2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 305 - PUBLIC AID › 305 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Public Aid Code. › Article VI - General Assistance

(305 ILCS 5/Art. VI heading)
ARTICLE VI.  
		GENERAL ASSISTANCE
(305 ILCS 5/6-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1)
Sec. 6-1. Eligibility requirements. Financial aid in meeting basic
maintenance requirements shall be given under this Article to
or in behalf of persons who meet the eligibility conditions of Sections
6-1.1 through 6-1.10.
In addition, each unit of local government subject to this Article shall
provide persons receiving financial aid in meeting basic maintenance
requirements with financial aid for either (a) necessary treatment, care, and
supplies required because of illness or disability, or (b) acute medical
treatment, care, and supplies only. If a local governmental unit elects to
provide financial aid for acute medical treatment, care, and supplies only, the
general types of acute medical treatment, care, and supplies for which
financial
aid is provided shall be specified in the general assistance rules of the local
governmental unit, which rules shall provide that financial aid is provided, at
a minimum, for acute medical treatment, care, or supplies necessitated by a
medical condition for which prior approval or authorization of medical
treatment, care, or supplies is not required by the general assistance rules
of the Illinois Department.
(Source: P.A. 100-538, eff. 1-1-18.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.1)
Sec. 6-1.1. 
		
		Residence.)
If it appears that an applicant is not a resident of this State but that
he will suffer great
hardship and privation unless general assistance is provided, general assistance
may be given for such
temporary period of time as the need therefor exists.  If the applicant
is a resident of some place
within the United States charged by law with the support of its needy residents,
upon the request
of the applicant, transportation to such place may be provided, together
with support during the
journey and temporary support pending transportation.
If the person is a resident of this State but has not resided in the governmental
unit in
which he makes application for a continuous period of 6 months, the governmental
unit in which he last so
resided shall be charged with providing the necessary aid until the person
has resided in the governmental
unit to which he has moved for a continuous period of 6 months.  The governmental
unit to which he has
moved shall thereupon become responsible for providing the necessary aid,
whether or not he has
received general assistance during the 6 months period.  The local governmental
unit to which application
is made shall determine promptly whether or not the applicant meets the
6 months residence requirement.  Pending
the determination, general assistance shall be provided if the person is
otherwise eligible as a needy
person.  If it is determined that he is a resident of another governmental
unit, notice shall be given
that unit.  Upon receipt of such notice that unit shall furnish the necessary
aid until the person
has established a residence in the governmental unit in which he has made
application.  On failure or refusal
of the unit of residence to provide aid, the unit to which application is
made shall provide the aid
which shall be recoverable against the unit of residence by appropriate civil action.
(Source: P.A. 79-353.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.2)
Sec. 6-1.2. Need. Income available to the person, when added to
contributions in money, substance, or services from other sources,
including contributions from legally responsible relatives, must be
insufficient to equal the grant amount established by Department regulation
(or by local governmental unit in units which do not receive State funds)
for such a person.
In determining income to be taken into account:
(1) The first $75 of earned income in income     assistance units comprised exclusively of one adult person shall be disregarded, and for not more than 3 months in any 12 consecutive months that portion of earned income beyond the first $75 that is the difference between the standard of assistance and the grant amount, shall be disregarded.
(2) For income assistance units not comprised     exclusively of one adult person, when authorized by rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, a portion of earned income, not to exceed the first $25 a month plus 50% of the next $75, may be disregarded for the purpose of stimulating and aiding rehabilitative effort and self-support activity.
"Earned income" means money earned in self-employment or wages, salary,
or commission for personal services performed as an employee. The eligibility
of any applicant for or recipient of public aid under this Article is not
affected by the payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act", any
refund
or payment of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, any rebate authorized under Section 2201(a) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) or under any other federal economic stimulus program created in response to the COVID-19 emergency, 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.
(Source: P.A. 101-632, eff. 6-5-20.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.3)
Sec. 6-1.3. Utilization of aid available under other provisions of
Code.  The person must have been determined ineligible for aid under the
federally funded programs to aid refugees and Articles
III, IV or V.  Nothing in this Section shall prevent the use of General
Assistance funds to pay any portion of the costs of care and maintenance
in a residential substance use disorder treatment program licensed by the Department
of Human Services, or in a County
Nursing Home,
or in a private nursing home, retirement home or other facility for
the care of the elderly, of a person otherwise eligible to receive General
Assistance except for the provisions of this paragraph.
