Il - Illinois Veterans Benefits

[putintime]

Ask questions ....Contact everyone...Stand up....Be Heard...Get Answers

To All;

Just contacted many newspapers, the Illinois VA, Illinois American Legion, Illinois Foriegn Legion, and my local county assessors office. Now I am waiting for a response. Let them know,

that you know, how the law reads, before they dictate what they presume.

Please assist Illinois Severally Disabled Veterans

On October 17, 2007 a bill was passed in the Illinois General Assembly

it is Public Act 95-0644 Section 35 ILCS 200 / 15-169 new.

All Illinois County Assessor Offices (CAO) are saying that this new bill is

off the veterans Estimated Assessed Value (EAV) of their property, but the

attached approved state bill is very specific.

This is very important for Illinois severally disabled veterans, please give us

your insight.

Please assist in writing.....

The law is written as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/15-169 new)

Sec. 15-169. DISABLED VETERAN STANDARD HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

(a) Beginning with taxable year 2007, an annual homestead

exemption, limited to the amounts set forth in subsection (<_<,

is granted for property that is used as a qualified residence

by a disabled veteran.

( The amount of the exemption under this Section is as

follows:

(1) for veterans with a service-connected disability

of at least 75%, as certified by the United States

Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual exemption is

$5,000; and

(2) for veterans with a service-connected disability

of at least 50%, but less than 75%, as certified by the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual

exemption is $2,500.

© The tax exemption under this Section carries over to

the benefit of the veteran's surviving spouse as long as the

spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead,

permanently resides thereon, and does not remarry. If the

surviving spouse sells the property, an exemption not to exceed

the amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may

be transferred to his or her new residence as long as it is

used as his or her primary residence and he or she does not

remarry.

(d) The exemption under this Section applies for taxable

year 2007 and thereafter. A taxpayer who claims an exemption

under Section 15-165 or 15-168 may not claim an exemption under

this Section.

(e) Application must be made during the application period

in effect for the county of his or her residence. The assessor

or chief county assessment officer may determine the

eligibility of residential property to receive the homestead

exemption provided by this Section by application, visual

inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. The

determination must be made in accordance with guidelines

established by the Department.

(f) For the purposes of this Section:

"Qualified residence" means real property, but less any

portion of that property that is used for commercial purposes,

with an equalized assessed value (EAV)of less than $250,000 that is

the disabled veteran's primary residence. Property rented for

more than 6 months is presumed to be used for commercial

purposes.

"Veteran" means an Illinois resident who has served as a

member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or

State active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or

a member of the United States Reserve Forces and who has

received an honorable discharge.

Sincerely,

Concerned Illinois Veteran

Life Member:

The Illinois American Legion # 203674429

American Veterans (AMVETS) # 2302527

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) # 120199594432

Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) # 410674

American Military Retiree Association (AMRA) # 14185

The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) # 16572873

[Phred]

Just wanted to point out an Illinois Program I heard about on the news last year, it's called G-I Loans for Heros. Here is the website...

http://www.ihda.org/ViewPage.aspx?PageID=231

"The G-I Loan for Heroes is the exciting new Illinois Homeownership Program for Veterans and Active Service Personnel.

The G-I Loan offers significantly below market homeownership financing and counseling. There are two program packages, one for Veterans and one for active duty personnel.

Veterans' Program:

The Veterans' Program is designed for honorably discharged Veterans who qualify under the income and purchase price limits of the IHDA MRB Program. Participants will receive a substantially below market rate financing package, closing cost assistance and homeownership counseling. In addition, under federal legislation passed in December 2006, Veterans do not have to be first-time homebuyers to qualify.

Active Duty Program:

The Active Duty program is designed for active duty service personnel in the Armed Services and Reserve Forces. Under this program, they will receive the same package as the Veterans, except they must qualify as a first time homebuyer under the IHDA MRB Program."

[HawaiianSeabee]

Ask questions ....Contact everyone...Stand up....Be Heard...Get Answers

To All;

Just contacted many newspapers, the Illinois VA, Illinois American Legion, Illinois Foriegn Legion, and my local county assessors office. Now I am waiting for a response. Let them know,

that you know, how the law reads, before they dictate what they presume.

Please assist Illinois Severally Disabled Veterans

On October 17, 2007 a bill was passed in the Illinois General Assembly

it is Public Act 95-0644 Section 35 ILCS 200 / 15-169 new.

All Illinois County Assessor Offices (CAO) are saying that this new bill is

off the veterans Estimated Assessed Value (EAV) of their property, but the

attached approved state bill is very specific.

This is very important for Illinois severally disabled veterans, please give us

your insight.

Please assist in writing.....

The law is written as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/15-169 new)

Sec. 15-169. DISABLED VETERAN STANDARD HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

(a) Beginning with taxable year 2007, an annual homestead

exemption, limited to the amounts set forth in subsection ( ,

is granted for property that is used as a qualified residence

by a disabled veteran.

( :) The amount of the exemption under this Section is as

follows:

(1) for veterans with a service-connected disability

of at least 75%, as certified by the United States

Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual exemption is

$5,000; and

(2) for veterans with a service-connected disability

of at least 50%, but less than 75%, as certified by the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual

exemption is $2,500.

