Public Act 093-0598
Public Act 93-0598 of the 93rd General Assembly
Public Act 93-0598
HB3023 Enrolled LRB093 10034 DRJ 10285 b
AN ACT in relation to public aid.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
changing Sections 4-2, 9A-3, 9A-5, 9A-7, 9A-8, 9A-9, 11-1,
and 11-20.1 as follows:
(305 ILCS 5/4-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-2)
Sec. 4-2. Amount of aid.
(a) The amount and nature of financial aid shall be
determined in accordance with the grant amounts, rules and
regulations of the Illinois Department. Due regard shall be
given to the self-sufficiency requirements of the family and
to the income, money contributions and other support and
resources available, from whatever source. However, the
amount and nature of any financial aid is not affected by the
payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and Disabled
Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance
Act" or any distributions or items of income described under
subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of
Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act. The aid shall be
sufficient, when added to all other income, money
contributions and support to provide the family with a grant
in the amount established by Department regulation.
(b) The Illinois Department may conduct special
projects, which may be known as Grant Diversion Projects,
under which recipients of financial aid under this Article
are placed in jobs and their grants are diverted to the
employer who in turn makes payments to the recipients in the
form of salary or other employment benefits. The Illinois
Department shall by rule specify the terms and conditions of
such Grant Diversion Projects. Such projects shall take into
consideration and be coordinated with the programs
administered under the Illinois Emergency Employment
Development Act.
(c) The amount and nature of the financial aid for a
child requiring care outside his own home shall be determined
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois
Department, with due regard to the needs and requirements of
the child in the foster home or institution in which he has
been placed.
(d) If the Department establishes grants for family
units consisting exclusively of a pregnant woman with no
dependent child or including her husband if living with her,
the grant amount for such a unit shall be equal to the grant
amount for an assistance unit consisting of one adult, or 2
persons if the husband is included. Other than as herein
described, an unborn child shall not be counted in
determining the size of an assistance unit or for calculating
grants.
Payments for basic maintenance requirements of a child or
children and the relative with whom the child or children are
living shall be prescribed, by rule, by the Illinois
Department.
Grants under this Article shall not be supplemented by
General Assistance provided under Article VI.
(e) Grants shall be paid to the parent or other person
with whom the child or children are living, except for such
amount as is paid in behalf of the child or his parent or
other relative to other persons or agencies pursuant to this
Code or the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department.
(f) Subject to subsection (f-5), an assistance unit,
receiving financial aid under this Article or temporarily
ineligible to receive aid under this Article under a penalty
imposed by the Illinois Department for failure to comply with
the eligibility requirements or that voluntarily requests
termination of financial assistance under this Article and
becomes subsequently eligible for assistance within 9 months,
shall not receive any increase in the amount of aid solely on
account of the birth of a child; except that an increase is
not prohibited when the birth is (i) of a child of a pregnant
woman who became eligible for aid under this Article during
the pregnancy, or (ii) of a child born within 10 months after
the date of implementation of this subsection, or (iii) of a
child conceived after a family became ineligible for
assistance due to income or marriage and at least 3 months of
ineligibility expired before any reapplication for
assistance. This subsection does not, however, prevent a
unit from receiving a general increase in the amount of aid
that is provided to all recipients of aid under this Article.
The Illinois Department is authorized to transfer funds,
and shall use any budgetary savings attributable to not
increasing the grants due to the births of additional
children, to supplement existing funding for employment and
training services for recipients of aid under this Article
IV. The Illinois Department shall target, to the extent the
supplemental funding allows, employment and training services
to the families who do not receive a grant increase after the
birth of a child. In addition, the Illinois Department shall
provide, to the extent the supplemental funding allows, such
families with up to 24 months of transitional child care
pursuant to Illinois Department rules. All remaining
supplemental funds shall be used for employment and training
services or transitional child care support.
