The Veterans Assistance Commission of Macoupin County (“the VAC”) is a unit of county government established under the Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act (330 ILCS 45). We take the privacy of Veterans, survivors, and dependents seriously. This page explains, in plain language, what information we collect and how we protect it.
Information we collect
We only collect what we need to serve you — the information you give us in person, by phone, by mail, or through our forms. Depending on the help you request, that may include your name and contact details, service information, dependents, and the documents needed to establish a benefit or claim.
How we use it
We use your information solely to assist you — to determine eligibility, prepare and file claims, and connect you to benefits and resources. We do not sell, rent, or trade your information, and we do not use it for advertising.
When we share it
We share information only as needed to do the work you’ve asked us to do — for example, with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA), or a partner agency to process your claim or benefit — and generally only with your authorization (such as appointing our office to represent you). We also release information when required by law.
Email and online forms
Our online forms open a pre-filled email to macvac@macvac.org for you to send. Please remember that ordinary email is not a secure channel — do not send your Social Security number, medical details, or other sensitive information by email. Bring sensitive documents to the office, or call us, and we’ll handle them securely.
Website information
This website does not use advertising trackers, and we do not sell any visitor data. Some pages link to official government sites (VA.gov, Illinois.gov) and third-party resources, which have their own privacy practices.
Your records and confidentiality
As a unit of local government, the VAC’s records are generally subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) and the Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205). However, Veteran benefit and claim records are confidential and protected under federal law — including 38 U.S.C. § 5701 and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a) — and are not disclosed as public records. To request records, see our FOIA request form or contact our office.
Questions
If you have any questions about your privacy or your records, contact us at (217) 854-5249 or macvac@macvac.org.
This notice is provided for general information and may be updated from time to time. It is not legal advice.