A person otherwise eligible for aid under the federally funded programs
to aid refugees or Articles III, IV or V who
fails or refuses to comply with provisions of this Code or other laws, or
rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, which would qualify him
for aid under those programs or Articles, shall not receive General
Assistance under this Article nor shall any of his dependents whose
eligibility is contingent upon such compliance receive General Assistance.
Persons and families who are ineligible for aid under Article IV due to
having received benefits under Article IV for any maximum time limits set under
the Illinois Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Plan shall not be
eligible for General Assistance under this Article unless the Illinois
Department or the local governmental unit, by rule, specifies that those
persons
or families may be eligible.
(Source: P.A. 100-759, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.3a) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.3a)
Sec. 6-1.3a. 
		Residents of public institutions. 
		Residents of municipal,
county, state or national institutions for persons with mental illness or
persons with a developmental disability or for the tuberculous, or residents of
a home or other institution maintained by such governmental bodies when not in
need of  institutional care because of sickness, convalescence, infirmity, or
chronic illness, and inmates of penal or correctional institutions maintained
by such governmental bodies, may qualify for aid under this Article only after
they have ceased to be residents or inmates.
A person shall not be deemed a resident of a state institution for persons
with mental illness or persons with a developmental disability within the
meaning of this Section if he has been conditionally discharged by the
Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities or the Department
of Human Services (acting as successor to the Department of Mental Health and
Developmental Disabilities) and is no longer residing in the institution.
Recipients of benefits under this Article who become residents of such
institutions shall be permitted a period of up to 30 days in such institutions
without suspension or termination of eligibility. Benefits for which such
person is eligible shall be restored, effective on the date of discharge or
release, for persons who are residents of institutions.  Within a reasonable
time after the discharge of a person who was a resident of an institution, the
Department shall redetermine the eligibility of such person.
The Department shall provide for procedures to expedite the determination of
ability to engage in employment of persons scheduled to be discharged from
facilities operated by the Department.
(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.4)
Sec. 6-1.4. 
		Registration for and Acceptance of Employment. 
		A person who is able to engage in employment, including dependent
members of his family age 16 or over not in regular attendance in school as
defined in Section 4-1.1, who is unemployed or employed for less than the
full working time for the occupation in which he is engaged, must register
for and accept bona fide offers of employment, as provided in Section
11-20.  The local governmental unit shall
determine, pursuant to rules and regulations, sanctions for persons failing
to comply with requirements under this Section.  In addition to any sanctions
provided for in Section 11-20, sanctions may include the loss of eligibility
to receive aid under this Article for up to 90 days.
(Source: P.A. 85-114.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.5) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.5)
Sec. 6-1.5. 
		Participation in educational and vocational training programs. 
		
		A person for whom education and training is suitable must participate in
the educational and vocational training programs established under Section
9-5 of Article IX.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.6) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.6)
Sec. 6-1.6. 
		
		Acceptance of Assignment to Job Search, Training and Work
Programs. A person for whom the job search, training and work programs
established under Section 9-6 of Article IX are applicable must accept
assignment to such programs.  In conducting job search programs, the
Illinois Department and the local governmental unit shall by rule specify a
reasonable minimum number of employer contacts, and methods of
documentation, to be made by program participants each month and shall
determine, pursuant to rules and regulations, sanctions for persons failing
to comply with the requirements under Section 9-6.  However, no
participant shall be sanctioned for failure to satisfy job search
requirements prior to a full assessment of his job readiness and
employability.  No participant shall be sanctioned for failure to satisfy
the minimum number of employer contacts if he has made a good faith effort
to comply.  The Illinois Department and local governmental units shall
provide payment for transportation and other necessary expenses to comply
with the requirements of such programs, as defined by rule.  Sanctions
shall not apply to participants who are not provided with such payments.
Such payments to participants shall be provided in advance of participant
program compliance by the Illinois Department and may be provided in
advance of such compliance by the local governmental unit.   Sanctions
may include the loss of eligibility to receive aid
under this Article for a period of time of up to 3 months.