In making the transfers authorized by this subsection,
the Illinois Department shall first determine, pursuant to
regulations adopted by the Illinois Department for this
purpose, the amount of savings attributable to not increasing
the grants due to the births of additional children.
Transfers may be made from General Revenue Fund
appropriations for distributive purposes authorized by
Article IV of this Code only to General Revenue Fund
appropriations for employability development services
including operating and administrative costs and related
distributive purposes under Article IXA of this Code. The
Director, with the approval of the Governor, shall certify
the amount and affected line item appropriations to the State
Comptroller.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit
the Illinois Department from using funds under this Article
IV to provide assistance in the form of vouchers that may be
used to pay for goods and services deemed by the Illinois
Department, by rule, as suitable for the care of the child
such as diapers, clothing, school supplies, and cribs.
(f-5) Subsection (f) shall not apply to affect the
monthly assistance amount of any family as a result of the
birth of a child on or after January 1, 2004. As resources
permit after January 1, 2004, the Department may cease
applying subsection (f) to limit assistance to families
receiving assistance under this Article on January 1, 2004,
with respect to children born prior to that date. In any
event, subsection (f) shall be completely inoperative on and
after July 1, 2007.
(g) (Blank).
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code,
the Illinois Department is authorized to reduce payment
levels used to determine cash grants under this Article after
December 31 of any fiscal year if the Illinois Department
determines that the caseload upon which the appropriations
for the current fiscal year are based have increased by more
than 5% and the appropriation is not sufficient to ensure
that cash benefits under this Article do not exceed the
amounts appropriated for those cash benefits. Reductions in
payment levels may be accomplished by emergency rule under
Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act,
except that the limitation on the number of emergency rules
that may be adopted in a 24-month period shall not apply and
the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 of the Illinois
Administrative Procedure Act shall not apply. Increases in
payment levels shall be accomplished only in accordance with
Section 5-40 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
Before any rule to increase payment levels promulgated under
this Section shall become effective, a joint resolution
approving the rule must be adopted by a roll call vote by a
majority of the members elected to each chamber of the
General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 91-676, eff. 12-23-99; 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-3)
Sec. 9A-3. Establishment of Program and Level of
Services.
(a) The Illinois Department shall establish and maintain
a program to provide recipients with services consistent with
the purposes and provisions of this Article. The program
offered in different counties of the State may vary depending
on the resources available to the State to provide a program
under this Article, and no program may be offered in some
counties, depending on the resources available. Services may
be provided directly by the Illinois Department or through
contract. References to the Illinois Department or staff of
the Illinois Department shall include contractors when the
Illinois Department has entered into contracts for these
purposes. The Illinois Department shall provide each
recipient who participates with such services available under
the program as are necessary to achieve his employability
plan as specified in the plan.
(b) The Illinois Department, in operating the program,
shall cooperate with public and private education and
vocational training or retraining agencies or facilities, the
Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Community
College Board, the Departments of Employment Security and
Commerce and Community Affairs or other sponsoring
organizations funded under the federal Workforce Investment
Job Training Partnership Act and other public or licensed
private employment agencies.
(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-5) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-5)
Sec. 9A-5. Exempt recipients.
(a) Exempt recipients under Section 9A-4 may volunteer
to participate.
(b) Services will be offered to exempt and non-exempt
individuals who wish to volunteer to participate only to the
extent resources permit.
(c) Exempt and non-exempt individuals who volunteer to
participate become program participants upon completion of
the initial assessment, development of the employability
plan, and assignment to a component. An exempt individual who
volunteers to participate may not be sanctioned for not
meeting program requirements. Volunteers who fail to attend
the orientation or initial assessment meetings or both will
not be sanctioned. Exempt and non-exempt individuals who
attend the orientation meeting and become program
participants by completing the initial assessment,
development of the employability plan, and assignment to a
component may be sanctioned if they do not meet program
requirements without good cause.
(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-7)
Sec. 9A-7. Good Cause and Pre-Sanction Process.
