Section 116.80  Documentation

a)         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)         DD 214 or Discharge

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

b)         The definition of "eligible veteran or serviceperson" contained in Section 116.50 provides that, until July 1, 2014, eligibility may be established if the otherwise eligible veteran or serviceperson became an Illinois resident within 6 months after leaving military service and can establish 30 years of continuous residency in the State of Illinois.

1)         If the eligible veterans' or servicepersons' DD 214 does not indicate Illinois residency when entering and/or separating from the Armed Forces, he/she may verify establishment of residency within 6 months after leaving military service by providing one or more of the following documents:

A)        Illinois driver's license issued during the relevant 6 month period;

B)        Illinois high school or college transcripts demonstrating attendance during the relevant 6 month period;

C)        Utility bills/rent receipts in the applicant's name during the relevant 6 month period;

D)        Illinois motor vehicle registration issued during the relevant 6 month period;

E)        Residential lease in the applicant's name during the relevant 6         month period;

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

G)        Statement of benefits from the Illinois Department of Employment Security during the relevant 6 month period;

H)        State of Illinois identification card issued during the relevant 6 month period; or

I)         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].

2)         If the eligible veterans' or servicepersons' DD 214 does not indicate Illinois residency when entering and/or separating from the Armed Forces, he/she may verify 30 years of continuous residency by providing a combination of sufficient documentation of one or more of the documents listed in this subsection (b)(2), including tax returns, voting records, property records, utility records and driving records.

A)        Copies of Illinois Income Tax forms for each of the 30 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;

B)        Copies of Illinois voter registration documents for each of the 30 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;

C)        Copies of property records to include residential mortgages, deeds or residential leases that provide proof of 30 years of required residency within the State of Illinois;

D)        Copies of utility records to include electricity, water, waste removal, cable or internet service that provides proof of 30 years of required residency within the State of Illinois;

E)        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 30 years of required residency within the State of Illinois.

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 12091, effective July 10, 2013)