10/03/2024
Information Memo
Summary:
- Implementation of the Equity and Racial Justice Act (ERJA).
- Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) and Integrated Eligibility System (IES) has been revised to capture additional demographic information.
- Reports of gender and name changes.
This Information Memo provides guidance for implementing the Equity and Racial Justice Act (ERJA), which requires additional reporting options (selections) and the collection of demographic information from individuals applying for benefits; 20 ILCS 65/ Data Governance and Organization to Support Equity and Racial Justice Act. (ilga.gov). In addition, the collection of sexual orientation and gender identification (SOGI) information is implemented based on federal CMS guidance. Responses provided for the referenced demographic questions will not affect eligibility for benefits and is to be confidential. Customers may choose whether to respond to these new questions.
Revision of Existing Demographic Selection Options
The existing Race, Ethnicity, Language, and Blindness or Disability questions within ABE and IES have been updated to include additional selection options.
Additional Race selection option(s):
- Asian/Asian American
- Middle Eastern North African
- Some Other Race Alone
- No Race Specified (not a selectable value; will be saved if a race is not selected)
- Two or more races (not a selectable value; will be saved if multiple races are selected)
Additional Ethnicity selection option(s):
- Other category not specified
- Prefer not to answer
Additional Language selection option(s):
- Other category not specified
- Prefer not to answer
Addition of New Demographic Questions
New SOGI, Indigenous status questions, and selection options have been added within ABE and IES.
New SOGI questions:
- What is this person's sex assigned at birth?
- Selection option(s):
- Female
- Male
- A sex that's not listed (Please specify textbox will display if selected)
- Not sure
- Prefer not to answer
- What is this person's gender identity?
- Selection option(s):
- Female
- Male
- Transgender female
- Transgender male
- A gender identity that's not listed (Please specify textbox will display if selected)
- Not sure
- Prefer not to answer
- What is this person's sexual orientation?
- Selection option(s):
- Lesbian or gay
- Straight
- Bisexual
- A sexual orientation that's not listed (Please specify textbox will display if selected)
- Not sure
- Prefer not to answer
New Indigenous status question:
- Is this person a descendant of the peoples who inhabited the Americas, the Pacific, and parts of Asia and Africa prior to European colonization?
- Selection option(s):
- Yes
- No
- Prefer not to answer
The new SOGI questions will only be enabled for individuals aged 12 and older; providing a response to these questions is optional.
The existing gender question will not be updated; "Male" and "Female" will continue to be the only allowable options for selection.
ABE and IES Updates
ABE -Apply For Benefits (AFB) Household Member pages have been updated to include new sections for SOGI and Indigenous status questions. Additional selection options have been added to the existing Race, Ethnicity, Language, Blindness or Disability questions.
ABE -Report My Changes (RMC) Report My Changes page has been updated to include a new checkbox in the Change in Household section for reporting changes of Race, Ethnicity, SOGI, or Indigenous status.
IES Register Individual-Individual, Maintain Individual, and Data Collection Individual Information pages have been updated to include new sections for SOGI and Indigenous status questions and additional Race, Ethnicity, Language, Blindness or Disability selection options to existing questions. Responses to the new questions and the selection options will be auto-populated from ABE to IES. By default, "Prefer Not to Answer" will be displayed if a response is not provided.
Reports of Gender and Name Changes
Customer self-attestation and requests are acceptable to complete a gender change.
Refer to Change an Individual's Name Wizard when processing a name change request.
Paper Applications and Form Revisions
The 2378ABE, 2378B, 683, and 243 form series will be revised to reflect the demographic updates.
Note: SOGI questions do not apply to individuals under age 12 and, therefore, are not included on form 243N.
[signed copy on file]
Dulce Quintero
Secretary-designate, Illinois Department of Human Services
Elizabeth Whitehorn
Director, Healthcare and Family Services