The Department shall establish by rule what constitutes
good cause for failure to participate in education, training
and employment programs, failure to accept suitable
employment or terminating employment or reducing earnings.
The Department shall establish, by rule, a pre-sanction
process to assist in resolving disputes over proposed
sanctions and in determining if good cause exists. Good cause
shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) temporary illness for its duration;
(2) court required appearance or temporary
incarceration;
(3) (blank);
(4) death in the family;
(5) (blank);
(6) (blank);
(7) (blank);
(8) (blank);
(9) extreme inclement weather;
(10) (blank);
(11) lack of any support service even though the
necessary service is not specifically provided under the
Department program, to the extent the lack of the needed
service presents a significant barrier to participation;
(12) if an individual is engaged in employment or
training or both that is consistent with the employment
related goals of the program, if such employment and
training is later approved by Department staff;
(13) (blank);
(14) failure of Department staff to correctly
forward the information to other Department staff;
(15) failure of the participant to cooperate
because of attendance at a test or a mandatory class or
function at an educational program (including college),
when an education or training program is officially
approved by the Department;
(16) failure of the participant due to his or her
illiteracy;
(17) failure of the participant because it is
determined that he or she should be in a different
activity;
(18) non-receipt by the participant of a notice
advising him or her of a participation requirement., if
documented by the participant. Documentation can include,
but is not limited to: a written statement from the post
office or other informed individual: the notice not sent
to the participant's last known address in Department
records; return of the notice by the post office; other
returned mail; proof of previous mail theft problems.
When determining whether or not the participant has
demonstrated non-receipt, the Department shall take into
consideration a participant's history of cooperation or
non-cooperation in the past. If the documented
non-receipt of mail occurs frequently, the Department
shall explore an alternative means of providing notices
of participation requests to participants;
(19) (blank);
(20) non-comprehension of English, either written
or oral or both;
(21) (blank);
(22) (blank);
(23) child care (or day care for an incapacitated
individual living in the same home as a dependent child)
is necessary for the participation or employment and such
care is not available for a child under age 13;
(24) failure to participate in an activity due to a
scheduled job interview, medical appointment for the
participant or a household member, or school appointment;
(25) the individual is homeless. Homeless
individuals (including the family) have no current
residence and no expectation of acquiring one in the next
30 days. This includes individuals residing in overnight
and transitional (temporary) shelters. This does not
include individuals who are sharing a residence with
friends or relatives on a continuing basis;
(26) circumstances beyond the control of the
participant which prevent the participant from completing
program requirements; or
(27) (blank).
(b) (Blank).
(c) (1) The Department shall establish a reconciliation
procedure to assist in resolving disputes related to any
aspect of participation, including exemptions, good
cause, sanctions or proposed sanctions, supportive
services, assessments, responsibility and service plans,
assignment to activities, suitability of employment, or
refusals of offers of employment. Through the
reconciliation process the Department shall have a
mechanism to identify good cause, ensure that the client
is aware of the issue, and enable the client to perform
required activities without facing sanction.
(2) A participant may request reconciliation and
receive notice in writing of a meeting. At least one
face-to-face meeting may be scheduled to resolve
misunderstandings or disagreements related to program
participation and situations which may lead to a
potential sanction. The meeting will address the
underlying reason for the dispute and plan a resolution
to enable the individual to participate in TANF
employment and work activity requirements.
(2.5) If the individual fails to appear at the
reconciliation meeting without good cause, the
reconciliation is unsuccessful and a sanction shall be
imposed.
(3) The reconciliation process shall continue after
it is determined that the individual did not have good
cause for non-cooperation. Any necessary demonstration
of cooperation on the part of the participant will be
part of the reconciliation process. Failure to
demonstrate cooperation will result in immediate
sanction.
