ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL RELEASES UPDATED GUIDANCE ON VETERAN’S LEGAL RIGHTS

Raoul Urges Veterans, Service Members and Families to Know Their Legal Rights

Chicago  — Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued an updated guidance for Illinois service members to ensure the legal rights of Illinois veterans, service members and their families are upheld and easily accessible. Raoul’s updated “Legal Rights of Illinois Service Members” guide also includes federal and state veteran benefit laws.

“I am committed to protecting the rights of those who have sacrificed for our country. A key to that is educating our veterans, service members and their families on what their rights are and what laws benefit them,” Raoul said. “The staff of my Military and Veterans’ Rights Bureau, all of whom are veterans, are committed to making sure Illinois’ service members, veterans and their families have access to information that is up to date and readily available. I encourage veterans and their families to access the updated guide and contact the experts in my office for additional assistance.”

Attorney General Raoul’s “Legal Rights of Illinois Service Members” guide details new and updated laws that benefit veterans, including:

• Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): Federal service member employment rights law that outlines rights for the employed member and obligations of the employer.
• Illinois Service member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (ISERRA): Law that outlines state service member employment rights.
• Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA): Active service members can no longer lose custody of a child based solely on deployments, and courts will no longer consider deployments when determining custody.
• Illinois Service Member Civil Relief Act (ISCRA): Law enacted to supplement the SCRA. It strengthens existing consumer protections, and provides additional protections for active duty service members, reservists, members of the Illinois National Guard and their spouses during their periods of military service.
• Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities: Qualified veterans or surviving spouses may be eligible for a reduction in property taxes based on the equalized assessed value of the primary residence.
• Returning Veterans Homestead Exemption: For the 2007 taxable year and thereafter, a homestead exemption is provided to eligible returning veterans. The exemption is a one-time $5,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value of the veteran’s primary residence.
• Free credit freeze for Active Duty Service Members: Illinois’ Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act entitles active duty service members to a free credit freeze if they become victims of identity theft.

For questions or more information on service member and veterans’ rights, visit the Attorney General’s website or call the Military and Veterans’ Rights Helpline at 1-800-382-3000 to speak with a live expert.