(Source: P.A. 85-114.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.7) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.7)
Sec. 6-1.7. A recipient of financial aid under this Article, which money
or vendor payment is made by a local governmental unit which administers aid
under this Article and is not a County Department, who is required under
Section 6-1.4 to register for and accept bona fide offers of employment
as provided in Section 11-20 but is not required to participate in a job
search, training and work program under Section 9-6, must also register
for work with such local governmental unit and must perform work without
compensation for a taxing district or private not-for-profit
organization as provided in this Section.
A local governmental unit which administers aid under this Article shall
maintain a roster of the persons who have registered for work in such local
governmental unit, and shall assure that such roster is available for the
inspection of the governing authorities of all taxing districts or
private not-for-profit organizations, or the
duly authorized agents thereof, for the selection of possible workers. Each
such local governmental unit shall cause persons, who are selected by a
taxing district or private not-for-profit organization to perform work,
to be notified at least 24 hours in
advance of the time the work is to begin.
Each such local governmental unit shall assure that the following additional
requirements are complied with:
(a) The taxing district or private not-for-profit organization may
not use a person selected to work under this
Section to replace a regular employee.
(b) The work to be performed for the taxing district or private
not-for-profit organization must be reasonably
related to the skills or interests of the recipient.
(c) The maximum number of hours such work may be performed is 8 hours
per day and 40 hours per week.
(d) The recipient shall be provided or compensated for transportation
to and from the work location.
(e) The person selected to work under this Section shall receive credit
against his or her monthly benefits under this Article, based on the State or federal
minimum wage rate, whichever is higher, for the work performed.
However, a taxing district or private not-for-profit organization
using the services of such recipient must pay
the recipient at least the State or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, after such recipient has
received credit by the Illinois Department equal to the amount of financial
aid received under this Article, or the recipient shall be discharged.
Moneys made available for public aid purposes under this Article may be
expended to purchase worker's compensation insurance or to pay worker's
compensation claims.
For the purposes of this Section, "taxing district" means any unit of local
government, as defined in Section 1 of Article VII of the Constitution, with
the power to tax, and any school district or community college district.
(Source: P.A. 94-533, eff. 8-10-05.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.8) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.8)
Sec. 6-1.8. 
		Multiple convictions for violations of this Code. 
		Any person
found guilty of a second violation of Article VIIIA shall be ineligible
for financial aid under this Article, as provided in Section 8A-8.
(Source: P.A. 82-440.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.9) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.9)
Sec. 6-1.9. 
		
		An adult is eligible for aid under this Article if he is
(1) age 21 or over, (2) married and living with a spouse, regardless of
age, even if living in the residence of a natural or adoptive parent or
(3) age 18, 19, or 20 and not living with a natural or adoptive parent.
(Source: P.A. 83-1476.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.10) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.10)
Sec. 6-1.10. 
		(Repealed).
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-554, eff. 7-26-94.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-2)
Sec. 6-2. Amount of aid. The amount and nature of General Assistance
for basic maintenance requirements shall be determined in accordance
with local budget standards for local governmental units which do not receive
State funds.  For local governmental units which do receive State funds,
the amount and nature of General Assistance for basic maintenance requirements
shall be determined in accordance with the standards, rules and regulations
of the Illinois Department.   However,
the amount and nature of any
financial aid is not affected by the payment of any grant under the
Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, any rebate authorized under Section 2201(a) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) or under any other federal economic stimulus program created in response to the COVID-19 emergency,
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. Due regard shall be given to the
requirements and the conditions existing in each case, and to the income,
money contributions and other support and resources available, from
whatever source. In local governmental units which do not receive State
funds, the grant shall be sufficient when added to all other income, money
contributions and support in excess of any excluded income or resources, to
provide the person with a grant in the amount established for such a person
by the local governmental unit based upon standards meeting basic
maintenance requirements.  In local governmental units which
do receive State funds, the grant shall be sufficient when added to all
other income, money contributions and support in excess of any excluded
income or resources, to provide the person with a grant in the amount
established for such a person by Department regulation based upon standards
providing a livelihood compatible with health and well-being, as directed
by Section 12-4.11 of this Code.
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.
The allowances provided under Article IX for recipients participating in
the training and rehabilitation programs shall be in addition to such
maximum payment.