(4) For the first instance of non-cooperation, if
the client reaches agreement to cooperate, the client
shall be allowed 30 days to demonstrate cooperation
before any sanction activity may be imposed. In any
subsequent instances of non-cooperation, the client shall
be provided the opportunity to show good cause or remedy
the situation by immediately complying with the
requirement.
(5) The Department shall document in the case
record the proceedings of the reconciliation and provide
the client in writing with a reconciliation agreement.
(6) If reconciliation resolves the dispute, no
sanction shall be imposed. If the client fails to comply
with the reconciliation agreement, the Department shall
then immediately impose the original sanction. If the
dispute cannot be resolved during reconciliation, a
sanction shall not be imposed until the reconciliation
process is complete.
(Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8)
Sec. 9A-8. Operation of Program.
(a) At the time of application or redetermination of
eligibility under Article IV, as determined by rule, the
Illinois Department shall provide information in writing and
orally regarding the education, training and employment
program to all applicants and recipients. The information
required shall be established by rule and shall include, but
need not be limited to:
(1) education (including literacy training),
employment and training opportunities available, the
criteria for approval of those opportunities, and the
right to request changes in the personal responsibility
and services plan to include those opportunities;
(1.1) a complete list of all activities that are
approvable activities, and the circumstances under which
they are approvable, including work activities, substance
abuse or mental health treatment, activities to escape
and prevent domestic violence, caring for a medically
impaired family member, and any other approvable
activities, together with the right to and procedures for
amending the responsibility and services plan to include
these activities;
(1.2) the rules concerning the lifetime limit on
eligibility, including the current status of the
applicant or recipient in terms of the months of
remaining eligibility, the criteria under which a month
will not count towards the lifetime limit, and the
criteria under which a recipient may receive benefits
beyond the end of the lifetime limit;
(2) supportive services including child care and
the rules regarding eligibility for and access to the
child care assistance program, transportation, initial
expenses of employment, job retention, books and fees,
and any other supportive services;
(3) the obligation of the Department to provide
supportive services;
(4) the rights and responsibilities of
participants, including exemption, sanction,
reconciliation, and good cause criteria and procedures,
termination for non-cooperation and reinstatement rules
and procedures, and appeal and grievance procedures; and
(5) the types and locations of child care services.
(b) The Illinois Department shall notify the recipient
in writing of the opportunity to volunteer to participate in
the program.
(c) (Blank).
(d) As part of the personal plan for achieving
employment and self-sufficiency, the Department shall conduct
an individualized assessment of the participant's
employability. Except as to participation in the Get-A-Job
Program, No participant may be assigned to any component of
the education, training and employment activity prior to such
assessment, provided that a participant may be assigned up to
4 weeks of Job Search prior to such assessment. The plan
shall include collection of information on the individual's
background, proficiencies, skills deficiencies, education
level, work history, employment goals, interests, aptitudes,
and employment preferences, as well as factors affecting
employability or ability to meet participation requirements
(e.g., health, physical or mental limitations, child care,
family circumstances, domestic violence, substance abuse, and
special needs of any child of the individual). As part of
the plan, individuals and Department staff shall work
together to identify any supportive service needs required to
enable the client to participate and meet the objectives of
his or her employability plan. The assessment may be
conducted through various methods such as interviews,
testing, counseling, and self-assessment instruments. In the
assessment process, the Department shall offer to include
standard literacy testing and a determination of English
language proficiency and shall provide it for those who
accept the offer. for those who display a potential need for
literacy or language services. For those individuals subject
to a job search demonstration, there may be an abbreviated
assessment, as defined by rule. Based on the assessment, the
individual will be assigned to the appropriate activity. The
decision will be based on a determination of the individual's
level of preparation for employment as defined by rule.
(e) Recipients determined to be exempt may volunteer to
participate pursuant to Section 9A-4 and must be assessed.
(f) As part of the personal plan for achieving
employment and self-sufficiency under Section 4-1, an
employability plan for recipients shall be developed in
consultation with the participant. The Department shall have
final responsibility for approving the employability plan.
