Illinois puts $5,000 into a Bright Start 529 college savings account for the child of a service member killed in the line of duty. The money can be used for qualified higher education expenses, meaning tuition and fees, at most community colleges, public and private four-year colleges, universities, graduate and post-graduate programs and certain vocational schools. It is invested in an age-based portfolio, cannot be taken as cash, and is paid directly to the school.
Email collegesavings@IllinoisTreasurer.gov to request an application. Send the completed application back by email, or mail it to Office of the Illinois State Treasurer, Fallen Heroes Scholarship, 100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 15-600, Chicago, IL 60601.
The documentation listed on the application, including the report of casualty or death certificate showing the death was in the line of duty and proof that you are the service member’s child.
