Government Benefit Programs are an integral part of the service system for people with disabilities. Although they can be complicated, it is important to understand how to access and utilize these benefits.
- Early Intervention for ages birth to age 3
- Early Intervention Getting Started Guide
- Fact Sheet coming soon!
- Division of Specialized Care for Children – care coordination and financial support for children birth to age 21
- Supplemental Security Income – monthly financial support
- Apply for SSI
- SSI – Supplemental Security Income [English and Spanish]
- Medicaid – health coverage for children for children and adults
- Apply for Medicaid
- General Medicaid Questions [English and Spanish]
- Medicaid Waiver Programs – additional disability supports for people with disabilities
- Adults with Developmental Disabilities
- Medically Fragile Technology Dependent Waiver
- Support Waiver for Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities (Home-Based DD waiver for children)
- Residential Waiver for Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities
- https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29738 (Persons with Disabilities, Persons with Brain Injury, Persons with HIV/AIDS)
- SNAP-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [English and Spanish]
- Respite – Fact sheet coming soon!
Additional Helpful Fact Sheets
- PUNS, The Basics [English, Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Tagalog, and Urdu]
- PUNS Pathway Flowchart [English and Spanish]
- Comparison of Adult Medicaid Waivers programs: DDD v DRS [English, Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Tagalog, and Urdu]
- Medicaid Waivers in Illinois for Children with Disabilities [English and Spanish]
- Understanding SSDI & Medicare [English and Spanish]
- Adults with Disabilities Living Options [English and Spanish]
- Residential Options [English and Spanish]
- Becoming A Dual Medicare-Medicaid Eligible Recipient [English and Spanish]
- Family Guide to Medicaid Managed Care Appeals [English and Spanish]
- Mental Health Resources in Illinois [English and Spanish]
- Non-Emergency Mental Health Resources for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities [English and Spanish]
- What is a Spenddown and Why Do I Have One? [English and Spanish]