Payments may also be made to provide persons receiving basic
maintenance support with necessary treatment, care and supplies required
because of illness or disability or with acute medical treatment, care,
and supplies.
Payments for necessary or acute medical
care under
this paragraph may be made to or in behalf of the person. Obligations
incurred for such services but not paid for at the time of a recipient's
death may be paid, subject to the rules and regulations of the Illinois
Department, after the death of the recipient.
(Source: P.A. 101-632, eff. 6-5-20.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-2.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-2.1)
Sec. 6-2.1. 
		Assets of homeless persons.
(a) For the purpose of assisting homeless persons in securing housing,
all assistance units that include a homeless person shall have an asset
disregard no less than that applicable to recipients of benefits under
Article 4 of this Code.  For purposes of this Section, "homeless" or
"homeless person" means either of the following:
(1) An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and     adequate nighttime residence; or
(2) An individual who has a primary nighttime     residence that is any of the following:
(A) A supervised publicly or privately operated         shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill).
(B) An institution that provides a temporary         residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized.
(C) A public or private place not designed for,         or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
(b) While the Illinois Department shall consider other indicia of
homelessness in determining whether a person is homeless, a letter from a
shelter provider stating that a person is homeless or residing in its
shelter shall create a rebuttable presumption that the person is homeless.
(Source: P.A. 87-1185.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-3)
Sec. 6-3. 
		Entitlement to social services.
Persons qualified for aid hereunder shall be entitled to receive, under
Article IX, such rehabilitative, training or other social services as are
appropriate to their condition.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-4)
Sec. 6-4. 
		(Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-1209.  Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-5) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-5)
Sec. 6-5. 
		Medical practitioners. 
		In supplying persons receiving basic maintenance support with necessary
treatment, care, and supplies required because of illness or
disability or with acute medical treatment, care, and supplies a local
governmental unit may provide for the services of persons
designated in Section 5-8 of Article V.
(Source: P.A. 89-646, eff. 1-1-97.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-6)
Sec. 6-6. 
		Funeral and Burial.
If the estate of a deceased recipient is insufficient to pay for funeral
and burial expenses and if no other resources including assistance from
legally responsible relatives or the United States Veterans Administration,
are available for such purposes, there shall be paid, in accordance with
the standards, rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, such
amounts as may be necessary to meet costs of the funeral, burial space, and
cemetery charges, or to reimburse any person not financially responsible
for the deceased who has voluntarily made expenditures for such costs.
(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-7)
Sec. 6-7. 
		Exemption for Townships. 
		Nothing in this Article shall be construed
as requiring townships to provide, in whole or in part, medical assistance
to persons who are not residents of the State of Illinois.
In all instances under this Article where medical aid or assistance to
a person who is not a resident of this State would otherwise be, in whole
or in part, the responsibility of a township, the Illinois Department shall
be responsible for such provision.
The Illinois Department shall, by rule or regulation, insure that provision
of such aid or assistance to a non-resident is identical to the uniform
standard of eligibility established by the Illinois Department.
(Source: P.A. 81-519.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-8)
Sec. 6-8. 
		(Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-9)
Sec. 6-9. 
(a)(1) A local governmental unit may provide assistance to
households under its General Assistance program following a declaration by
the President of the United States of a major disaster or emergency
pursuant to the Federal Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as now or hereafter
amended, if the local governmental unit is within the area designated under
the declaration. A local government unit may also provide assistance to households under its General Assistance program following a disaster proclamation issued by the Governor if the local governmental unit is within the area designated under the proclamation. Assistance under this Section may be provided to
households which have suffered damage, loss or hardships as a result of the
major disaster or emergency.  Assistance under this Section may be provided
to households without regard to the eligibility requirements and other
requirements of this Code.  Assistance under this Section may be provided
only during the 90-day period following the date of declaration of a major
disaster or emergency.
(2) A local governmental unit
shall not use State funds to provide assistance under this Section.  If a local
governmental unit receives State funds to provide General Assistance under this
Article, assistance provided by the local governmental unit under this
Section shall not be considered in determining whether a local governmental
unit has qualified to receive State funds under Article XII.
A local governmental unit which provides assistance under this
Section shall not, as a result of payment of such assistance, change the
nature or amount of assistance provided to any other individual or family
under this Article.
