Veterans Assistance Commission of Henry County (Cindy Kustush, Superintendent/VSO; Mitch Fiedler, Asst. Superintendent/Transportation)

The office. The county's Veteran's Assistance page: "Service to Henry County Veterans Since 1994." Services: "Financial Assistance via vouchers for groceries, utilities, and/or rent upon approval. Free Transportation to VA approved medical appointments in Iowa City, Davenport CBOC, and other VA approved facilities. Veteran Service Officer (VSO) - Free help filling all VA benefits/claims, Help obtaining military records/DD214, Help with VA healthcare enrollment application, Other Veterans assistance. Memorial Day Flags, Markers (flag holders), and Rods for Veterans' gravesites." Contact: CINDY KUSTUSH, Superintendent/VSO, (309) 937-3534; MITCH FIEDLER, Asst. Superintendent/Transportation, (309) 937-3450; Physical Address: Henry County Courthouse, 307 W. Center St., Cambridge, IL 61238, 3rd Floor. Hours: MONDAY, TUESDAY, & FRIDAY 9AM-3PM; WEDNESDAY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY; THURSDAY CLOSED. "PLEASE CALL PRIOR TO COMING TO VAC IF POSSIBLE." The VSO page's own line names Cindy Kustush at (309) 937-3540 with the VSO email, and describes the VSO's work: claims assistance (disability compensation and pensions), information and navigation, advocacy (appeals), resource connection (job fairs, housing assistance) and the benefit areas (health care, education and training, employment, home loans, burial and survivor benefits). The rules. The Financial Assistance page's Rules, Procedures & Eligibility Standards: "The Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of HENRY County is a County Governmental Agency operated for U.S. Veterans. The VAC is authorized to act as the central committee for veterans' assistance in HENRY County under the Military Veterans Assistance Act (330 ILCS 45/1 et. seq.) and is funded in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/1-1001 et. seq.)." "The Veteran Assistance program is an emergency and interim financial assistance program and should NOT be considered to be an ongoing financial supportive program." "All assistance provided by the VAC is predicated on the established standard of need as set forth by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)." Eligibility: "Applicant for the Veterans Assistance shall be residents of HENRY County and unable to provide food, shelter, and/or utilities for themselves or their dependents. Applicants must have applied for Public Aid including the township where the veteran lives, (examples include but are not limited to TANF, SNAP, & LIHEAP registered and working with IDES, Vet Reps; if able to work." "To be determined exempt from employment, a veteran must provide documentation from Veteran's VA physician or another physician, who states the veteran is presently/permanently unable to work due to a disability. If the documentation does not state PERMANENTLY, the veteran shall update the VAC as to employment every month." "Applicants for assistance from the VAC must present a DD-214 or Certificate of Service showing Honorable Discharge or General Under Honorable Conditions. If the applicant does not have a DD-214 or Certificate of Service, he/she must authorize the VAC to obtain a copy of the appropriate records before assistance can be approved." The page's service-era tests: post-September 7, 1980 entrants "must complete a minimum of 24 consecutive months of active duty or one day of combat during a period of hostilities" (38 CFR 3.12(a)); pre-September 8, 1980 entrants "must complete a minimum of 181 consecutive active duty days or one day of combat"; activated reservists and guardsmen who completed the term qualify; and a service-connected disability of 0 percent or greater qualifies by itself. Residency: "all veterans, and their families, seeking assistance from the VAC of HENRY County shall be residents of the state of Illinois and shall have been residents of the county of HENRY for at least sixty (60) consecutive days prior to seeking assistance, with no present intent to move from HENRY County." Misconduct: "Involves deliberate or intentional wrongdoing with knowledge of or wanton and reckless disregard of its probable consequences. Such a discharge would bar a veteran from Veterans Assistance." The definition of Honorable Discharge notes "A General Under Honorable Conditions does not meet these criteria unless the service members discharge was the result of a service connected disability as recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and not the members own misconduct. (guidance provided by the IL 2nd Circuit April 2010, 2-01-0787)". The assistance: "Currently, we are limited up to $300 assistance per month per eligible, qualified veteran. Food Purchases & Personal Items - Upon Approval. Utility Bills - Upon Approval. Rent Payments - This Veterans Assistance office does not pay security deposits, back rents or home finding fees. Rents shall not be paid to relatives; unless it is a separate rental dwelling." The reports. The HCVAC Reports page posts the commission's bi-monthly reports to the Henry County Board: the September-November 2025 Agenda and Minutes, the Superintendent's Activity Report, the November 2025 FY25 Budget meeting, the FY25 Governor's Annual Report, and the Superintendent Reports for January, March and May 2026. The Area Veteran Organizations page lists the county's posts.