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Illinois Life Span Program

PUNS, The Basics

Last Updated May 2025

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Table of Contents

What is PUNS and why is it important?

PUNS is the database for people in Illinois with developmental disabilities who are seeking services, but do not yet have funding for services. Individuals who need help from the government to pay for home/community services, should register on the PUNS under the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

To get on the PUNS list, one must be likely to have a developmental disability (DD). The Independent Service Coordination Agency (ISC) will determine eligibility.

Through Medicaid, a person with DD is entitled to access institutional services (Intermediate Care Facilities ICF/DD). These facilities are not accessed through funding from the Adults with DD Waiver.  Individuals with DD do not need to be on the PUNS list to access an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF/DD). In Illinois, there is a wait for Adult DD Waiver services and one must join the PUNS list unless in crisis (experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness, abuse, or neglect). If the consumer is in crisis, speak directly to the ISC. Crisis situations are addressed differently.

Some of the services funded by the DHS -Division of Disabilities Medicaid Home and Community Based waivers that may be needed are:

  • In-Home Supports
  • Job Coaches
  • Community Day Services
  • Residential Services
  • Therapy Services

How to get on the PUNS list

To get someone on the PUNS list, a date for a PUNS interview needs to be arranged with the local Independent Service Coordination Agency (ISC). The ISC is the “gateway” to getting on the PUNS and to DD Waiver services. Questions about the individual and his/her needs are part of the PUNS enrollment process.

Don’t forget to update the PUNS form every year. Only those who have completed the PUNS and are in the Seeking Service Category – and keep it updated – have a chance to be “selected” to receive services. Watch the U.S. Mail for a letter alerting the consumer that a PUNS annual update is due. If the consumer does not get a letter, call the ISC to schedule an update appointment.

How to find the ISC

To find the ISC for the individual seeking services, call any of The Arc Programs listed on the final page of this document. Contact the DHS Customer Help Line at (800) 843-6154 or go to the Illinois DHS Office Locator and choose “Developmental Disability Services” as the office Type, along with your county (if located in Cook County you must include your zip code).

The PUNS list is a wait list

There are two PUNS categories: Seeking Services, for people who currently need or desire supports, and Planning for Services, for people who do not currently want or need supports but may in the future.

PUNS selections are based on a person’s total length of time in the Seeking Services Category after the age of 18.

Note: If you are not in the Seeking Services Category and you are currently in need of supports, you must request that your (Independent Service Coordination (ISC) Agency move you to the Seeking Services category. More information is available here.

Thanks to the ongoing Ligas Consent Decree, the Division of Developmental Disabilities plans that by 2025, a person age 18 or older in the Seeking Service Category will be selected from the PUNS no longer than 5 years after enrolling.

Additional Update as of March 26, 2025

  • PUNS Selection letters do not expire
    • Once selected, an individual may use their letter at any time in the future; it does not expire or become invalid.
    • However, if the letter has already been used to obtain Adult DD wavier services and then the individual left services and wants to return to services, they need to receive a new letter through the regular PUNs selection.  
  • If not ready for services, you may go to Planning or Close PUNS
    • Closing PUNS or placing an individual in the Planning category does not impact that individual’s ability to use their PUNS selection letter
  • Hold was previously a way to void a selection letter
    • If a person was on Hold for two years, the Hold expired and the letter could not be used.
    • Because a letter can be used whenever a person is ready, we no longer need to put people at risk of expired hold.
  • Individuals on Hold and previously expired holds
    • DDD and ISCs have already reached out to those on hold, removed their hold, and updated them to the most appropriate status, Seeking or Planning
    • Anyone with an expired Holds will be immediately eligible for selection / services without needing to re-accumulate wait time
    • More information is here

ISCs will enroll individuals in the Seeking Services category who are in any of these situations:

  • Persons whose caregiver is clearly progressing toward being unable to provide care for any number of reasons (age of the caregiver, physical/psychological/ health condition of caregiver, health or other situation of the individual). The individual and/or family are coping for now but supports are needed.
  • The individual him/herself has a deteriorating situation, which requires formal supports.
  • Cases where, although the caregiver and person with developmental disabilities have not been directly affected, a death in the family (especially of a care giver’s spouse or other family member who may have assisted in providing care) or other circumstance has affected their situation requiring a need for additional support.
  • Situations where the caregiver(s) must work to provide income to pay the rent, etc. If services are not provided, the caregiver(s) would have to remain at home to provide support, and effectively be unable to continue working.
  • Persons who have (or will shortly) graduate from school and will need day supports (i.e., there are no other employment or other day support options available/planned).
  • The person is dissatisfied with the current setting and would like to have DD residential services.
  • Person prefers to live in his/her own home rather than in a funded residential setting but would need supports to do so.
  • The person currently lives in out-of-home residential setting that is not funded by the Division of DD and wishes to return to their family home (and family concurs). The family can provide care but would like support to return this person to the home.

ISCs will enroll in the Planning for Services category individuals who are:

  • Not currently seeking services but will be seeking if something happens to the caregiver (e.g. caregiver becomes ill or passes away) or other family circumstances change
  • Currently receive funding or services through entities other than DD, and whose eligibility will be terminating primarily due to the age of the individual. This person is not in crisis and does not have a current need or desire for DD services. This might include, but is not limited to, persons who are funded through:
    • Early, Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program
    • Medically Fragile/Technology Dependent Children’s Waiver
    • Individual Care Grant supports through the mental health system
    • Illinois State Board of Education or public school system

It is possible to find out when one is likely to be selected by sending an email with the name of the individual, address, birthdate, and the name of the ISC agency to the following address: DHS.DDD.PUNS@illinois.gov.

Please keep in mind that many factors influence the PUNS list, and it changes frequently. There is a possibility that a selection may occur slightly earlier or later than estimated. All estimates of selection and funding availability are subject to appropriation by the Illinois Legislature.

Please remember that PUNS selections only occur from the Seeking Services category; if you need or desire supports, you must be in the Seeking Services category. Those who are enrolled in the Planning category help the Division of Developmental Disabilities plan for future funding needs. More information

Crisis

Children and adults on the PUNS list experiencing a crisis and/or at imminent risk of homelessness, abuse, or neglect can call their ISC to request consideration of a crisis application for waiver funding.  It is important to note that before an individual is evaluated and determined to be in crisis by the ISC they must be placed on the PUNS list.

Children and PUNS

In recent years, the Division of Developmental Disability has occasionally selected children from the PUNS wait-list to apply for in-home supports. Those with current or anticipated future needs are encouraged to complete the PUNS process to get on the PUNS waiting list. A PUNS interview can be requested for children age 2.5 years and older with a likelihood of developmental disabilities.

For more information

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