Section 116.80  Documentation

a)         Upon request from the Department, the applicant must provide the following official documentation when applicable:

1)         Marriage Certificate;

2)         Divorce Decree;

3)         Birth Certificate;

4)         Adoption Decree;

5)         Letters of Guardianship;

6)         Death Certificate or Report of Casualty;

7)         Certification from the county clerk of a civil union;

8)         DD 214 or Discharge;

9)         Proof of Disability (Statement from Department of Defense or U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs);

10)       Proof of admission or enrollment in a public university or community college located within Illinois;

11)       Enlistment contract to demonstrate home of record at time of entering service, if Illinois is not listed as home of record on DD 214 or Discharge; or

12)       Any other documentation the Department requests to verify eligibility for the scholarship.

b)         If the eligible veterans' or servicepersons' DD 214 does not indicate Illinois residency when entering active duty, the applicant may establish residency within six months after entering military service by providing one or more of the following documents:

1)         Illinois driver's license issued during the relevant six month period;

2)         Illinois high school or college transcripts demonstrating attendance during the relevant six month period;

3)         Utility bills/rent receipts in the applicant's name during the relevant six month period;

4)         Illinois motor vehicle registration issued during the relevant six month period;

5)         Residential lease in the applicant's name during the relevant six month period;

6)         Statement of benefits history from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services or Department of Human Services during the relevant six month period;

7)         Statement of benefits from the Illinois Department of Employment Security during the relevant six month period;

8)         State of Illinois identification card issued during the relevant six month period; or

9)         Letter of employment on company letterhead verified by certification in accordance with Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure [735 ILCS 5/1-109].

c)         If the eligible veterans' or servicepersons' DD 214 does not indicate Illinois residency when entering and/or separating from the military service, the applicant may verify 15 years of continuous residency after entering military service and at time of application by providing a combination of sufficient documentation of one or more of the documents listed in subsection (c)(1) through (5), which includes the following:

1)         Copies of Illinois Income Tax forms for each of the 15 years of required residency.  If records are unavailable, provide a statement of the record from the Illinois Department of Revenue that provides an accounting of Illinois Income Tax records currently available;

2)         Copies of Illinois voter registration documents for each of the 15 years of required residency.  If records are unavailable, provide a statement of the record from the county clerk where residency has been established that provides a record of voter registration records that are currently available;

3)         Copies of property records to include residential mortgages, deeds or residential leases that provide proof of 15 years of required residency within the State of Illinois;

4)         Copies of utility records to include electricity, water, waste removal, cable or internet service that provides proof of 15 years of required residency within the State of Illinois;

5)         Copies of driving records to include driver's license record, insurance, and ownership of vehicle titled in the State of Illinois that provides proof of 15 years of required residency within the State of Illinois.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 17376, effective November 13, 2024)