FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

The following organizations are sources of financial support for general and medical needs. Many students with severe disabilities will eventually be eligible for the income and health programs under the Social Security Administration. More detailed information is listed about that program. Specific eligibility criteria should be discussed with each organization. Sources of financial assistance for specific needs such as educational or vocational services may be listed in other sections of this guide.

QUESTIONS TO ASK SOURCES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

· What proof of my financial situation or disabling condition is required?

· What happens to the financial/medical benefits if I get a job?

· How often is my eligibility for benefits reviewed?

· How are benefits affected if I live at home with my parents?

· What do I need to do to keep getting the financial benefits?

· What records need to be turned in regularly?

· What changes in my situation need to be reported?

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY)

www.ssa.gov/chicago/illinois.htm

Local Office Locations:

Aurora, Bloomingdale, and Woodridge

To apply for the following programs, begin by calling the toll free number.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI):

Monthly benefits that are paid to people who have a disability and who have limited income and assets.
Parent’s income and resources are counted if the individual is less than 18 years of age.
No previous work history is required.
SSI recipients who work may continue to receive payments. Benefits are reduced in proportion to earnings and some of those earnings are not counted (excluded each month is $20.00 plus the first $65.00 earned and one half of the remaining salary).
Certain expenses for items or services a person with a disability needs because of his/her impairment in order to work may be deducted when counting earnings. These are called Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and are incentives to work. Examples of an IRWE would include special transportation and job coaching.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):

A program that workers, employers and the self-employed pay for with their Social Security taxes.
Eligibility is based on a person’s work history and the amount of the monthly benefit is based on past earnings.
Recipients can work and receive benefits, but only if under agency limits set yearly (considered “substantial gainful activity”).
For nine months (not necessarily consecutive) after a claim is approved, and individual may earn as much as they can without affecting their benefits. (The nine months of work must fall within a five-year period before the trial work period can end).
A trial work month is any month in which more than $590 is earned. After a trial work period ends, an individual’s work is evaluated to see if it is “substantial”. If earnings do not average more than $830 per month, benefits will generally continue.
For three years after a successful trial work period, if an individual is still disabled they can receive a monthly benefit if in any month; earnings drop below $830 (or the substantial gainful activity level for that year) without making a new application.
Work expenses (IRWES) related to a disability will be discounted in figuring whether earnings constitute substantial work.
Medicare coverage continues for up to 8 ½ years beyond the trail work period. If Medicare coverage stops because of work, it may be purchased for a monthly premium.

Medicare:

There are two parts to Medicare:

#1: hospital insurance (sometimes called “part A”)

#2: medical insurance (sometimes called “part B”)

Generally people who are over age 65 and getting Social Security automatically qualify for Medicare. People who have been getting Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for two years also qualify.
Part A pays for hospital care, skilled nursing care, and other services.
Part B is paid for by monthly premiums of those who are enrolled and it helps pay for such items as doctor’s fees, outpatient hospital visits and other medical services and supplies.
Beginning 1/1/06 a new program will provide prescription drug coverage under Medicare. If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get help paying for your prescription drugs.

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ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE THROUGH TOWNSHIPS

Addison Township Bloomingdale Township

www.addisontownship.com www.bloomingdaletownship.com

(630) 530-8161 (630) 529-9993

Downers Grove Township Lisle Township

www.twp.downers-grove.il.us www.lisletownship.com

(630) 968 0451 (630) 968-2087

Milton Township Naperville Township

www.twp.milton.il.us www.napervilletownship.com
(630) 668-1616 (630) 355-2786

Wayne Township York Township

www.waynetwp-il.org www.yorktwsp.com

(630) 231-7173 (630) 620-2400

Winfield Township

www.winfieldtownship.com

(630) 231-3591

Townships administer the following programs:

General Assistance is a source of funds for single adults actively looking for work, having no other ongoing source of income, who do not qualify for Public Aid.
Limited one time Emergency Financial Assistance in a 12-month period for rent, mortgage, utility, or medications.
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) will provide a one-time benefit to eligible households to be used for energy bills. The amount of the benefit is determined by income, household size, fuel type and geographic location.

