PM 01-01-04-a: Use of Case Records

WAG 01-01-04-a

Use case records to:

  • show whether or not a person qualifies for our programs;
  • find the amount of benefits the person or family needs;
  • bring services and resources to clients;
  • promote the health and safety of the client; and
  • maintain a history of the case.

Additionally, the Department cooperates with other local, state, or federal officials who:

  • Enforce the rules of the programs we administer and review reports of violations of our programs.
  • Work for the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and investigate reports of child abuse and neglect.
  • Enforce Unemployment Insurance (UI) rules. (Case records can be used only to prove UI eligibility or benefit amount.)
  • Can confirm for us if a person can receive Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act through Health and Human Services.

For text reviseda TANF case, make the case record available upon request to a law enforcement agency, to an officer of any court, and to any other person or agency a court authorizes. In particular, make the record available to a law enforcement agency to determine the current address of a client for whom they have an outstanding arrest warrant. Disclose information to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for their investigation or audit of a delinquent student loan or monetary award. DHS, HFS, and the Department of Revenue may share information to verify sources and amounts of income and for other purposes directly related to the administration of the Illinois Public Aid Code and the Illinois Income Tax Act.

Anyone seeking information must submit proper identification that establishes their authority. When specific matters are under consideration, release only information which relates to those matters.

When possible, inform the family or client of the request to review the case record, except when the disclosure would hinder the purpose for which the request was made.

Domestic Violence

For the protection of the domestic violence victim, do not release any information without the person's written consent to:

  • any other household member;
  • the household's currently approved representative; or
  • a person acting in the household's behalf.

This includes the person's current address, workplace, work placement, school or children's school, as well as any details about the domestic violence.