Coronavirus Information

IDHS Guidance and Directives Regarding COVID-19

• IDHS Guidance 1.0: Proper Use of a Face Covering in Low Risk Environment Workplaces During a Known or Anticipated COVID-19 Outbreak.
• IDHS Guidance 2.0: Social Distancing of Employees and Customers During a Known or Anticipated COVID-19 Outbreak.
• IDHS Guidance 3.0: Guidelines for Hand Washing and Hand Sanitizing at the Workplace.

IDHS Helpful Links and Resources During COVID-19

• IDHS Information & Resources During the COVID-19 Crisis. IDHS has also translated this resource into: Chinese (pdf), Hindi (pdf), Korean (pdf), Polish, Spanish, and Vietnamese (pdf).
• IDHS Housing, Shelter & Homelessness Resources; IDHS has also translated the resource into Spanish.

IDHS COVID-19 Data & Frequently Asked Questions

Click the link above to view IDHS COVID-19 data, and Frequently Asked Questions.

IDHS Weekly Bulletins

• 5/28/20 - IDHS Weekly Bulletin
• 5/21/20 - IDHS Weekly Bulletin; IDHS has also translated this resource into: Arabic (pdf), Chinese (pdf), Hindi (pdf), Japanese (pdf), Korean (pdf), Polish (pdf), Russian (pdf), Spanish (pdf), and Vietnamese (pdf).
• 5/15/20 - IDHS Weekly Bulletin; IDHS has also translated this resource into: Arabic (pdf), Chinese (pdf), Hindi (pdf), Japanese (pdf), Korean (pdf), Polish (pdf), Russian (pdf), Spanish (pdf), and Vietnamese (pdf).
• 5/7/20 - IDHS Weekly Bulletin; IDHS has also translated this resource into: Arabic (pdf), Chinese (pdf), Hindi (pdf), Japanese (pdf), Korean (pdf), Polish (pdf), Russian (pdf), Spanish (pdf), and Vietnamese (pdf).
• 4/30/20 - IDHS Weekly Bulletin
• 4/23/20 - IDHS Weekly Bulletin
• 4/16/20 - IDHS Weekly Bulletin
• 4/9/20 - IDHS Weekly Bulletin

Public Service Announcements

• 4/6/20 - Access IDHS Services Remotely during the Coronavirus Emergency (Video)
• 4/6/20 - Access IDHS Services Remotely during the Coronavirus Emergency (Video-Spanish)
• 3/29/20 - IDHS encourages the public to contact our offices remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic (English)
• 3/29/20 - IDHS encourages the public to contact our offices remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic (Spanish)
• 3/29/20 - IDHS encourages the public to contact our offices remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic (ASL) 

Press Releases

• 5/20/20 - Pritzker Administration Announces 1.8 Million SNAP Recipients Will Be Able to Buy Food Online
• 5/5/20 - A Reminder of Illinois' Text Line (55-2020), Providing Support during COVID-19 Pandemic
• 4/20/20 - Illinois receives approval to provide $112 million more in nutrition benefits for children across the state
• 4/14/20 - IDHS to close remaining local office lobbies as Covid-19 peaks in Illinois; all benefits remain available
• 4/6/20 - Illinois SNAP recipients will begin receiving maximum benefit amounts this week
• 3/29/20 - IDHS expanding services by phone and online; 14 offices will remain open
• 3/19/20 - IDHS announces modifications and closures of IDHS offices to follow health and safety guidelines for COVID-19

Paycheck Protection Program - Additional Information

• Paycheck Protection Program: Frequently Asked Questions
• 5/19/20 - A Message to Providers from Secretary Hou: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Resources
• 5/13/20 - A Message to Providers from Secretary Hou: Update: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
• 5/6/20 - A Message to Providers from Secretary Hou: Update: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
• 4/30/20 - A Message to Providers from Secretary Hou: Paycheck Protection Program FAQs
• 4/27/20 - A Message to Providers from Secretary Hou: Additional Guidance - Paycheck Protection Program
• 4/23/20 - A Message to Providers from Secretary Hou: ICOY Webinar on the Paycheck Protection Program
• 4/21/20 - Message to Providers from Secretary Hou: CARES Act Paycheck Protection & Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program

Messages to IDHS Staff

Click the link above to view messages to IDHS Staff.

Messages to All IDHS Providers

Click the link above to view messages to IDHS Providers.

Illinois Waiver Requests

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Illinois Department of Human Services has submitted a series of waivers to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to increase availability and flexibility within our SNAP programs.

• 4/6/20 - State Plan for Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)
• 3/16/20 - IDHS SNAP Waivers to Address COVID-19

For a list of Illinois Waiver Requests, and status, click this link: Illinois Waiver Requests

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has submitted a waiver to the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services (CMCS) in order to increase availability and flexibility within certain Medicaid regulations.

• 3/19/20 - Illinois Section 1135 Waiver Request to Address COVID-19
• 3/19/20 - Illinois Section 1135 Waiver Request Fact Sheet

Services for Essential Workers

• 4/5/20 - Child Care Assistance Application for Essential Workers: COVID-19 (pdf)

Messages to IDHS Customers

• 4/1/20 - Policy Memo: Emergency SNAP Allotments for April and May 2020 Due to COVID-19
• 3/21/20 - Message to IDHS Customers
• 3/18/20 - Message for Division of Rehabilitation Services Customers - Home Services Program

Messages from IDHS Divisions to Providers

Click the link above to view the messages sent from IDHS Divisions to Providers.