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ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

(630) 530-1120 or (630) 530-1135 for TTY

146 W. Roosevelt Rd., Suite 2

Villa Park, IL 60181

8:30a.m to 5:00 p.m. M-F

www.dhs.state.il.us

DHS administers a variety of welfare programs for people who need money and medical care to help take care of themselves and their children. Some of these include:

Food Stamps
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Aid to the aged, blind or disabled
WIC
Medicaid
Health Benefits for Workers with disabilities (HBWD)

Medicaid

Provides medical coverage for persons with limited income and resources.
Anyone can apply but depending on income and financial assets there may be a monthly Spend Down amount before a medical card is issued.
Spend Down is a monthly deductible amount of medical costs that must be incurred (not necessarily paid) by a person before a medical card is issued.
To apply there must be a medical need at the time of application.

Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities

(217) 558-6067

www.hbwdillinois.com

The goal of this program is to help people with disabilities return to work with full Medicaid healthcare benefits.
HBWD encourages people to return to work or to increase the number of hours they are currently working.
Eligible Illinois residents between the ages of 16 and 64, who have a disability and who are employed can purchase HBWD.
Income and assets can be higher than Medicaid normally allows

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ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY

837 S. Westmore

Lombard, IL 60148

(630) 495-4345

www.ides.state.il.us

Unemployment Insurance Benefits:

Ordinarily available for up to 26 weeks after becoming unemployed (due to reasons other than voluntarily leaving a job without good cause).
Recipients must be actively seeking employment.

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ILLINOIS COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN (ICHIP)

1-866-851-2751

www.chip.state.il.us

A health insurance program for people who are unable to obtain traditional health insurance because they are perceived as being high-risk due to their health or past medical condition.

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DIVISION OF SPECIALIZED CARE FOR CHILDREN (DSCC)

DuPage County Regional Office

8205 S. Cass Ave

Suite 110

Darien, IL 60561

(630) 964-9887 or (630) 964-9603 for TTY

For other counties contact 1-877-791-5170

www.uic.edu/hsc/dscc

DSCC is Illinois’ Title V agency for specialized treatment and rehabilitation of children with certain chronic physical disabilities and health impairments.

To be eligible for assistance with the cost of medical care children must be under 21 years of age, must meet certain residency and financial criteria, and must have a diagnosed chronic medical condition which is amenable to treatment and falls within one of 11 impairment categories.

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CIRCUIT BREAKER

Voice/TTY (800) 528-2000

www.cbrx.il.gov

Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance programs are funded through the Illinois Department of Aging. The Circuit Breaker Program provides assistance with paying property tax and mobile home tax for people with disabilities and seniors who reside in Illinois. The Pharmaceutical Assistance Program offers assistance with paying for certain medications.

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LIFELINE and LINK UP

www.universalservice.org/li/consumers/lifeline_support.asp

Lifeline provides qualified customers with discounted phone service and the ability to add additional services and features. Linkup provides for discounted new phone installation.

To qualify for Lifeline or Link Up a household must participate in one of the following: Food Stamps, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing/Section 8, LIHEAP, TANF, or National School Lunch Program (NSL)

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ACCESS DUPAGE

(630) 510-8720

www.accessdupage.org

Access DuPage is a charitable program established to provide assistance to eligible persons in DuPage County. Access DuPage and it’s participating physicians will try to provide a “medical home” where clients can receive primary care medical services, routine x-ray services and prescription drugs at a small cost until they become insured.

To be eligible for Access DuPage the applicant must be a resident of DuPage County for at least 90 days, under age 65, have a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and not be eligible for any other health insurance programs.
All persons in Access DuPage are enrolled for a one-year period. At the end of each one-year period of eligibility, persons may re-enroll if they still meet eligibility requirements

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