HJ0029 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0029 LRB096 08447 DRJ 18564 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Department of Human Services, in administering some of its programs, must determine whether an applicant for or recipient of benefits is disabled; and

WHEREAS, Some of those applicants or recipients attempt to engage in some sort of work even while disabled from performing work in which they previously engaged; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Human Services does not always allow applicants or recipients the same benefits of a trial work period as allowed by the Social Security Administration in administering the federal program of disability benefits; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that in determining whether an individual is disabled for purposes of any program administered by the Department of Human Services, the Department shall follow the most recently updated rules adopted by the Social Security Administration concerning an individual working while disabled, including, without limitation, rules concerning a trial work period and whether an individual's earnings are "substantial"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, in particular, the Department of Human Services shall not, after a trial work period ends, determine that an individual is earning substantial earnings and open the individual's case for review unless the individual has earnings of more than the amount allowed by the Social Security Administration during a trial work period (for 2009, $980 per month); and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor and the Director of Human Services.