Veterans Assistance Commission of Ogle County

Illinois counties fund Veterans Assistance Commissions under the Military Veterans Assistance Act, 330 ILCS 45; see the Illinois entry. Ogle County's: "The Veterans Assistance Commission of Ogle County (VAC) can help you apply for pension, disability and getting into VA medical program. The Veterans Assistance Commission of Ogle County may be able to supply emergency and interim financial assistance with food, shelter & utilities for needy Veterans in Ogle County. VAC financial assistance is not designed to be an on-going supportive program. We are not affiliated with the Veterans Administration. This is a county funded program." Eligibility. "The Veteran MUST provide proof of an Honorable Discharge (DD-214). No exceptions." Financial assistance goes "to Military Veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and whose last discharge for the service was Honorable"; "Widows and/or divorced spouses qualify for limited assistance only if there are minor children of the Veteran residing in the household", and "widows without children may be eligible for assistance in the case of extreme situations, which the VAC board will take into consideration". "Applicants receiving financial aid from other governmental agencies: county, state, federal or township programs are not eligible. The Illinois Department of Public Aid guidelines will determine financial eligibility." "Reserve or National Guard duty is Non-Qualifying - Must be deployed during wartime." A veteran "must be a current resident of Ogle County for a minimum of 6 months"; applicants "must reapply if the last date of assistance has exceeded more than 6 months"; "assistance is limited to a 3-month term, at which time will be reviewed by the VAC Board should further assistance be requested"; and "fraud, misrepresentation of income/expenses/living arrangements and/or abuse of food & Hygiene voucher program are cause for immediate denial for assistance indefinitely." Application. "Prior to receiving financial assistance, a food stamp appointment letter or proof of Public Aid Benefits must be obtained. All applicants MUST apply with governmental agencies FIRST before applying with VAC. Unless an applicant is under doctor's care applying for Social Security, SSI or VA NSC Pension, a current IDES job service card must be produced and an application for unemployment filed. If a Veteran is currently employed, proof of income for the last month MUST accompany the application." Transportation. "Transportation for Ogle County veterans to and from a VA medical facility can be arranged for those that have no other means of getting there. Transportation arrangements must be made in advance and approved, and veterans must be in the VA medical system." Where and when. 105 S 5th St, Suite 112, Oregon, IL 61061; Office Manager Trinda Fox, 815-255-9181; [email protected]; "Monday - Thursday 8:00 to 4:00 (Appointments required - Please call to set one up); Friday Call-In & Drop-Off Only." The commission's work and its standing with the county. Superintendent/VSO Luz Maria Gilkey reports monthly to the County Board's HEW, Solid Waste & Veterans committee - the yearbook makes that committee "the supervisory committee for ... Veterans Assistance Commission" - counting "1,057 Veterans now in our system" in August 2025 and "1282 Veterans now in our system" in August 2026, with outreach at the Rochelle VFW, the Ogle County Fair and National Night Out, and monthly commission meetings at the Oregon VFW and then Room 100 of the County Building. The Board approved the office remodel for "Animal Control and Veterans Administration" (R-2025-1107, November 18, 2025) and the commission moved into the County Building in 2026; the September 2026 budget review cut its blanket and bond insurance lines, brought software maintenance to $0 under county IT, and trimmed office supplies to $2,000, the levy request itself waiting on the commission's final numbers.