The employability plan shall:
(1) contain an employment goal of the participant;
(2) describe the services to be provided by the
Department, including child care and other support
services;
(3) describe the activities, such as component
assignment, that will be undertaken by the participant to
achieve the employment goal; and
(4) describe any other needs of the family that
might be met by the Department.
(g) The employability plan shall take into account:
(1) available program resources;
(2) the participant's support service needs;
(3) the participant's skills level and aptitudes;
(4) local employment opportunities; and
(5) the preferences of the participant.
(h) A reassessment shall be conducted to assess a
participant's progress and to review the employability plan
on the following occasions:
(1) upon completion of an activity and before
assignment to an activity;
(2) upon the request of the participant;
(3) if the individual is not cooperating with the
requirements of the program; and
(4) if the individual has failed to make
satisfactory progress in an education or training
program.
Based on the reassessment, the Department may revise the
employability plan of the participant.
(Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97; 91-331, eff. 7-29-99.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9)
Sec. 9A-9. Program Activities. The Department shall
establish education, training and placement activities by
rule. Not all of the same activities need be provided in
each county in the State. Such activities may include the
following:
(a) Education (Below post secondary). In the Education
(below post secondary) activity, the individual receives
information, referral, counseling services and support
services to increase the individual's employment potential.
Participants may be referred to testing, counseling and
education resources. Educational activities will include
basic and remedial education; English proficiency classes;
high school or its equivalency (e.g., GED) or alternative
education at the secondary level; and with any educational
program, structured study time to enhance successful
participation. An individual's participation in an education
program such as literacy, basic adult education, high school
equivalency (GED), or a remedial program shall be limited to
2 years unless the individual also is working or
participating in a work activity approved by the Illinois
Department as defined by rule; this requirement does not
apply, however, to students enrolled in high school.
(b) Job Skills Training (Vocational). Job Skills
Training is designed to increase the individual's ability to
obtain and maintain employment. Job Skills Training
activities will include vocational skill classes designed to
increase a participant's ability to obtain and maintain
employment. Job Skills Training may include certificate
programs.
(c) Job Readiness. The job readiness activity is
designed to enhance the quality of the individual's level of
participation in the world of work while learning the
necessary essentials to obtain and maintain employment. This
activity helps individuals gain the necessary job finding
skills to help them find and retain employment that will lead
to economic independence.
(d) Job Search. Job Search may be conducted
individually or in groups. Job Search includes the provision
of counseling, job seeking skills training and information
dissemination. Group job search may include training in a
group session. Assignment exclusively to job search cannot
be in excess of 8 consecutive weeks (or its equivalent) in
any period of 12 consecutive months.
(e) Work Experience. Work Experience assignments may be
with private employers or not-for-profit or public agencies
in the State. The Illinois Department shall provide workers'
compensation coverage. Participants who are not members of a
2-parent assistance unit may not be assigned more hours than
their cash grant amount plus food stamps divided by the
minimum wage. Private employers and not-for-profit and
public agencies shall not use Work Experience participants to
displace regular employees. Participants in Work Experience
may perform work in the public interest (which otherwise
meets the requirements of this Section) for a federal office
or agency with its consent, and notwithstanding the
provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1342, or any other provision of law,
such agency may accept such services, but participants shall
not be considered federal employees for any purpose. A
participant shall be reassessed at the end of assignment to
Work Experience. The participant may be reassigned to Work
Experience or assigned to another activity, based on the
reassessment.
(f) On the Job Training. In On the Job Training, a
participant is hired by a private or public employer and
while engaged in productive work receives training that
provides knowledge or skills essential to full and adequate
performance of the job.
(g) Work Supplementation. In work supplementation, the
Department pays a wage subsidy to an employer who hires a
participant. The cash grant which a participant would
receive if not employed is diverted and the diverted cash
grant is used to pay the wage subsidy.
