed value of the residential property is exempt, as published for 2026.
How to apply
Contact the local county assessor to apply and confirm the county's deadline.

Official page (opens in a new tab) 35 ILCS 200/15-169

Sources (3)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Exempt

Military retirement income subtraction

Who qualifies
Recipients of federally taxed military retirement or government disability-plan income.
What you get
Illinois excludes qualifying military retirement income included in federal adjusted gross income.
How to apply
Claim the retirement-income subtraction on Form IL-1040, line 5.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (2)

Education and tuition

Illinois Veteran Grant

Who qualifies
Main pathway: at least one year of honorable federal active-duty service. The applicant must have been an Illinois resident at entry or within the preceding six months, or enrolled at an Illinois public college at entry, and establish Illinois residency within six months after service. A separate pathway covers current residents with 15 consecutive Illinois years after service. Residence during enrollment and the college's grade standards apply; active-duty and military-spouse exceptions exist.
What you get
Tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois public universities and community colleges for undergraduate or graduate study, up to four academic years of full-time enrollment or 120 eligibility units.
How to apply
Apply to ISAC with documentation of all service periods. Notify the college of eligibility by the last scheduled class day of the term.

Official page (opens in a new tab) 110 ILCS 947/40; 23 Ill. Admin. Code 2733

Sources (1)

Illinois National Guard Grant

Who qualifies
Active Illinois Army or Air National Guard members with at least one year of Illinois Guard service. A limited post-discharge path covers five consecutive Guard years, studies interrupted by at least six months of federal active duty, and the first 12 months after discharge. Maintain the college's acceptable grade point average.
What you get
Tuition and specified fees at Illinois public universities and community colleges. Up to four full-time academic years with less than ten Guard service years, or six academic years after ten service years. Undergraduate and graduate study qualify.
How to apply
File an application each year and notify the college of eligibility by the last scheduled class day of the term.

Official page (opens in a new tab) 110 ILCS 947/45; 23 Ill. Admin. Code 2730

Sources (1)

State jobs and hiring preference

Veterans' preference for state employment

Who qualifies
Qualified veterans whose service is verified through CMS.
What you get
Additional points applied to passing state-employment application scores.
How to apply
For veterans already verified in the CMS database, check the veteran box on the application.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (2)

Licenses, plates and parks

Disabled veteran hunting and fishing privileges

Who qualifies
Veterans receiving service-connected compensation at 10% or greater, or a total disability pension.
What you get
Hunting and fishing licenses without a charge.
How to apply
Get the Disability Affidavit from IDVA through a local Veteran Service Office. Bring your DD214 and a current verification of VA compensation or pension. Carry the affidavit while hunting or fishing.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Disabled veteran camping discount

Who qualifies
This entry covers Illinois resident veterans with a permanent service-connected disability of 100%.
What you get
No camping fee, but a $10 utility fee remains for the listed electric-site classes, as published in 2026.
How to apply
Present an award letter or other disability document and identification to an IDVA office to establish eligibility. Present the Disability Certification Card to park staff when obtaining a camping permit.

Official page (opens in a new tab) 20 ILCS 2805/5

Sources (2)

Emergency financial help

We could not confirm this from an official source yet. Ask Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs or a free veterans service officer what applies to you.

State veterans homes

Before you apply

This page summarizes state law and agency guidance as checked on October 3, 2026. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. Eligibility depends on your records, and laws change, so confirm the details on the official page linked with each benefit, or ask a free accredited representative. This page covers the main state programs. Your county veterans service officer can tell you about smaller or local benefits.

Federal VA benefits apply in every state. See the Veteran Resource Directory and the Benefits Finder.