County veterans commission aids benefit claims
Officials say many veterans delay filing for benefits due to complex paperwork and uncertainty about eligibility.
By Marco Alvarez ·
The Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County is working to help local veterans secure the financial and medical benefits they are entitled to receive.
The organization provides support for mortgage assistance, utility bill protection, and long-term disability claims. Superintendent Elizabeth Soto stated that the commission connects veterans with immediate and long-term services to ensure stability.
Deputy Superintendent Grant Jacobson noted that leaving the military means leaving a system that previously managed housing, food, and healthcare. He explained that the transition to civilian life can be difficult because veterans must suddenly handle these responsibilities on their own.
Jacobson added that many veteran benefit programs use complex legal language. He said this often causes veterans to give up on applications because they cannot figure out the process independently. The commission aims to prevent this by guiding applicants through the steps.
Eligibility extends beyond active and retired military members. Soto confirmed that spouses and dependent children can also access financial aid and long-term services through the commission's veterans service officers.
Aging veterans, particularly those from the Vietnam era, often face additional hurdles in asking for help. Jacobson observed that these veterans frequently lacked services when they originally returned home, making it harder for them to seek assistance decades later.
Jim McDonough, a Korean War veteran and retired Chicago Police officer, waited more than 50 years to access certain benefits. He met Soto and Jacobson by chance at a Memorial Day parade two years ago. They discovered he had never applied for VA eligible services. The commission connected him to the necessary resources, and he finally received service-connected status after 56 years. McDonough said the change removed the medical and financial burden from his life. The commission can be reached at 312-433-6010 or vaccookcounty.org.