(h) Post Secondary Education. Post secondary education
must be administered by an educational institution accredited
under requirements of State law. The Illinois Department may
not approve an individual's participation in any
post-secondary education program, other than full-time,
short-term vocational training for a specific job, unless the
individual also is employed part-time, as defined by the
Illinois Department by rule.
(i) Self Initiated Education. Participants who are
attending an institution of higher education or a vocational
or technical program of their own choosing and who are in
good standing, may continue to attend and receive supportive
services only if the educational program is approved by the
Department, and is in conformity with the participant's
personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency
and the participant is employed part-time, as defined by the
Illinois Department by rule.
(j) Job Development and Placement. Department staff
shall develop through contacts with public and private
employers unsubsidized job openings for participants. Job
interviews will be secured for clients by the marketing of
participants for specific job openings. Job ready
individuals may be assigned to Job Development and Placement.
(k) Job Retention. The job retention component is
designed to assist participants in retaining employment.
Initial employment expenses and job retention services are
provided. The individual's support service needs are
assessed and the individual receives counseling regarding job
retention skills.
(l) (Blank).
(l-5) Transitional Jobs. These programs provide
temporary wage-paying work combined with case management and
other social services designed to address employment
barriers. The wage-paying work is treated as regular
employment for all purposes under this Code, and the
additional activities, as determined by the Transitional Jobs
provider, shall be countable work activities. The program
must comply with the anti-displacement provisions of this
Code governing the Work Experience program.
(m) Pay-after-performance Program. A parent may be
required to participate in a pay-after-performance program in
which the parent must work a specified number of hours to
earn the grant. The program shall comply with provisions of
this Code governing work experience programs.
(n) Community Service. Community service includes
unpaid work that the client performs in his or her community,
such as for a school, church, government agency, or nonprofit
organization. A participant whose youngest child is 13 years
of age or older may be required to perform at least 20 hours
of community service per week as a condition of eligibility
for aid under Article IV. The Illinois Department shall give
priority to community service placements in public schools,
where participants can serve as hall and lunchroom monitors,
assist teachers, and perform other appropriate services.
(Source: P.A. 89-289, eff. 1-1-96; 90-17, eff. 7-1-97;
90-457, eff. 1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 11-1)
Sec. 11-1. No discrimination). There shall be no
discrimination or denial of financial aid and social services
on account of the race, religion, color, national origin,
sex, marital status, or political affiliation of any
applicant or recipient. This paragraph shall not prevent the
Department from treating individuals differently as a result
of the rights and responsibilities that arise under law from
marital status.
Participation in any marriage promotion or family
formation activity is voluntary. Non-participation shall not
affect any person's eligibility for or receipt of financial
aid or social services in any program under this Code.
Where financial aid or social services are granted to
certain classes of persons under a program for which federal
funds are available, nothing in this Section shall require
granting of financial aid or social services to other persons
where federal funds would not be available as to those other
persons.
(Source: P.A. 80-354.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-20.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 11-20.1)
Sec. 11-20.1. Employment; Rights of recipient and
obligations of Illinois Department when recipients become
employed; Assistance when a recipient has employment or
earned income or both.
(a) When a recipient reports employment or earned
income, or both, or the Illinois Department otherwise learns
of a recipient's employment or earned income, or both, the
Illinois Department shall provide the recipient with:
(1) An explanation of how the earned income will
affect the recipient's eligibility for a grant, and
whether the recipient must engage in additional work
activities to meet the recipient's monthly work
activities requirement and what types of activities may
be approved for that purpose, and whether the employment
is sufficient to cause months of continued receipt of a
grant not to be counted against the recipient's lifetime
eligibility limit.
(2) An explanation of the Work Pays budgeting
process, and an explanation of how the first month's
income on a new job will be projected, and how the
recipient should report the new job to avoid the
Department overestimating the first month's income.
