Section 200.30  Determination of Eligibility for Status Based Grants

a)         The grant applicant must show proof of the following:

1)         He or she is, at the time of entry on mobilization, a member of the Illinois National Guard or an Illinois resident who is a member of another U.S. Armed Forces Reserve component or is a family member of the service member.  Proof of residency for military members will consist of information obtained from the supporting documents provided; DD 214, item 7b; or orders and military pay statement, along with the individual's certification on the application.  Proof of a familial relationship will consist of information obtained from DEERS.

2)         The Illinois National Guard or Reserve component member was on active military duty for at least 60 consecutive days (effective December 9, 2009; previously 30 days) in support of an emergency as defined in section 200.10 (effective July 3, 2014; previously as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks); or who has been called to State active duty for 30 or more consecutive days of duty.  Proof of duty will consist of a DD 214, DD 220, or copy of the orders issued by an authorized headquarters ordering the member to such duty and a pay statement reflecting duty performance.

3)         The Illinois National Guard or Reserve component member holds a pay grade no higher than O-3, if an officer, W-3, if a warrant officer, or E8 (effective December 9, 2009; previously E9), if an enlisted member.  Individuals or families will be eligible for the grant based upon rank at the time the period of service for which applying begins.  Proof of pay grades will consist of information obtained from supporting documents, DEERS or REDD.

4)         Service members deployed for a consecutive (not cumulative) period of duty of more than six months will become eligible for additional status based grants for each consecutive six month period.  After the beginning of the seventh, thirteenth, etc, months, applicants may reapply. The subsequent application must include sufficient documentation to validate that the continuous duty was performed in support of an emergency as defined in Section 200.10.  (This subsection (a)(4) is effective January 1, 2008.  Members on active duty on January 1, 2008 will become eligible once they have completed six months on or after January 1, 2008.)  Status grants for State active duty are limited to twice in a 12 month period.

5)         If a custodial parent or guardian is applying for a grant on behalf of a service member's dependent, then the custodial parent or guardian must provide proof of guardianship of a member's dependent currently enrolled in DEERS or a Power of Attorney that authorizes those transactions.

b)         The following members are ineligible to receive grants:

1)         All officers and warrant officers with pay grades of O-4, W-4 or higher and E9 (effective December 9, 2009; previously E9s were eligible);

2)         Personnel serving in Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) or similar full-time unit support programs unless called to Title 10 service for duty as prescribed in subsection (a)(2);

3)         Members who, at any time prior to approval of a grant application under this Section, receive a punitive discharge or an administrative discharge with service characterized as Under Other Than Honorable Conditions or a lower characterized discharge.

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 8822, effective June 15, 2015)