© The tax exemption under this Section carries over to

the benefit of the veteran's surviving spouse as long as the

spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead,

permanently resides thereon, and does not remarry. If the

surviving spouse sells the property, an exemption not to exceed

the amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may

be transferred to his or her new residence as long as it is

used as his or her primary residence and he or she does not

remarry.

(d) The exemption under this Section applies for taxable

year 2007 and thereafter. A taxpayer who claims an exemption

under Section 15-165 or 15-168 may not claim an exemption under

this Section.

(e) Application must be made during the application period

in effect for the county of his or her residence. The assessor

or chief county assessment officer may determine the

eligibility of residential property to receive the homestead

exemption provided by this Section by application, visual

inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. The

determination must be made in accordance with guidelines

established by the Department.

(f) For the purposes of this Section:

"Qualified residence" means real property, but less any

portion of that property that is used for commercial purposes,

with an equalized assessed value (EAV)of less than $250,000 that is

the disabled veteran's primary residence. Property rented for

more than 6 months is presumed to be used for commercial

purposes.

"Veteran" means an Illinois resident who has served as a

member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or

State active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or

a member of the United States Reserve Forces and who has

received an honorable discharge.

Sincerely,

Concerned Illinois Veteran

Life Member:

The Illinois American Legion # 203674429

American Veterans (AMVETS) # 2302527

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) # 120199594432

Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) # 410674

American Military Retiree Association (AMRA) # 14185

The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) # 16572873

Aloha All!

Newbie here, wanting to shout out about the injustices that are currently on this string! Mahalo "Putintime" for bringing this to the front. My wife and I had figured we were all alone on this issue but it seems as though we're not.

My story goes back to when this Homestead Law was first released and I myself was recently retired from the NAV. Through word of mouth at Hines VA I overheard a few fellow veterans discussing the new law that was to be released so I contacted our county assessors or township and was told that it hadn't been approved for Will County residence??? so I met with a friend of mine that works for the state VA and he actually handed me a document showing that this law was written for ALL ILLINOIS DISABLED VETERANS. (funny how some state entities seem to know more than the rest) So, being the good sailor/soldier I decided to hand carry this document over to my township office to see if they knew the scoop? They took the document and said that they would contact the main county assesors office (Will County) and find out what that all meant. Now mind you, this is 2007 when it was released and took place.

I received a call about two days later saying that yes I would qualify if I can bring in my documentation proving my disability, No prob...here ya go! My property value is 350K so there was a big learning curve for us and the township as to what they would assess from our value. So, at 90% disabled = $5000 exempt from 350K came out to be $400 off our assessed value???

We understand that the law is written for $250K and to help the disabled veterans on limited income but geez, we've purchased our home when we both were still active and wife employed and could afford our payments. now unemployed due to disabilities waiting on VOC REHAB (Since Nov 2007) yes, another crazy story! But at this point, we are financially strapped and this new law just seems to be a joke that state and counties are determining there own terminology of what is written in the letter.

Now for 2008 we have received our next letter from the county stating that we must complete the documents and return it to their office for the 2009 tax year and I believe our property tax has gone up again to boot. It is like: One step forward, $5000 steps back! The numbers I'm using that are written above are close guesstimates... just to give the readers some insight to what is really happening with this new law.

So, in closing I must say that I'm not sure how far this will get us but I guess if they are giving us something, even if it is a dime, then it must be better than receiving just a letter stating "Thanks for your service to our country, we really appreciate everything you have done." but try next year, you might qualify to receive 10 cents. Aloha!

[samalw]

Has anyone in Illinois who has applied for the new Disabled Veterans Homestead Exemption actually received it or seen any document or anything from your county assessors office that has affected your tax bill? I applied to the Cook county Assessors office a couple of months ago and have yet to see or hear anything!!! B)

[putintime]

Had to reapply at LaSalle County Assessors office,

just received new payment and adjusted my taxes

with $5000.00 EAV off property tax. So it comes to

about $400.00, just about what my taxes went up this

year.

[putintime]

The recent HB4201 bill sent to the Senate was set up for failure

before it even reached the Senate;

Go ask Sen. Rutherford were he came up with the 72 million dollar number lost revenue yearly.

From disabled veterans on limited income, what a joke. Ok, make it property tax exempt for those

that are 100% service connected severally disabled, also for the combat veterans that are

screwed up for life for serving thier country and state. Both these veterans are on fixed or limited

income because of thier disabilities. So many other states have a number of benefits based on the

percentage of the veterans disability rating.Haine (veteran) / Rutherford were making it sound like these

disabled veterans live in 1-4 million dollar houses...please...and Dahl, a veteran, didn't even vote,

hope to see his name in the ballot come November, saw him in Mendota politician on Aug 10,

now the veterans in Mendota will know how he really feels for them. Please spread the word, we

have a Public Act 095-0644 (Section 35 ILCS 200/15-169) that is out there to benefit Illinois

veterans, it just needs to be tweeked to come in line with so many other states property tax

benefits for disabled benefits. Our Representatives/ Senators will not be back in Springfield until

November, but they can still get email, faxes, phone calls, and snail mail at thier district offices. On

an average each one makes close to 100K a year, beside thier full paying job outside of Springfield.

How many veterans and family members are in Illinois that are effected by this injustice.

Take Care,

putintime