Greetings from IDVA!

Many of us women in the Illinois veteran community have lived what the research says: Women veterans often don't self-identify as veterans and don't take advantage of veterans' benefits to the same extent as their male peers.

We at IDVA aim to change that - but we need your help! As we develop a new Women Veterans' Program, we need a better understanding of your needs experiences, perceptions, and needs. Make your voice heard through our Women Veterans' Survey.

On our new Women Veterans webpage, you can also find useful resources, including a listing of offices staffed by women Veteran Service Officers who stand ready to assist you with even the most sensitive of issues or claims.

All of us at IDVA look forward to serving you better in the months ahead.

With gratitude,

Erica J. Borggren

Director

Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs

The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) has awarded $477,752 in grants from Veterans Cash scratch-off lottery ticket sales. The funding will help 10 non-profits deliver specialized programs and services for Illinois' veterans.

Third-quarter (FY12) grants have been awarded to the following Illinois organizations:

• American Legion, Department of Illinois--$100,000 to support the organization's Veterans Service Officer program that assists Illinois veterans in obtaining benefits from the federal VA
• Lutheran Social Services--$10,000 for a program to help elderly veterans in their "Lean on Me" program
• National Able Network--$94,825 for its Retail Management Employment Program for unemployed, homeless, and at-risk veterans
• North Side Supportive Housing--$25,000 to support efforts to counsel and treat homeless veterans on Chicago's North Side
• Shelter Care Ministries--$16,700 to assist homeless veterans in the Rockford area with rental assistance and utility aid
• Transitional Living Services--$10,227 to update furnishings at a homeless veterans transitional center near Crystal Lake
• United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago--$100,000 for their Ramp Up program that helps disabled elderly veterans gain better access to their homes with ramps and chair lifts
• Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County--$40,000 for its dental program to aid low income veterans
• Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County--$50,000 for its dental program to aid low income veterans
• Vets4Vets--$31,000 to conduct community support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans in the Chicago area

To apply for a grant, please download an application at the Veterans Cash website. For more information about IDVA and its programs, please visit the agency's homepage.

With leadership from the Illinois Veterans Advisory Council (IVAC) and broad participation from the Illinois veteran community, IDVA has taken a hard look over the last few months at the fee structure for the more than 900 heroes who reside at the state's four Veterans Homes. Despite increased healthcare needs and mandated increases in care provision, the income-based maintenance fees at our Homes had remained capped at $929 per month since 1979.

Following a series of public hearings in December, the IVAC recommended a comprehensive way forward for the maintenance fee structure.

After careful consideration and consultation with Gov. Quinn, IDVA Dir. Erica Borggren has accepted all of the IVAC recommendations. Beginning July 1, 2012, the following changes will be implemented:

• Residents are currently allowed to keep the first $100 of their monthly income before the maintenance fee is assessed. This will double to $200, allowing them to keep more of their monthly income. The maintenance fee will continue to be calculated at 90% of a resident's remaining income, up to a new monthly maximum.
• For residents with a spouse still at home and not in any other care facility, a spouse income floor is being established before the maintenance fee is assessed. This will ensure that there is sufficient funding available for a spouse to live on. IDVA is still collecting spouse income information in order to determine the appropriate spouse income floor.
• For current residents, beginning July 1, 2012, the maximum maintenance fee will increase from $929 to $1,079 per month. Each July 1st this amount will increase by $100 until a net $500 increase ($1,429/month) is achieved beginning July 1, 2016.
• For residents entering one of our Homes on or after July 1, 2012, the maintenance fee will be assessed at a maximum of $1,429 per month upon arrival.
• Beginning July 1, 2017, the maximum assessed maintenance fee will be increased by an amount equal to the annual Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), minus 1%. If there is less than a 1% COLA in a given year, the maintenance fee will stay the same that year.

Stand Up and

Be Counted