The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) administers Cash and/or Food Assistance (SNAP/State Food) programs. Medical coverage is provided by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS) to people who qualify.- The programs, based on federal and state laws and court rulings, are:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),
- Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD),
- Refugee and Repatriate Assistance (RRA),
- ACA Adult,
- Medical Assistance,
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
- State-Funded Food, and
- State-Funded Cash.
Note: Certain individuals who do not qualify for federal programs due to not meeting citizenship requirements may have their eligibility determined for state cash, medical and/or food assistance programs.
Choosing a Program and Services
- A customer may choose to accept or reject any program benefit and/or services offered, even if they qualify for the benefit.
- An application may be filed by
- completing and signing a paper application form; or
- an electronic application submitted through the ABE system; or
- a telephonic application completed over the phone by calling the ABE Customer Call Center.
- When completing the application, the customer:
- Indicates the program request for each household member who is applying for benefits by choosing (Yes) or (No) to each program: Medical Assistance, Cash Assistance, Family Planning and/or SNAP.
- For any program that is marked (Yes), the individual must meet the eligibility factors for the program and cooperate with the program requirements to qualify for the benefits.
- A paper application is accepted and must be registered if:
- The customer completes and submits a version that does not have the updated (Yes) or (No) option; or
- It only contains a name, address and signature and other sections are incomplete. If received with just a name, address and signature, the application is registered for all programs (Cash, Medical and SNAP). See PM 02-04-04, WAG 02-04-04).
- The customer submits an application and only selects (Yes) to one program. For example, if SNAP is (Yes) but the customer does not indicate a (Yes) or (No) for medical and/or cash. The application will be registered for all programs; or
- If medical is the only program selection, the application is registered for medical benefits only. This includes applications marked with a (Yes) or (No) response to a program request to indicate whether a person is applying for the benefit. This may be a hospital application, an application for long-term care, a short spenddown application, or a QMB or SLIB application or an MSP application. If additional information is needed, a Verification Checklist is sent to the customer requesting the information needed to process the medical only application. If the customer does not respond or there is an inadequate response, the application is denied; or
- If submitted without a program choice, but other sections of the application are completed and there is a name, address and signature, the application is registered for all programs.
- If submitted without a (Yes) or (No) indicated for a program, the customer's request for benefits will be confirmed at the interview and the appropriate action will be taken to determine if all requested programs have been registered and all individuals requesting the programs have been added to the request. Other program requests may be added, if necessary. The customer's decision on benefit choices, including the decision to decline a benefit, even if eligible and all case actions taken by the FCRC are required to be documented.
Interviews
- An interview is required for SNAP and/or Cash programs.
- For Medical programs, an interview is not required. If medical is the only program selection, the application is registered for medical benefits only. If additional information is needed, issue a Verification Checklist requesting the information needed to process the medical only application. If there is no response or there is an inadequate response, the application is denied.
Receiving Benefits on Different Cases
- A person can receive SNAP in one case and cash in another, or SNAP in one case and Medical in another. But there are only 2 situations when a person can be in more than one cash or medical case.
- Situation 1: A child who lives in Illinois and receives foster care/adoption cash benefits from another state can receive medical coverage from IDHFS.
- Situation 2: Someone who becomes an Illinois resident, and who receives cash or medical from another state, may also qualify for IDHS Cash Assistance or IDHFS Medical Assistance. If the cash they receive from the other state is at least $10.00 less than what IDHS pays, they can get a check from IDHS to make up the difference. If the other state won't pay for medical bills incurred in Illinois before their case is canceled, then IDHFS can provide medical coverage.
- A person who receives TANF, AABD, RRA, or Medicare cannot receive ACA Adult.
- A person who qualifies for both TANF and SSI cannot receive both. But a parent can receive one of the benefits for themselves and the other as a representative payee for a child.
- A child cannot receive both Foster Care and TANF at the same time. If a child is eligible for both Foster Care and TANF, the caretaker relative must choose which program the child will receive benefits from. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) makes cash payments for children who receive Foster Care. The Family Health Plan programs provide medical coverage.
