HB5324 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18202 BAB 31641 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5324

Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

210 ILCS 45/2-201.8 new
210 ILCS 49/3-202 new

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that, to facilitate timely applications for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, facilities shall assess residents using the Social Security Administration screener to check eligibility for Social Security benefits within 30 days after admission to a facility. If the resident is likely eligible, requires the facility to assist the resident with completing an application within 60 days after admission to a facility. Provides that, within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, facilities shall conduct a one-time assessment of all current residents and complete a Social Security Administration screener for all residents without income and without a pending Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance application. Twice per year, requires each facility to publicly post on the facility's website the number of residents screened and the number of applications initiated. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Nursing Home Care Act is amended by adding Section 2-201.8 as follows:

(210 ILCS 45/2-201.8 new)

Sec. 2-201.8. Resident income applications.

(a) In this Section:

"Admission" means the first day in which a resident resides at a facility.

"Screener" means a tool administered by the Social Security Administration that allows members of the public to check eligibility for Social Security benefits.

(b) The purpose of this Section is to reduce delays in submitting applications for Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance for residents who may be eligible, as securing income is necessary for individuals transitioning from institutions to the community.

(c) To facilitate timely applications for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, facilities shall assess residents using the Social Security Administration screener to check eligibility for Social Security benefits within 30 days after admission to a facility.

(d) If the resident is likely eligible, the facility shall assist the resident with completing an application within 60 days after admission to a facility. Facilities must make staff available that are trained to gather complete, targeted, and relevant information resulting in high-quality Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance applications. Facilities may collaborate with third-party experts to meet this requirement as needed.

(e) Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, facilities shall conduct a one-time assessment of all current residents and complete a Social Security Administration screener for all residents without income and without a pending Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance application. If the resident is likely eligible, the facility shall initiate an application within 60 days after conducting the screener.

(f) Twice per year, each facility shall publicly post on the facility's website the number of residents screened and the number of applications initiated.

Section 10. The Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 is amended by adding Section 3-202 as follows:

(210 ILCS 49/3-202 new)

Sec. 3-202. Resident income applications.

(a) In this Section:

"Admission" means the first day in which a resident resides at a facility facility.

"Screener" means a tool administered by the Social Security Administration that allows members of the public to check eligibility for Social Security benefits.

(b) The purpose of this Section is to reduce delays in submitting applications for Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance for residents who may be eligible, as securing income is necessary for individuals transitioning from institutions to the community.

(c) To facilitate timely applications for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, facilities shall assess residents using the Social Security Administration screener to check eligibility for Social Security benefits within 30 days after admission to a facility.

(d) If the resident is likely eligible, the facility shall assist the resident with completing an application within 60 days after admission to a facility. Facilities must make staff available that are trained to gather complete, targeted, and relevant information resulting in high-quality Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance applications. Facilities may collaborate with third-party experts to meet this requirement as needed.

(e) Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, facilities shall conduct a one-time assessment of all current residents and complete a Social Security Administration screener for all residents without income and without a pending Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance application. If the resident is likely eligible, the facility shall initiate an application within 60 days after conducting the screener.

(f) Twice per year, each facility shall publicly post on the facility's website the number of residents screened and the number of applications initiated.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.