The following Section will provide specific discount information concerning each of the above mentioned groups.

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• SENIOR CITIZENS, WHO ARE ILLINOIS RESIDENTS, WISHING TO CAMP AT CLASS AA, CLASS A, CLASS A-P, CLASS B/E, B/E-P, OR CLASS CAMPSITES:

- On Monday thru Thursday, Illinois residents 62 years and older will be charged ONE HALF the regular camping fee plus the $10.00 utility fee (AA, A, A-P, B/E, and B/E-P only). Class B/S, B/S-P do not pay the utility fee.

- On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Illinois residents 62 years and older will be charged the FULL CAMPING FEE plus the $10.00 utility fee (A, AA, A-P, B/E and B/E-P only). Class B/S, B/S-P do not pay utility fee.

FEES (Classifications)

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• SENIOR CITIZENS, WHO ARE ILLINOIS RESIDENTS, WISHING TO CAMP AT CLASS C OR CLASS D CAMPSITES:
  

- On Monday thru Thursday, Illinois residents 62 years and older will be charged NO CAMPING FEE.

- On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Illinois residents 62 years and older will be charged the FULL CAMPING FEE.

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• ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WITH A CLASS 2 OR 2A DISABILITY WISHING TO CAMP AT CLASS A, CLASS AA, CLASS A-P, CLASS B/E, CLASS B/E-P OR CLASS B/S, B/S-P CAMPSITES:

- On Monday thru Thursday, Illinois residents with a Class 2 or 2A disability will be charged ONE HALF the regular camping fee plus the $10.00 utility fee (A, AA, A-P, B/E and B/E-P only).

- On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Illinois residents with a Class 2 or 2A disability will be charged the FULL CAMPING FEE plus the $10.00 utility fee (A, AA, A-P, B/E and B/E-P only).

FEES (Classifications)

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• ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WITH A CLASS 2 OR 2A DISABILITY WISHING TO CAMP AT CLASS C OR CLASS D (Both without access to electric and shower) CAMPSITES:
  

- No Camping Fee is charged any day of the week.

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A DISABLED VETERAN OR FORMER PRISONER OF WAR OR IL VETERANS WITH THE SPECIAL ARMED FORCES PASS WISHING TO CAMP AT CLASS A, CLASS AA, CLASS A-P OR CLASS B/E, B/E-P CAMPSITES:

- On any day of the week, Disabled Veterans or Former Prisoners of War will be charged NO CAMPING FEE BUT WILL BE CHARGED THE $10.00 UTILITY FEE.

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DISABLED VETERAN OR FORMER PRISONER OF WAR OR IL VETERANS WITH THE SPECIAL ARMED FORCES PASS WISHING TO CAMP AT CLASS B/S, B/S-P CLASS C, OR CLASS D CAMPSITES:

- On any day of the week, Disabled Veterans or Former Prisoners of War will be charged NO CAMPING FEE.

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CAMPING FEE DISCOUNTS FOR THE DISABLED

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Individuals who have a Class 2 or Class 2A disability, as defined in the Illinois Identification Card Act, ARE eligible for the camping fee discounts as described in the previous section. Individuals who have a Class 1 or Class 1A disability ARE NOT ELIGIBLE for camping fee discounts.

WHAT IS NEEDED: In order to receive the camping fee discounts for the disabled, an individual must possess an Illinois Disabled Person's Identification Card which provides the classification of the individual's disability. In order to receive the camping fee discounts, the card must be presented to park staff in charge of writing camping permits. AGAIN, THE CARD MUST SHOW THE INDIVIDUAL HAS A CLASS 2 OR CLASS 2A DISABILITY TO RECEIVE THE REDUCED CAMPING FEE.

WHERE TO APPLY FOR THE ILLINOIS DISABLED PERSON'S IDENTIFICATION CARD: Individuals wishing to apply for an Illinois Disabled Person's Identification Card can apply at any Secretary of State's Driver Services Facility. There is no fee for the Disabled ID Card.

*Click on the following link for locations of Driver Services Facilities.

The Secretary of State's computer system has a 3 digit space that they have to fill in all three spaces when they are issuing these cards to disabled persons. The first digit is for the type of disability and will be a "P" for Physical, "H" for Hearing, "V" for Vision, "M" for Mental, or "D" for Developmental. The second digit is for the class of disability and will either be a "1" or a "2". The third digit is for the letter "A" when a person has a Class 1A or 2A disability. If they have a Class 1 or 2 disability, the computer still requires that the third digit be entered so the Secretary of State employee typically enters a "0" in the third space.

IF THE NUMBER "2" APPEARS IN THE CLASSIFICATION DESIGNATION ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE DISABLED ID CARD, THIS PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE WHATEVER DISCOUNT THAT APPLIES TO THEM. I.E. P2A, M2A, P20, WOULD ALL BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THE "2" APPEARS. IF A "1" APPEARS IN THE CLASSIFICATION, THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. I.E. P1A, V1A, D10 WOULD ALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THE "1" APPEARS.

