VETERAN BENEFITS & ASSISTANCE

Download offices- hours & Staff 

VSO Russell Meredith is at Hines VAMC every Thursday in Building 1, Room D109 from 0800-1530

Naperville VFW Post 3873. First Tuesday of every month from 1000-1400

First Monday of the month Frisbie Senior Center 52 E Northwest Hwy, Des Plaines, IL 60016 walk ins 0900-1500



Veteran Benefits & Assistance
Originally founded in 1899 as the American Veterans of Foreign Service, the Veterans of Foreign Wars continues to be a voice for returning and currently deployed service members and their families. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated to supporting those who sacrifice so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families.
 
Certified Advocates
Throughout the State of Illinois and at the VA Regional Office in Chicago, VFW Service Officers that are Accredited and Certified by the VA fight for the rights of our Nations veterans on a daily basis.  These highly trained professionals, specializing in all programs administered by the VA stand ready and willing to provide whatever VA benefits assistance is required!  These services are available at no cost to veterans or their dependents! Nor does one have to be a member of the VFW to receive our services.
 
From a simple request of a discharge document to a case with complicated issues that may require extensive medical and Court Cases research, we will exhaust all means to obtain a favorable decision.  In the event a claim is denied we will represent the case through the appellate process to the Board of Veterans Appeals (VBA) and if not successful to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) if warranted.
 
How VFW Service Officers Advocate for You:
  • Help you identify issues and develop evidence
  • Answer your requests for assistance
  • File your claims with VA in a timely manner
  • Review your rating decision for accuracy
 
What We Will Do:
  • During your interview, WE WILL review your information and inform you of what benefits you should claim as well as any other benefits that may be available
  • WE ARE trained VA benefits experts who have access to VA computer systems in order to provide you with the information you need for your claim to succeed
  • WE WILL submit your claim to VA in a timely manner to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit to which you are entitled
  • WE WILL conduct a thorough review of your decision before VA sends it to you.  The VFW has a 90% success rate in correcting errors, helping you avoid the lengthy appeals process
  • If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your claim, WE WILL help you appeal VA's decision


Please feel free to contact a VFW Representative for help with filing a claim for VA benefits, VA health care and all eligible VA benefits at:

VFW Service Office

VFW Service Office

Location:

2122 West Taylor St

Room 105

Chicago, IL 60612
Phone:  312-980-4284

Fax:  312-706-6680

Email: 

   
BUDDY TO BUDDY PROGRAM
The Buddy to Buddy Program is set up to help veterans that may need the support of another veterans to help them handle transition from military to civilian life.  Please click on the links provided for more information.
 
 
RESUME BUILDER
Resume Builder is a free resource for transitioning military and veterans to help them craft the perfect letter and resume to land that dream job.

Federal Benefits for Veterans & Dependents
 

A to Z Benefits Information

VA Benefits Fact Sheets

Apply for VA Benefits

Google Resources for Veterans & Families

Survivor & Dependent Benefits

VA Benefits and Services

Check the status of your VA claim online

Veteran Benefits Calculator - The American Legion

Benefits – Military.com

Education Benefits

Federal Benefits for Dependents and Survivors

National Resource Directory, Benefits & Compensation

Life Insurance Benefits

Burial Benefits

National Cemetery Military Burial Benefits

Types of Headstones & Markers Available

Home Loans

VA Home Loans

Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan

Health Care

Health Care Benefits - VA 

Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors (SSI)

Community-Based VA Vet Centers

Grand Valley State University Wounded Warrior Traumatic Brain Injury Project

PTSD / Stress Management

Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)

TRICARE Benefit Info

VA Health Benefits

Laws Protecting Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities

Transition and Care Management for OEF / OIF Service Members

Long-Term Care

Aid & Attendance Benefit

Armed Forces Retirement Home, Eligibility

Armed Forces Retirement Home, Eligibility

Family Caregiver Program for Post-9/11 Veterans

Medical Foster Care Program, Geriatrics & Extended Care

Prior Service-Connected Medical Conditions

Diseases Associated with Agent Orange Exposure

Agent Orange Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans

Agent Orange, Military Benefits, Military.COM

Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses

Illnesses Related to Gulf War Service

Gulf War Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans

VA Recognizes 'Presumptive' Illnesses in Iraq & Afghanistan

Other Items of Interest

VA Compensation & Pension Benefits

VA eBenefits

VA Life Insurance

VA OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) / OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom)

VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

VA Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS)

VFW Veterans Benefits

Emergency Assistance

Aid & Charity Associations

Air Force Aid Society

American Red Cross

Army Emergency Relief

Cell Phone, Government Supported

Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Financial Assistance for Mortgage or Rent Payments

Help for Homeless Veterans

Homeless Vet 24 Hour Hotline 1-877-4AID VET

Homeless Veterans, VA

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Service Members Civil Relief Act - Miliatry.com

Social Security Administration online

Social Security Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST)

United Way, Nationwide 2-1-1 Phone Numbers

VFW Troop Support

Volunteers of America

Warrior Care, DoD & VA Resources Site

Veteran Information

Historical Documents of Interest to Veterans

Locating Veterans & Service Members

Replacement Military Records

Replacement Medical Records

Replacement Military Awards & Decorations (National Archives)

Social Security Credit for Military Service (1957 - 2001)

U.S. Dept of Justice - Rights of Servicemembers and Veterans

VA Board of Veterans' Appeals

Women Veterans

1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411) is never the wrong number

The number to call when you don’t know who to call.

You only need to remember one number for information on VA care, benefits, 

and services or to speak to a live agent for assistance!



 

Statewide News

News & Info from your department

Important deadline make sure that this gets to membership

Next PACT Act deadline: Health care enrollment for Veterans who deployed to combat zones

Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act (MVAA) Webinars

Some really great seminars get your post & District a jump start

National News

Important info from National VFW

VFW Now Accepting Applications for its Annual Youth Scholarship Contests

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is now accepting entries for its 78th annual 2024-2025 Voice of Democracy an...

Levin Receives VFW Congressional Award

WASHINGTON -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) presented its 2024 Congressional Award to Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) for his steadfast...

Announcements



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Join us as brothers and sisters of America to preserve the rights of veterans and support each other as only those who share in the camaraderie forged by conflict can.