Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Bonus Programs

To apply for any of the following bonuses, applications can be downloaded, completed and mailed to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, P.O. Box 19432, 833 South Spring Street, Springfield, IL 62794-9432. Individuals currently on active duty may apply for the Persian Gulf and or Global War on Terrorism Bonus prior to discharge by also including the Armed Forces Certificate.

• Bonus Application (PDF, 43 KB)
• Armed Forces Certificate (PDF, 16 KB)

Korean Bonus Payment

A $100 bonus is payable to Veterans who serve in Korea between June 27, 1950 - July 27, 1953, were residents of Illinois for 12 months immediately prior to entering service, received the Korean Service Medal, and received an Honorable Discharge.

Vietnam Bonus Payment

A $100 bonus is payable to claimants who were residents of Illinois for 12 months immediately prior to entering service, received the Vietnam Service Medal or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Vietnam, and received an Honorable Discharge for service during one of the following periods:

• Vietnam: January 1, 1961 - March 28, 1973
• Vietnam Frequent Wind: April 29, 30, 1975

Survivors are entitled to a benefit of $1,000, if the veteran's death was classified as service-connected by the US Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Persian Gulf Bonus Payment

A $100 bonus is payable to veterans who serve between August 2, 1990 - November 30, 1995, were residents of Illinois for 12 months immediately prior to entering service, received the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and received an Honorable Discharge.

Individuals currently on active duty who served in the Persian Gulf may apply prior to discharge by also including the Armed Forces Certificate.

Global War on Terrorism (Operation Iraq Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn) Bonus Payment

A $100 bonus is payable to veterans who serve on or after September 11, 2001 and were residents of Illinois for 12 months immediately prior to entering service. 

The claimant must also have served at least 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days of foreign or sea service and be in receipt of one of the following medals:

• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Iraq Campaign Medal
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Individuals currently on active duty who served in the Global War on Terrorism may apply prior to discharge by also including the Armed Forces Certificate.

POW Compensation

Persons on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or employed by the United States Government on, or after, January 1, 1961, who were residents of Illinois 12 months prior to entry, and who were taken and held prisoner by hostile forces in Southeast Asia, are entitled to $50 for each month or portion thereof while being held captive.