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CAMPING FEE DISCOUNTS FOR A DISABLED VETERAN

OR FORMER PRISONER OF WAR

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Every Veteran who is a resident of Illinois and:

• Disabled by the permanent loss of use of a leg or both legs or an arm or both arms or any combination thereof, or any person who is severely disabled as to be unable to move without the aid of crutches or a wheelchair; or
• Is receiving 100% service connected disability compensation benefits either from the Veterans Administration or military disability retired pay (other than TDRL, Temporary Disability Retired List); or
• Is a former prisoner of war as identified by the Veterans Administration or other United States governmental agency.

** The immediate family (spouse, minor children, or grandchildren under 18 years old) of a veteran, when accompanied by the veteran, is eligible for camping fee discounts.

WHAT IS NEEDED: In order to receive the camping fee discounts for disabled veterans or former prisoners of war, an individual must possess a Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Certification Card. In order to receive the camping fee discounts, the Disability Certification Card must be presented to park staff in charge of writing camping permits.

WHERE TO APPLY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISABILITY CERTIFICATION CARD: Veterans wishing to apply for a Veterans Disability Certification Card may apply at any of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs field offices throughout the State. The veteran must provide proof consisting of documentation from the Veterans Administration, Department of Defense, Military Personnel Records Center or other federal agency in order to received the Disability Certification Card. The disabled veteran or former prisoner of war will be given the left side of the card while the right side of the cad is sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs central office to be used as the master copy.

*Click on the following link for a list of Veterans' Affairs offices. Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs

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WHERE TO APPLY FOR THE ILLINOIS DISABLED PERSON'S ID CARD:

Individuals wishing to apply for an Illinois Disabled Person's Identification Card can apply at any Secretary of State's Driver Services Facility. There is no fee for the Disabled ID card.

• DISABLED VETERAN: The State of Illinois grants FREE hunting and fishing licenses to veterans who:

- have a service connected disability (10% and up)

- are in receipt of total Veterans' Administration (VA) disability pension

- are in receipt of military disability retirement pay and can present a letter from the Veteran's Administration showing the veteran would be entitled to VA compensation at a rate of 10% or greater if military pay was waived.

** Former prisoners of war without a service-connected disability or who are not receiving a disability pension ARE NOT ELIGIBLE for the free hunting and fishing license.

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ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs

ADMINISTRATION

Camping

(20 ILCS 2805/) (Department of Veterans Affairs Act)

Title: An Act creating the Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs. Cite: 30 ILCS 2805/0.01 et seq. From: Ch. 126 ˝ , par. 65.9 et seq. Source: P.A. 79-376. Date: Approved August 10, 1975. Short title: Department of Veterans Affairs Act.

(20 ILCS 2805/5) (From Ch. 126 ˝ , par. 70)

Sec. 5 (a) Every veteran, who is a resident of Illinois and disabled shall be exempt from all camping and admission fees in parks under the control of the Department of Natural Resources. For the purpose of this subsection (a), a resident with 100% disability or one who has permanently lost the use of a leg or both legs or an arm or both arms or any combination thereof or any person who is so severely disabled as to be unable to move without the aid of crutches or a wheelchair. The Department shall issue free use permits to those eligible veterans. To establish disability document, together with proper identification, to any office of the Department. Subject to the approval of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish the form or permit identifier to be issued. (b) Every veteran who is a resident of Illinois and a former prisoner of war shall be exempt from all camping and admission fees in parks under the control of the Department of Natural Resources. For the purposes of this subsection (b), a former prisoner of war is a veteran who was taken and held prisoner by a hostile foreign force while participating in an armed conflict as a member of the United States armed forces. Any identification card or other form of identification issued by the Veterans' Administration or other governmental agency which indicates the card-holder's former prisoner of war status shall be sufficient to accord such card-holder the fee-exempt admission or camping privileges under this subsection. (Source: P.A. 84-133)

JANUARY 17, 1996 ILLINOIS LAWS AFFECTING VETERANS

(Need DAV logo)

CAMPING AND ADMISSION FEE EXEMPTION

AT STATE PARKS

PURPOSE;

To provide an exemption from camping and park fees in State parks under the control of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for eligible veterans and immediate family when accompanied by veteran (spouse, minor children or grandchildren under 18 years).

ELIGIBILITY:

Every veteran who is a resident of Illinois and:

• Disabled by the permanent use of a leg or both legs or an arm or both arms or any combination thereof, or any person who is so severely disabled as to be unable to move without the aid of crutches or a wheelchair; or
• Is receiving 100% service connected disability compensation benefits either from the Veterans Administration or military disability retired pay (other than TDRL, Temporary Disability Retired List); or
• Is a former prisoner of war as identified by the Veterans Administration or other United States governmental agency.

ISSUE PROCEDURE:

The Department shall issue a certification to qualifying veterans upon receiving proof of the veterans eligibility as listed above. Proof can consist of documentation from the US Department of Veterans' Affairs, Department of Defense, Military Personnel Records Center or other federal agency. When completing the form, be sure all entries are filled in, the signature blocks are signed, and the veterans card is notarized. The left side is detached and given to the veteran. The right side is sent to Central Office to be used as the master copy. You may annotate the card issue on the 503, inside of the claim folder, or by other means, which records the date of card issuance.

EXAMPLE