Dear Veterans: This Newsletter Contains Information on the Following Veteran-Related Issues: Free Or Reduced Fares on the CTA; M
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COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VOL.1, ED.4 TH M ONTHLY N EWSLETTER JANUARY 20 , 2016 INSIDE THIS EDITION: MESSAGE FROM COOK COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS RTA MILITARY SERVICE PASS – RIDE FREE OR REDUCED FARE CTA PROGRAM...........2 Dear Veterans: VA ANNOUNCES FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES This newsletter contains information on the following veteran-related issues: FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORKING TO Free or reduced fares on the CTA; more funding opportunities for community END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS.................3 partners to end homelessness; VA hotline for women veterans; Chicago Food VA LAUNCHES NEW HOTLINE FOR WOMEN Depository helping veterans; cervical cancer screening for women veterans; VETERANS AT (855) VA-WOMEN..........4 Department of Defense review of discharge status of veterans who were discharged for post-traumatic stress disorder; updated information for the CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY FOR VETERANS: SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED................5 Disabled Veteran Homeowner exemption; information on Veterans Treatment Court; and information on the new public law on Combat Injured Veterans Tax VA'S WOMEN VETERANS: CERVICAL CANCER Fairness Act of 2016. SCREENING MORE IMPORTANT................6 DISCHARGE UPGRADE AND CORRECTIONS: Veterans Affairs will co-sponsor two workshops with the Assessor’s Office to PENTAGON REVIEW COULD HELP VETERANS inform veterans about the tax exemptions for service connect disabled SHED "BAD PAPER" DISCHARGE..............7 veterans. Location of workshops will be publicized at a later date. th UPDATE 2017 - COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR: Veterans Affairs will host a women veterans workshop on March 14 , titled, SERVICE CONNECT DISABLED VETERANS “Resources for Women Veterans.” This workshop will be open to veterans and HOMEOWNER TAX EXEMPTIONS..............8 dependents. The workshop will be held downtown at the Law Library in the Daley Center. See insert for more information. COOK COUNTY VETERANS TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM AND ELIGIBILITY...........9 Cook County Veterans Affairs encourages you to share this information with other veterans and their dependents, and to use this newsletter as a reference COMBAT INJURED VETERANS TAX FAIRNESS tool for upcoming veterans activities, events, and workshops. Please visit Cook ACT OF 2016, PUBLIC LAW 114-292......10 County Veterans Affairs at www.cookcountyil.gov/agency/veterans-affairs. UPCOMING: COOK COUNTY VETERAN'S BENEFITS AND RESOURCE EVENTS...........10 Bill Browne, Director Cook County Veterans Affairs THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WAS CREATED BY COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE IN VA is introducing their new hotline 1-844-MyVA311 (6982-311) as a go-to DECEMBER 2012 TO SERVE THE COUNTY’S source for veterans and their families who don’t know what VA number to call. EMPLOYEE VETERANS AND VETERANS WHO This new national toll-free number will help to eliminate the feeling of LIVE IN COOK COUNTY THROUGH frustration and confusion that veterans and their families have expressed when OUTREACH AND SUPPORT SERVICES. navigating the 1,000 – plus telephone numbers that currently exist. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS: With 1-844-MyVA311, veterans, families, and caregivers can access information BILL BROWNE: 312-603-6423 about VA services like disability, pension, healthcare eligibility, enrollment, and AUDREY MOLLO: 312-603-2221 burial benefits, in addition to a self-service locator to help find their nearest VA COOK COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS EMAIL: facility. And if they’re looking for immediate assistance with housing or having a [email protected] mental health crisis, MyVA311 will route callers to the Homeless Veteran Help- COOK COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS WEBSITE: WWW.COOKCOUNTYIL.GOV/AGENCY/VETERANS-AFFAIRS/ Line and the Veterans Crisis Line. PAGE 2 VETERANS ADVISORY NEWS MILITARY SERVICE FARE PROGRAM: QUALIFICATION FOR FREE AND REDUCED FARE RIDES http://www.rtachicago.org/index.php/rider-resources/reduced-fare/military-service-fare.html Who is eligible for CTA Military Service Pass? Chicago area active-duty military and activated drill members of the National Guard and Reserves who possess an Armed Forces ID, or member of Coast Guard with appropriate identification. Chicago area disabled veterans with qualifying service-connected disability and provide proof that: 1. United States Department of Veterans' Affairs (USDVA) disability compensation of 10% or greater; or 2. You are receiving military disability retirement pay in lieu of USDVA compensation