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Benefits and Services: attend a session or help is just an email away

By Jerry Field  

Jesse Brown Health Care System-Environmental Management Service 
Veterans Hiring Fair!

Jesse Brown VA 820 S. Damen Ave., Kizer Conference Center, 2nd Floor Damen Bldg. Chicago, IL. Date: Monday, February 25, 2019 Time:  9:00 a. m. to 2:00 p.m.

VETERANS PLEASE NOTE!
• Hiring for Housekeeping Aids • On the spot interviews may be conducted
• Separate job announcement open to the public will be posted on www.usajobs.gov.

Please feel free to apply online also!!

WHAT TO BRING:
Please bring all pertinent documents with you. This will speed up the process:

• Resume (with references)
  • DD 214 (must show character of discharge)
  • Schedule A Letter (if applicable)
  • Service Connection Letter (document must show percentage of service connected disability)
  • SF-15 (if applicable)
  • SF-50 (most recent if current or former Federal employee)

*Questions and concerns will be answered during the Hiring Fair.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2069971756424421/

FROM ROGER MC GILL

For several some years a group Vietnam Veterans meet for coffee at a Dunkin

Donuts at 7039 W. Dempster Ave. in Niles, IL. at 9:00 a.m. every Tuesday morning.

A few months ago the Illinois Department of Illinois (IDVA) was asking for Veterans to nominate a Small Business that does constantly supports  for Veterans. After discussing between a group of regulars who meet at DD we sent a nomination for he the owner  Dunkin Donuts as reserves his meeting room every Tuesday at no charge.  The group  discusses benefits, events that related to Veterans at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Lovell Medical Center, and Hines VA Medical Center. We also talk about the topics of the day for Veterans.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs contacted the Owner of the Dunkin

Donuts in response to one of our Vietnam Veterans information send to IDVA advised both of them that the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is presenting the award to the owner on a tentative date of Tuesday March 5th Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.  All are welcomed to attend the meeting

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Meeting Notice

March 12th, at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday VVA Chapter #242 will have hold its monthly meeting at the White Eagle location on North Milwaukee Ave. at the VFW Post that has there Post there. All are welcome to come and here about Benefits, what the VVA Chapter #242 is doing and how VVA Chapter #242 helps Veterans during the year.

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The Forest Park Vet Center 1515 S. Harlemhas opened another location – Vet Center – for ALL Veterans to become  acquainted with updated benefits and services. The new Vet Center is located at: Addison Township Office – 401 N. Addison Road, Addison, Illinois 60101. Please call 708.457.8805 for an appointment – Ask for Catherine LCSW CADCwhen you call. Appointments now available in Addison, IL.  Mondays from 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. All Veterans Welcome. Suggest you bring your DD214

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March 12th, at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday VVA Chapter #242will have its monthly meeting at the White Eagle location on North Milwaukee Ave. at the VFW Post that has there Post there. All are welcome to come and here about Benefits, what the VVA Chapter #242 is doing and how we help Veterans during the year.

Retired Pay Restoration Act

On January 8, 2019, Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL) introduced H.R. 303, the Retired Pay Restoration Act.

This bill would extend concurrent receipt authority to longevity retirees with service-connected disabilities rated less than 50 percent disabling.  Under current law disabled veterans with longevity retirement from active military service who are also in receipt of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability determination of 50 percent or higher may retain both military retirement pay and their compensation.

DAV strongly supports H.R. 303 as it would end the unfair policy of forcing many military longevity retirees to forfeit some of their retired pay in order to receive equal amounts of disability compensation from the VA.  This legislation is in accord with DAV Resolution No. 104 and would eliminate concurrent receipt for all longevity retirees.

Please use the prepared electronic letter or draft your own to urge your Representative to support and cosponsor H.R. 303.  As always, we appreciate your support for DAV and your grassroots activism in participating in DAV CAN.  Thank you for all you do for America’s veterans and their families. Take Action

Call or write your local U.S. congressperson and U S senators   

From Crystal Odom-McKinney Asst.National Director,Senior Community Service Employment

If you are a veterans organization with non profit status Easterseals has a program that supports mature jobseekers (55+) to get trained and employed.  The program is called Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)  and we are looking for Chicago area nonprofits that serve veterans to bring on board. Here’s a link to our program as well as a brochure https://www.easterseals.com/our-programs/employment-training/senior-community-service-employment-program-scsep.html

Any questions, please reach out to me.  Thanks and have a great day!

Crystal Odom-McKinney, M.A. CWDP

Assistant National Director, Senior Community Service Employment Program

P 312.551.7184  •  C 312.523.5184   [email protected]   141 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1400A Chicago, Illinois 60604 easterseals.com

FROM MICHAEL PECK- Lake County VSO 847-377-3346

Job Search Support

In addition to the support that the VAC can provide for job search, Catholic Charities Veterans Employment Program of Lake County offers free counseling to help veterans and their family members find employment.   This includes:

· Help with resume writing

· Job search

· Mock interviews

· Anything else that will assist in finding the right job.

Contact Mitch Siegel at

847-782-4219 or [email protected]for details or to make an appointment.

Employers can also contact Mitch to find veterans to fill open positions – this is a free service to our community.

Camp LeJeune – A New Problem!

Daily Herald 1/25/19 –

Washington – The U.S. Navy is denying thousands of claims from service members and their families who were exposed to contaminated drinking water decades ago at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer told reporters Thursday that at least 4,400 claims totaling $963 billion are being denied because there is no legal basis for paying them.

Visit the VA Monthly Newsletter

The VA Benefits Bulletin is a monthly newsletter with interesting tidbits each month.

The December issue contains:

·       VA services for homeless veterans.

·       A search process for determining what benefits you are eligible for.

·       A process for National Guard and Reservists to check their benefit eligibility

·       A set of look up tables to determine what compensation and pension levels will be for 2019

To see the current issue on line, go to read the current issue

To subscribe to this emailed bulletin, click here subscribe to VA Newsletter.

Take Action ASAP 

As a newly released veteran, it will make your life easier if you take a few action steps right away.

1. Visit the VAC and get registered on their system.  Then, if you have an issue later, the VAC will already know about you.

2. Register your DD214 through the VAC.  This will get it recorded with the county and will be easier to retrieve when you need it.

3. Get a copy of your medical records and put them on file with the VAC.  Then, the history will be preserved if you need them some years later.

 Fallen Heroes 

Scholarship Fund

Did you know that the Illinois Treasurer’s Office offers a $1,000 scholarship to dependents of members of the Armed Forces, as well as fire fighters, paramedics and law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty serving their state and country either overseas or at home.  Go to Illinois Fallen Heroes for more information and to apply.

Do you know Vets who should receive this newsletter?

We’d like to get this newsletter distributed to as many vets as possible.  If you belong to an organization with other vets who are interested, please send their names and email addresses to us and we’ll add them onto the mailing list.  We can take a spreadsheet and load it if you have connection with a large group of vets (like a Harley Hog Club).

Do you need a power scooter or chair?

Send your news events and meetings to [email protected]

Lang Home Medical Equipment has very graciously stored our donated power equipment for several years.  Due to their expanding business, we need to get several scooters and a power chair out of their facility.
Therefore, if you know of anyone who needs this type equipment, please let us know by calling the office (847-377-3344), or emailing us at [email protected].