(3) This Section shall not apply to any municipality of more than 500,000
population in which a separate program has been established by the Illinois
Department under Section 6-1.
(b)(1) A local governmental unit may provide assistance to households
for food and temporary shelter.  To qualify for assistance a household
shall submit to the local governmental unit:  (A) such application as the
local governmental unit may require; (B) a copy of an application to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (hereinafter "FEMA") or the Small
Business Administration (hereinafter "SBA") for assistance; (C) such other
proof of damage, loss or hardship as the local governmental unit may
require; and (D) an agreement to reimburse the local governmental unit for
the amount of any assistance received by the household under this subsection (b).
(2) Assistance under this subsection (b) may be in the form of cash or
vouchers.  The amount of assistance provided to a household in any month
under this subsection (b) shall not exceed the maximum amount payable under Section 6-2.
(3) No assistance shall be provided to a household after it receives a
determination of its application to FEMA or SBA for assistance.
(4) A household which has received assistance under this subsection (b)
shall reimburse the local governmental unit in full for any assistance
received under this subsection.  If the household receives
assistance from FEMA or SBA in the form of loans or grants, the household
shall reimburse the local governmental unit from those funds.  If the
household's request for assistance is denied or rejected by the FEMA or
SBA, the household shall repay the local governmental unit in accordance with a
repayment schedule prescribed by the local governmental unit.
(c)(1) A local governmental unit may provide assistance to households
for structural repairs to homes or for repair or replacement of home electrical
or heating systems, bedding and food refrigeration equipment.  To qualify
for assistance a household shall submit to the local governmental unit:
(A) such application as the local governmental unit may require; (B) a
copy of claim to an insurance company for reimbursement for the damage or
loss for which assistance is sought; (C) such other proof of damage, loss
or hardship as the local governmental unit may require; and (D) an
agreement to reimburse the local governmental unit for the amount of any
assistance received by the household under this subsection (c).
(2) Any assistance provided under this subsection (c) shall be in the
form of direct payments to vendors, and shall not be made directly to a
household.  The total amount of assistance provided to a household under
this subsection (c) shall not exceed $1,500.
(3) No assistance shall be provided to a household after it receives a
determination of its insurance claims.
(4) A household which has received assistance under this subsection (c)
shall reimburse the local governmental unit in full for any assistance
received under this subsection.  If the household's insurance claim is
approved, the household shall reimburse the local governmental unit from
the proceeds.  If the household's insurance claim is denied, the household
shall repay the local governmental unit in accordance with a repayment
schedule prescribed by the local governmental unit.
(Source: P.A. 103-192, eff. 1-1-24.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-10)
Sec. 6-10. Emergency financial assistance. Except in a city, village or
incorporated town of more than 500,000 population, when an applicant
resides in the local governmental unit in which he makes application,
emergency financial assistance to alleviate life-threatening circumstances
or to assist the individual in attaining self-sufficiency may be given to
or in behalf of the applicant.  The emergency assistance so given shall be
by vendor payment in an amount necessary to meet the need, up to the maximum
established by the local governmental unit.  Emergency assistance
shall not be granted under this Section more than once to any applicant
during any 12 consecutive month period.  Persons currently receiving
financial assistance
under this Article or under any other Article of this Code shall not be eligible
for emergency financial assistance under this Section.  However, the amount and nature of any emergency financial assistance is not affected by the payment of any rebate authorized under Section 2201(a) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) or under any other federal economic stimulus program created in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Persons receiving
only medical assistance from the Illinois Department may, however, receive
emergency financial assistance under this Section.  Emergency
financial assistance may be provided under this Section to persons who are
applicants for public aid from the Illinois Department in order to cover
time periods prior to receipt of public aid from the Illinois Department.
A local governmental unit may use General Assistance moneys to provide
emergency financial assistance under this Section but shall not use State
funds
to provide assistance
under this Section. If a local governmental unit receives State funds to
provide General Assistance under this Article, assistance provided by the
local governmental unit under
this Section shall not be considered in determining whether a local
governmental unit has qualified to receive State funds under Article XII.
A local governmental unit which provides assistance under this Section
shall not, as a result of payment of such assistance, change the nature or
amount of assistance provided to any other individual or family under this
Article.
