Family & Safety

At what age do my foster care benefits end?

In Illinois, your foster care benefits may continue following your 18th birthday. Services will continue until you turn 21, unless you achieve self-sufficiency (as stated in your service plan) or no longer consent When someone gives permission for someone else to do something to services. Illinois also offers a wide range of benefits for former foster children. 

Healthcare

Former Foster Care Medical Benefits
If you exit foster care at the age of 18, you will receive up to 12 months of continuing eligibility. It will last until you turn 19 years old. If you exit foster care at the age of 19 or later, you qualify for Former Foster Care medical benefits. It will last until you turn 26 years old. 

The Former Foster Care program covers individuals who received foster care services. Also, the services must be provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). There are certain requirements you need to meet:

• Must be 19 to 25 years old;
• Cannot qualify for medical benefits under:
  • Family Health Plans, or
  • Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD)
• Must have received foster care assistance through DCFS until you aged out (exited) at the age of 18 or older;
• Must be an Illinois resident;
• Must have:
  • A Social Security Number (SSN), or
  • A proof of application for a Social Security Number
• Must meet U.S. citizenship or immigration requirements

Learn more about the Former Foster Care program.

Mental Health Resources

A Home Within provides current and former foster youth with free psychotherapy. You can apply today to speak to a provider.

You can also reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) by texting “NAMI” to 62640 or calling (800) 950-6264.

Additionally, you can text the Crisis Text Line 24/7 at 741741 to confidentially connect with a volunteer. This service is free if you have a phone plan with AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile.

Substance Abuse and Addiction

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a SAMHSA’s National Helpline. The helpline offers free and confidential referral and information services for mental or substance use disorder treatment 24/7. You may call the helpline at (800) 662-4357.

You can also visit the online treatment locator to find treatment facilities near you.

Housing

The Illinois Housing Handbook provides a wealth of information about obtaining and maintaining housing. 

​Youth Housing Assistance Program

The Youth Housing Assistance program assists with attaining or maintaining housing for former foster children. 

You may qualify for housing advocacy if: 

• You are at least 17 1/2 and less than 21 years old; 
• You are a current or former foster child who has aged out; and 
• You are able to pay for rent and utility costs, or are working on obtaining that income. 

You may qualify for cash assistance if :

• You are at least 17 1/2 and less than 21 years old;
• You are a current or former foster child who has aged out;
• You have completed a budget statement form; and
• You need cash assistance in order to have or maintain stable housing.

You can receive cash assistance for the following reasons:

• Housing security deposit, A payment the tenant makes to the landlord at the start of a lease. It can be used if the tenant doesn't pay rent or damages the rental unit.
• Rent (under certain circumstances),
• Beds,
• Current utility bills or utility deposits,
• Appliances,
• Partial housing subsidy, or
• Other items required to avoid or manage a crisis.

DCFS Housing Advocacy

Try using DCFS Housing Advocacy if you need help with:

• Securing affordable housing, 
• Consumer education, 
• Budget counseling, 
• Finding community-based resources, or 
• Follow-up services after housing is secured. 

Housing Advocacy does not include any money. It only helps find resources.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be at least 17 ½ and less than 21 years of age, and
• Be legally the responsibility of DCFS within six months of case closure, or have aged out of DCFS care, and
• Have enough income to meet rent and utility costs, or be working on obtaining that income. Housing Advocacy can help you find a job.

Homeless youth

You can contact a homeless youth provider if: 

• You lack safe and stable housing, and
• You are between the ages of 14 and 23 years old.

By contacting a homeless youth provider, you will get access to: 

• Emergency shelter,
• Transitional living programs, and
• More. 

See the list of homeless youth providers to find one near you. 

If you are over 23 years old, you can reach out to your county homeless care resource. See the list of county providers to find one near you. 

Family Unification Program (FUP)

FUP is a program that provides youth ages 18 – 24 who have aged out of foster care with a pool of: 

• Housing choice vouchers and
• Supportive services. 

A Public Child Welfare Agencies (PCWA) must first determine that you meet the FUP eligibility requirements. They can make a referral to place you on the waitlist for the program.

Besides providing rental assistance, this program also includes information on: 

• Money management skills,
• Job preparation,
• Educational counseling, and
• Proper nutrition and meal preparation. 

If you’re interested in applying for this, you will need to reach out to a PCWA, such as Illinois DCFS, for additional information. Learn more about the Family Unification Program. 

Public Housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program

If you don’t have access to FUP vouchers, you may be able to benefit from the Public Housing Program. Public housing residents live in projects that are typically owned by a local public housing agency. Units are subsidized, meaning that you would have to pay rent equal to only 30% of your adjusted gross income. Income before taxes are taken out If you move, the subsidy goes to the next resident.

