Elk Grove Township Welcomes Veterans Service Officer
The Elk Grove Township offices, 600 Landmeier Road in Elk Grove Village, are a new location for an Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Veterans Service Officer (VSO) who is trained to help veterans navigate the process to obtain benefits for themselves, dependents, and survivors. Additionally, education, housing and retirement benefit assistance can also be provided. Walter Wilson, the new VSO at Elk Grove Township, is also a veteran and fully accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
"We welcome Walter to our team. He provides an extremely valuable service to individuals who have served and sacrificed for our country," said Township Supervisor George Busse, who is a retired Navy Captain. "I know how complex and confusing the benefits program can be. We need to make sure veterans can find and get access to the services they have earned and may badly need."
Busse encourages area veterans to reach out to VSO Wilson about services for which they are eligible. These include healthcare services, educational opportunities, retirement resources and home ownership/loan programs. Busse also pointed out that the Township can assist veterans in finding employment through its Employment Center and help to address other concerns by connecting them with other resources through the Township and social service agency partners.
There are more than 50 IDVA Veteran Service Officers across Illinois, as well as five veterans' homes offering domiciliary and skilled nursing care to veterans.
"We are continually expanding our reach to veterans across Illinois," said IDVA Acting Director Terry Prince. "We thank Elk Grove Township's leadership for their partnership and for opening their doors to make services to veterans in their community more accessible. Walter is a skilled and dedicated professional with a long history of helping veterans."
VSO Wilson is a Navy veteran who has served in this role for 10 years and is well-versed in benefits available to veterans at the local, State and Federal level. He can help veterans to identify benefits they qualify for and assist them in applying and gaining access to them. Wilson works to resolve any challenges that may arise regarding veterans benefits. Services provided are available to all veterans, regardless of where they live.
Veterans, dependents, or survivors who need help with obtaining benefits or want to learn more about programs available to them should call the Township at (224) 265-6112 to schedule an appointment. The VSO office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information on veterans, please visit www2.illinois.gov/veterans/benefits/Pages/default.aspx.