(Source: P.A. 101-632, eff. 6-5-20.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-11)
Sec. 6-11. General Assistance.
(a) Effective July 1, 1992, all State funded General Assistance and related
medical benefits shall be governed by this Section, provided that, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code to the contrary, on and after July 1, 2012, the State shall not fund the programs outlined in this Section.  Other parts of this Code
or other laws related to General Assistance shall remain in effect to the
extent they do not conflict with the provisions of this Section.  If any other
part of this Code or other laws of this State conflict with the provisions of
this Section, the provisions of this Section shall control.
(b) General Assistance may consist of 2 separate
programs.  One program shall be for adults with no children and shall be
known as Transitional Assistance.  The other program may be for
families with children and for pregnant women and shall be known as
Family and Children Assistance.
(c) (1) To be eligible for Transitional Assistance on or after July
1, 1992, an individual must be ineligible for assistance under any other
Article of this Code, must be determined chronically needy, and must be one of
the following:
(A) age 18 or over or
(B) married and living with a spouse, regardless of     age.
(2) The local governmental unit shall determine
whether individuals are chronically needy as follows:
(A) Individuals who have applied for Supplemental     Security Income (SSI) and are awaiting a decision on eligibility for SSI who are determined to be a person with a disability by the Illinois Department using the SSI standard shall be considered chronically needy, except that individuals whose disability is based solely on substance use disorders and whose disability would cease were their addictions to end shall be eligible only for medical assistance and shall not be eligible for cash assistance under the Transitional Assistance program.
(B) (Blank).
(C) The unit of local government may specify other     categories of individuals as chronically needy; nothing in this Section, however, shall be deemed to require the inclusion of any specific category other than as specified in paragraph (A).
(3) For individuals in Transitional Assistance, medical assistance may
 be provided by the unit of local government in an amount and nature determined by the unit of local government. Nothing in this paragraph (3) shall be construed to require the coverage of
any particular medical service. In addition, the amount and nature of medical
assistance provided may be different for different categories of individuals
determined chronically needy.
(4) (Blank).
(5) (Blank).
(d) (1) To be eligible for Family and Children Assistance, a
family unit must be ineligible for assistance under any other Article of
this Code and must contain a child who is:
(A) under age 18 or
(B) age 18 and a full-time student in a secondary     school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training, and who may reasonably be expected to complete the program before reaching age 19.
Those children shall be eligible for Family and Children Assistance.
(2) The natural or adoptive parents of the child living in the same
household may be eligible for Family and Children Assistance.
(3) A pregnant woman whose pregnancy has been verified shall be
eligible for income maintenance assistance under the Family and
Children Assistance program.
(4) The amount and nature of medical assistance provided under the
Family and Children Assistance program shall be determined by the unit of local government. The amount and nature of medical
assistance provided
need not be the same as that provided under paragraph (3) of
subsection (c) of this Section, and nothing in this paragraph (4) shall be
construed to require the coverage of any particular medical service.
(5) (Blank).
(e) A local governmental unit that chooses to participate in a
General Assistance program under this Section shall provide
funding in accordance with Section 12-21.13 of this Act.
Local governmental funds used to qualify for State funding may only be
expended for clients eligible for assistance under this Section 6-11 and
related administrative expenses.
(f) (Blank).
(g) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-11a)
Sec. 6-11a. Townships. A local governmental unit may provide assistance under its General Assistance program under a service that complies with Section 85-13 of the Township Code. Before a local governmental unit provides assistance under this Section, the board of the local governmental unit shall adopt a policy providing which services are eligible under Section 85-13 of the Township Code for General Assistance.
(Source: P.A. 103-192, eff. 1-1-24.)
(305 ILCS 5/6-12) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-12)
Sec. 6-12. General Assistance not funded by State. General Assistance
programs in local governments that do not receive State funds shall
continue to be governed by Sections 6-1 through 6-10, as applicable, as
well as other relevant parts of this Code and other laws.  However,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, any unit of local
government that does not receive State funds may implement a General
Assistance program that complies with Section 6-11 and 6-11a.  So long as the 
program complies with either Section 6-11 or 6-12, the program shall not
be deemed out of compliance with or in violation of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 103-192, eff. 1-1-24.)