The homestead exemption for persons with disabilities
An annual exemption for owner-occupiers with a qualifying disability, requiring yearly proof.
Illinois provides a homestead exemption for owner-occupiers with disabilities, separate from the veterans' exemptions.
Who qualifies
An owner who occupies the property as their principal residence and has a disability meeting the statutory definition — commonly evidenced by a Social Security disability award, a Veterans Administration determination, or a physician's statement on the county's form.
Annual renewal
It generally requires annual application with current proof. This is the most common way it is lost: the qualifying condition has not changed, but the paperwork was not returned.
Combining
It sits alongside the general homestead exemption. An owner may also qualify for senior exemptions if they meet those tests too.
The disabled veterans' alternative
A veteran with a service-connected disability should compare this against the veterans' exemption, which is often larger. You would not normally hold both for the same property.
How to start
Ask the Supervisor of Assessments for the current form and the accepted proofs. Bring the documentation you already have — the qualifying determination usually already exists.