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Illinois Dept. of Employment Security Highlights State of Illinois Services as Veterans Day Approaches


Springfield, IL—(ENEWSPF)—November 9, 2017

By: Rosemary Piser

Veterans Day
(Source: Veternsdayblog.com)

With Veterans being honored this weekend during Veterans’ Day events, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is reminding veterans of the many services offered to them through the state’s agencies.

All Veterans are eligible to receive employment assistance at any of the American Job Centers (AJC), also known as the Unemployment Office, regardless of discharge characterization or length of service.  AJC’s are good places to find and participate in employment focused workshops and local hiring events. Each AJC has Employment Specialists, Wagner-Peyser staff, and other partners onsite to provide employment services and possible training opportunities.  More details about available jobs and services are available online at www.IllinoisJobLink.com.

Veterans eligible for specialized individual career readiness services from the DVOP with a better than Dishonorable Discharge on the DD Form 214/215, served at least 180 days on active duty and attest to at least one of the following Significant Barriers to Employment below are:

  • Receiving compensation for a VA Disability Rating or discharged for a service-connected disability
  • Homeless
  • Lack a High School Diploma or GED
  • Recently separated from the military within the last three-years and Unemployed for 27 weeks or more
  • an Ex-Offender
  • meet the Federal Low Income Requirements

DVOP specialists will assist eligible Veterans with developing an Individual Employment Plan that helps them mitigate their Significant Barriers to Employment. Once the Veteran becomes job-read a job opportunity within the Veteran’s selected career field will be developed by the DVOP specialist, in partnership with the LVER.

LVER encourage businesses to hire Veterans by marketing the valuable skills Veterans bring to enhance their bottom line.  In coordination with the Business Community, LVER’s help setup Hiring Events designed to Recruit & Hire Veterans that can range from targeting one job opening to major size with 100+ employers.

Every employer/business attending an IDES sponsored or co-sponsored Hiring Event must have jobs that are currently open and need to be filled on the day of the Hiring Event.

The State of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to making sure that their military heroes and families receive the benefits they rightfully deserve when they return home. Those who need assistance are encouraged to visit any Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) office.  In many instances, the IDVA Office is located within an AJC and face-to-face meetings with Veterans Service Officers are available.

The State of Illinois also has a number of benefits that veterans and family members can take advantage of, including compensation, education, burial, employment, real estate, and permits.

The IDVA also has the following programs that promote and assist Illinois Veterans:

  • Illinois Joining Forces
  • Illinois Warrior Assistance Program
  • Military Records
  • Veteran Entrepreneurs
  • Veterans Assistance Fund
  • Veterans Cash
  • Veterans Homes
  • Veteran and Business Appreciation Award

Veterans’ Assistance Commissions, known as VAC’s, are also available in each Illinois County. The VAC’s offer services to honorably discharged veterans, their widows and dependents. Services vary by county but may include VA Claim assistance, transportation assistance, county veteran’s assistance, and emergency assistance.

Veterans Service Organizations such as American Legions, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed American Veterans, and others are another valuable resource that Veterans should connect with. These organizations often have National Service Officers that can assist Veterans with filing VA Disability Compensation Claims and rekindling that military comradery and “Esprit de Corps.”

Veterans can get more details about the services that are available to them on the following websites:

About IDES
IDES encourages employment by connecting employers to jobseekers, provides unemployment insurance benefits to eligible individuals, produces labor market data and protects taxpayers from unemployment insurance fraud. Visit the
Department’s website at www.ides.illinois.gov for more information. You can also follow IDES on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: www.illinois.gov

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