IDVA's Veterans' Service Office in Jacksonville is moving to a new location

JACKSONVILLE – The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) is relocating its Veterans’ Service Office in Jacksonville. The current office, which closes effective 4 p.m. today (September 14th), will re-open on Monday (September 19th) in its new location in the Illinois Department of Human Services building at 45 South Central Park Plaza, Jacksonville, IL 62650.

IDVA’s new office will continue to be staffed by Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Lauralee Treece, who can still be reached at (217) 245-0551, and VSO Justin Jennings at (217) 245-2911. Office hours will be maintained from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Jacksonville Veterans’ Service Office is part of a statewide network that serves more than 1.3 million veterans by increasing awareness of available state and federal benefits. Offices are staffed by a Veterans’ Service Officers (VSOs) who provide accurate, up-to-date information, answer questions, assist with paperwork and filing of claims for federal, state and local benefits completely free of charge.

Assistance provided by VSOs includes:

• Compensation Benefits and Document Assistance – Combat and service-related bonus payments and compensation, DD214 certificates.
• Survivor and Burial Benefits – Graves registration, grave markers.
• Educational Benefits – G.I. Bill, Troops to Teachers, Scholarships.
• Employment Benefits – Employment preference, Jobs for Vets program.
• Real Estate and Permits – Homestead and Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead exemptions, Adapted Housing exemptions, camping and admissions fees, hunting and fishing licenses.
• Referral Assistance – Facilitating access to federal VA health care and counseling services.
•  Illinois Veterans Homes – Assist in applying for admission to one of four state-managed homes throughout Illinois.

The Jacksonville Veterans’ Service Office is part of a statewide system that serves more than 1.3 million veterans by increasing awareness of available state and federal benefits. Offices are staffed by a Veterans’ Service Officers (VSOs) who provide accurate, up-to-date information, answer questions, assist with paperwork and filing of claims for federal, state and local benefits completely free of charge.

For more information, please visit www.veterans.illinois.gov or call 1-800-437-9824.