at a rate of 10% or greater. To obtain a CTA MSP, visit: Ventra Service Center at 567 West Lake Street - Second Floor in Chicago, IL 60661. Hours: Monday through Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm. Metra: Military personnel with proper identification indicating they are on active duty receive a reduced rate for a one-way fare or reduced rate for ten-ride tickets. Discount does not apply to monthly tickets. Military personnel must see a ticket agent or on-board personnel for the reduced fare. These privileges are extended to all branches of the military. A special military fare from Great Lakes to Chicago is $2 for military personnel in uniform. Disabled veterans are ineligible to ride for free on Metra, unless an RTA Ride Free permit is presented. See the below "Commonly Asked Questions" for information regarding reduced fare or ride free eligibility. Pace: Uniformed active U.S. Military personnel qualify for a free ride. Military personnel in uniform must see the bus operator for their free ride. Disabled veterans are ineligible to ride for free on Pace, unless an RTA Ride Free permits is presented. See information below in the "Commonly Asked Questions." Commonly Asked Questions 1. I am retired military. Am I eligible for free or reduced fare rides? No. Active military and veterans with a qualifying service-connect disability are eligible for free rides on CTA and Pace; and reduced fares on Metra. If disabled or age 65 or older and enrolled in State of Illinois Benefit Access Program, then you are eligible for RTA Ride Free Program. Seniors and disabled individuals not enrolled in Benefit Access Program are eligible for RTA Reduced Fare Program. Contact RTA for details, at (312) 836-7000 or www.RTAchicago.com/fare-programs. 2. I am a disabled veteran under 65 years old and don't qualify for the CTA's Military Service Pass. Am I eligible for reduced fare rides? Possibly. Disabled veterans who qualify for the RTA Reduced Fare Program, must apply for the Reduced Fare Card. The card allows qualified disabled veterans to ride at approximately half fare on CTA buses and trains, Metra trains, and Pace buses in the six-county RTA service area. For more information, call (312) 836- 7000 or visit www.RTAchicago.com/fare-programs. To find a site nearest you, contact (312) 913-3110. Questions Should military personnel or disabled veterans have questions or experience problems in obtaining a free or reduced fare ride, please contact customer service at the appropriate agency listed below. • CTA Customer Service: 888-968-7282 // www.transitchicago.com • Metra Passenger Service: 312-322-6777 // www.metrarail.com • Pace Passenger Service: 847-364-7223 // www.pacebus.com • RTA Customer Service: 312-913-3110 // www.rtachicago.org VETERANS ADVISORY NEWS PAGE 3 VA ANNOUNCES FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORKING TO END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2845 Building on President Obama’s commitment to end Veteran homelessness, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the availability of funding for non-profit organizations and other groups that serve Veterans through VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. The SSVF Program assists very low-income Veteran families who are homeless or at risk of becomingg homeless. These SSVF grants are available to current grantees seeking renewals and make new funding available for eight high-need communities. VA relies on strong, targeted collaborations in key areas at federal and local levels and engages community partners to develop innovative and forward-thinking solutions that can lead to scalable and replicable models of service. SSVF grantees currently operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, working within their communities to end or prevent homelessness among Veteran families. “One of the things you learn in the Army is you never leave a soldier behind,” said Secretary McDonald. “Unfor- tunately, we’ve left some people behind, and they’re our homeless Veterans. VA is committed to achieving the goal of ending Veteran homelessness, and we won’t rest until every homeless Veteran has a place to call home.” SSVF grantees typically serve Veterans with incomes below 30 percent of the area median income. Grantees must follow the housing first approach, which centers on permanently housing homeless Veterans quickly without pre- conditions and providing supportive services as needed. Additional SSVF requirements are that grantees engage in outreach to find and serve Veterans in need, provide Veterans with case management, and assist them in obtaining VA and other public benefits. SSVF served nearly 150,000 Veterans and their family members in fiscal year 2016. As a result of these and other efforts, Veteran homelessness is down significantly since the launch of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in 2010. Since 2010, homelessness among Veterans had dropped by 47 percent. For more information about VA’s homeless programs, visit www.va.gov/homeless