305 ILCS 5/3-1
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 305 - PUBLIC AID|305 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Public Aid Code.|Article III - Aid To The Aged, Blind Or Disabled

 (from Ch. 23, par. 3-1)Sec. 3-1. Eligibility Requirements. Financial aid in meeting basic  maintenance requirements for a livelihood compatible with health and  well-being shall be given under this Article to or in behalf of aged,  blind, or disabled persons who meet the eligibility conditions of Sections  3-1.1 through 3-1.7. Financial aid under this Article shall be available only  for persons who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or who have  been found ineligible for SSI (i) on the basis of income or (ii) due to expiration of the period of eligibility for refugees and asylees pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)."Aged person" means a person who has attained age 65, as demonstrated by  such evidence of age as the Illinois Department may by rule prescribe."Blind person" means a person who has no vision or whose vision with  corrective glasses is so defective as to prevent the performance of  ordinary duties or tasks for which eyesight is essential. The Illinois  Department shall define blindness in terms of ophthalmic measurements or  ocular conditions.  For purposes of this Act, an Illinois Person  with a Disability Identification Card issued pursuant to the Illinois Identification Card  Act, indicating that the person thereon named has a Type 3 disability shall  be evidence that such person is a blind person within the meaning of this  Section; however, such a card shall not qualify such person for aid as a  blind person under this Act, and eligibility for aid as a blind person  shall be determined as provided in this Act."Disabled person" means a person age 18 or over who has a physical or  mental impairment, disease, or loss which is of a permanent nature and  which substantially impairs his ability to perform labor or services or to  engage in useful occupations for which he is qualified, as determined by  rule and regulation of the Illinois Department.  For purposes of this  Act, an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card issued pursuant to the   Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that the person thereon named  has a Type 1 or 2, Class 2 disability shall be evidence that such person is  a disabled person under this Section; however, such a card shall not  qualify such person for aid as a disabled person under this Act, and  eligibility for aid as a disabled person shall be determined as provided in  this Act.  If federal law or regulation permit or require the inclusion of  blind or disabled persons whose blindness or disability is not of the  degree specified in the foregoing definitions, or permit or require the  inclusion of disabled persons under age 18 or aged persons under age 65,  the Illinois Department, upon written approval of the Governor, may provide  by rule that all aged, blind or disabled persons toward whose aid federal  funds are available be eligible for assistance under this Article as is  given to those who meet the foregoing definitions of blind person and  disabled person or aged person.  (Source: P.A. 96-22, eff. 6-30-09; 97-1064, eff. 1-1-13.)