(3) An explanation of how the earned income will
affect the recipient's eligibility for food stamps,
whether the recipient will continue to receive food
stamps, and, if so, the amount of food stamps.
(4) The names and telephone numbers of all
caseworkers to whom the recipient's case or cases are
assigned or will be transferred, an explanation of which
type of case each worker will be handling, and the
effective date of the transfer.
(5) An explanation of the recipient's
responsibilities to report income and household
circumstances, the process by which quarterly reporting
forms are sent to recipients, where and to whom the
reports should be returned, the deadline by which reports
must be returned, instructions on how to fill out the
reports, an explanation of what the recipient should do
if he or she does not receive the form, advice on how to
prove the report was returned by the recipient such as by
keeping a copy, and an explanation of the effects of
failure to file reports.
(6) If the recipient will continue to receive a
grant, an explanation of the recipient's new fiscal month
and a statement as to when the recipient will receive his
or her grant.
(7) An explanation of Kidcare, Family Assist,
Family Care, and the 12 month extension of medical
assistance that is available when a grant is cancelled
due to earned income.
(8) An explanation of the medical assistance the
person may be eligible for when the 12 month extension
expires and how to request or apply for it.
(9) An explanation of the availability of a child
care subsidy to all families below the child care
assistance program's income limit, how to apply for the
benefit through the Child Care Resource and Referral or
site-administered child care program or both, the nature
of the child care program's sliding scale co-payments,
the availability of the 10% earned income disregard in
determining eligibility for child care assistance and the
amount of the parent co-payment, the right to use the
subsidy for either licensed or license exempt legal care,
and the availability of benefits when the parent is
engaged in an education and training program.
(10) (Blank).
(11) (Blank).
(11a) (Blank).
(12) (Blank).
(13) An explanation of the availability of payment
for initial expenses of employment and how to request or
apply for it.
(14) An explanation of the job retention component
and how to participate in it, and an explanation of the
recipient's eligibility to receive supportive services to
participate in education and training programs while
working.
(15) A statement of the types of assistance that
will be provided to the person automatically or continued
and a statement of the types of assistance for which the
person must apply or reapply.
(16) If the recipient will not continue to receive
a cash grant and the recipient has assigned his or her
right to child support to the Illinois Department, an
explanation of the recipient's right to continue to
receive child support enforcement services, the
recipient's right to have all current support paid after
grant cancellation forwarded promptly to the recipient,
the procedures by which child support will be forwarded,
and the procedures by which the recipient will be
informed of the collection and distribution of child
support.
(17) An explanation of the availability of payments
if the recipient experiences a decrease in or loss of
earned income during a calendar quarter as to which the
monthly grant was previously budgeted based upon the
higher income.
(18) If the recipient will not continue to receive
a cash grant, an explanation of the procedures for
reapplying for cash assistance if the person experiences
a decrease in or loss of earned income.
(19) An explanation of the earned income tax credit
and the procedures by which it may be obtained and the
rules for disregarding it in determining eligibility for
and the amount of assistance.
(20) An explanation of the education and training
opportunities available to recipients.
(b) The information listed in subsection (a) shall be
provided to the recipient on an individual basis during an
in-person meeting with a representative of the Illinois
Department. The individual in-person meeting shall be held
at a time which does not conflict with the recipient's work
schedule within 30 days of the date the recipient begins
working. If the recipient informs the Illinois Department
that an in-person meeting would be inconvenient, the Illinois
Department may provide the information during a home visit,
by telephone, or by mail within 30 days of the date the
recipient begins working, whichever the client prefers.
(c) At the conclusion of the meeting described in
subsection (b), the Illinois Department shall ensure that all
case transfers and calculations of benefits necessitated by
the recipient's employment or receipt of earned income have
been performed, that applications have been made or provided
for all benefits for which the person must apply or reapply,
and that the person has received payment for initial expenses
of employment.
(Source: P.A. 91-331, eff. 7-29-99.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
Effective Date: 08/26/03
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