Section 120.120  Eligibility Requirements

Client eligibility for the Illinois Community Services Block Grant Program is limited to the 3 listed categories.

a)         Clients served must be “low-income” which is at or below 125% of the poverty line as determined annually and published in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  CAAs may set more restrictive eligibility provisions (i.e., majority, at least 51% of clients served must be at or below 100% of HHS’ poverty level with the remainder of the clients served at 125% of the poverty line).  Client income may be determined by actual annual income or a projection of income based on the prior 90 days (whichever is most beneficial to the client).

            At client intake: disregard CSBG scholarship funds, training stipends and other student financial aid when determining family income.

            Ongoing/long-term programs: clients eligible at intake and enrolled in a CAA Family and Community Development program may remain eligible for up to five years or until they reach 185% of the poverty line as long as they are progressing in the program and there is at least quarterly client contact.  Clients eligible at intake and enrolled in other multi-year programs may remain eligible for up to two years or until they reach 185% of the poverty line as long as they are progressing in the program.  The CAA must assess and document the income each year for the participants in the multi-year programs; however, original eligibility prevails until the thresholds and conditions described in this subsection are reached.

b)         Extreme emergency assistance may be provided to individuals and families who are victims of natural or manmade disasters without regard to income eligibility.  This category is included to allow CAAs to quickly respond to sudden events that cause swift and temporary poverty.  This category includes victims of fire, floods, tornadoes and other disasters.  Special written authorization from DCCA must be obtained if clients in this category will exceed 10% of the total CSBG clients served in a grant period.

c)         Each CAA is given discretion to calculate income for selected clients net of extreme expenses in areas such as medical, housing, child care and transportation and to waive income restrictions for clients who have experienced a substantial loss of income through an employment or family related crisis.  These discretional provisions fall under the same limitation that is in place for victims of natural or manmade disasters.  Special written authorization from DCCA must be obtained if clients in this category and the preceding category (Section 120.120(a)(2)) will exceed 10% of the total CSBG clients served in a grant period.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 7986, effective April 28, 2003)