Making the Connection
Training Updates / Benefit Policy Alerts
January 27, 2009
2009 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL STANDARDS
The Federal government has just issued the 2009 Federal Poverty Level standards. For more information, please see http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml
December 11 , 2008
FREE TAX COUNSELING
The Center for Economic Progress and the Tax Assistance Program will provide free income tax counseling for families with annual incomes less than $45,000 and individuals with annual incomes less than than $20,000.
October 28, 2008
PAY-IN SPENDDOWN
Effective November 2008, any individual who has an active AABD community spenddown case may enroll in pay-in spenddown. Persons who receive DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) or DHS Divisision of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) community-based services are not eligible to participate. For persons who enroll in pay-in spenddown, they have the option to use a combination of bills and pay-in spenddown payments to meet the spenddown obligation.
October 9, 2008
CHANGES IN TANF GRANT AMOUNTS
The State of Illinois has just announced that the TANF grant amount has increased. Click here for the new charts that reflect this update. This increase is retroactive to July, so individuals who received TANF in any of those months will be notified of the increase and the amount of back benefits that will be sent to them. For more information, please click on the title.
July 23, 2008
MEDICARE AND BEYOND
For more information regarding Medicare D, Medicaid and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) Dual Eligibles, Illinois Cares Rx, Enrollment Periods, Medicare D: Drugs Covered, Exceptions and Appeals Process, Medicare Part D and Medicaid: How They Work Together for Drug Coverage, please click here.
Application for Payment of Medicare Premiums, Deductibles and Coinsurance (Medicare Savings Program)
April 29, 2008
TAX RETURNS AND ECONOMIC STIMULUS BENEFITS
Many clients have received or will receive income tax returns as well as the new Economic Stimulus Benefit. It is important to know that the type of benefit received can affect TANF, Medicaid and Food Stamp benefits.
April 23, 2008
STOPPING NEW APPROVALS OF FAMILYCARE BENEFITS FOR ADULTS WITH INCOMES OVER 133% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FAMILYCARE EXPANSION)
Illinois Department of Human Services (FCRC) staff has just received instructions that - effective immediately - they are to no longer approve FamilyCare medical benefits for non-pregnant adults with incomes greater than 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). This change affects adults who would previously been approved for FamilyCare Share and FamilyCare Premiums 1 - 3. Children are still going to be approved for All Kids Share and Premiums 1 - 8. Pregnant women with incomes at or below 200% of the FPL will still have eligibility determined for Moms and Babies.
April 11, 2008
FOOD STAMP SANCTIONS FOR PERSONS WHO RECEIVE TANF
On April 15, 2008, individuals who receive TANF will be sent a letter telling them that Food Stamp benefits can be stopped (SANCTIONED) for a full three (3) months due to failure to comply with the TANF work and training requirement. Once this sanction is imposed, the benefit will not restart until the full three (3) month sanction period is served, even if the person agrees to cooperate.
January 29, 2008
REPLACEMENT OF FOOD LOST IN A DISASTER PURCHASED WITH FOOD STAMPS
For more information regarding the replacement of food purchased with Food Stamps that has been lost in a disaster or due to a power outage, please follow the link above. For the form (IL444-1989) that is submitted to the State to request the replacement, please click here.
January 24, 2008
2008 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL STANDARDS
The Federal government has just issued the 2008 Federal Poverty Level standards. For more information, please see http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/08poverty.shtml
December 26, 2007
CHANGE IN FOOD STAMP WORK REQUIREMENTS
Beginning January 2, 2008 customers living in 22 counties (including DuPage County) must meet the good stamp work requirement policy in order to be able to receive Food Stamp benefits. A customer is able to receive only 3 months of Food Stamps in a 3-year (36 months) period if the work requirement is not met. After the first 3 months an additional 3 months of benefits can be issued if the work and training requirement is met.
November 28, 2007
FAMILY CARE EXPANSION
Illinois FamilyCare is now open to families making up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. Parents must be uninsured in order to qualify for the expansion, or meet an exception, such as a losing health care coverage as a result of a job loss.
October 25, 2007
CHANGES IN MAXIMUM MONTHLY FOOD STAMP BENEFITS AND INCOME STANDARDS
New State of Illinois Maximum Monthly Food Stamp Benefits and revised income standards are in effect October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008.