Another program allows Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) recipients to rent housing in the private housing market. HCV recipients will deal with landlords or property managers directly.

Their subsidy is paid directly to the landlord An owner of property who rents it out to a tenant or property manager. Like public housing residents, HCV recipients usually pay 30% of their adjusted gross income in rent. Unlike public housing residents, they may live in any housing that meets minimum health and safety standards. 

Keep in mind that some waiting lists for these options are long or even closed. Young people who receive housing assistance from one of these programs rather than through FUP do not lose eligibility after 18 months. However, they also do not have direct access to the supportive services that former youth in foster care may need.

Contact your case worker or contact the DCFS Office of Housing and Cash Assistance at (312) 328-2157 or [email protected] for more information.

Education

The Department of Education has developed a Foster Care Transition Toolkit that includes information on: 

• Accessing educational opportunities, 
• Finding a job, 
• Managing money, 
• Obtaining essential documents, 
• Building a support network, 
• Securing housing, and
• Taking care of physical and mental health. 

Foster Progress is another resource that offers information about financial aid for former foster youth.

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
In order to graduate from high school, all students in Illinois must fill out:  

• The FAFSA, or
• The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. 

Learn more about the FAFSA.

The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) must make sure all foster care youth have filled out the FAFSA by November 1st of the student’s graduating year. DCFS has caseworkers through its Post-secondary Program that will help you with any questions you may have. 

You can receive money for college if you meet the eligibility requirements for federal student aid. There is only one question on the FAFSA that relates to being in foster care. The FAFSA form asks, “At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent A person who relies on another for support, such as a child or person with a disability or ward A person who has a guardian appointed by the court to care for and take responsibility for them of the court?” You should answer A written statement used to respond to the complaint or petition in a lawsuit “Yes” to this question if at any time since age 13:

• You had no living parent, even if you’ve since been adopted,
• You were in foster care, even if you’re not in it now, or
• You were a dependent or ward of the court, even if you aren’t now.

If you answer “Yes,” you are considered independent for the purposes of Federal Student Aid. If so, you do not need to report parents’ financial and other information on the FAFSA. Learn more about this question on studentaid.gov. 

Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program helps with post-secondary (post-high school) education expenses. These expenses must not be covered by financial aid grants. To be eligible, you must either:

• Be a foster child or have aged out of foster care at the age of 18 or older, or
• Have achieved permanency at age 16 or older through either subsidized guardianship When a person is appointed by a judge to take care of a child or an adult with a disability or adoption When an adult becomes a child's legal parent

You must also attend a post-secondary school accredited by the US Department of Education, make satisfactory academic progress, file the FAFSA, complete any additional financial paperwork required by your school, and submit completed application documentation each term. 

If you are eligible, you can receive payments of up to $5,000 every year of education for related expenses such as: 

• Tuition,
• Fees,
• Books,
• Supplies,
• Uniforms,
• Equipment, and/or
• Transportation. 

These expenses cannot be covered by other grants or scholarships. You remain eligible for this program until you are 26 years old. However, you cannot participate in the program for more than five years total. 

Fill out the application for the Education and Training Voucher if you are eligible. 

For questions related to ETV, the best way of communication is via [email protected].
 

DCFS Scholarship Program

The application becomes available on January 1 each year and is due by March 31. The DCFS Scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees at any of the 12 state public universities or community colleges in Illinois. It also covers some additional benefits, such as a $1,506 monthly stipend for room and board and medical insurance. It also offers a book voucher or reimbursement for books not covered by financial aid and Medical coverage.

This scholarship is available to students for up to five consecutive years as long as they continue to work toward graduation and the completion of a certificate or degree program. Recipients must maintain full-time status and maintain at least a “C” average each semester. 

It is available for any youth who has aged out of foster care or for anyone who is under DCFS guardianship.

Check out the Scholarship Program Tip Sheet and find DCFS Form CFS 438 for the current year to apply. 

DCFS Youth In College Placement Cases in which youth are removed from their homes and placed elsewhere

The Youth in College program provides a $1,506 per month stipend for students attending an accredited vocational school, four-year college, or community college. It offers a monthly room and board payment of $1,506. It also offers a book voucher or reimbursement for books not covered by financial aid.

If the recipient is attending any of the 12 state public universities or an in-district community college, a tuition and fee waiver will also be sent on the student’s behalf. It also offers a book voucher or reimbursement for books not covered by financial aid and Medical coverage. Recipients may also receive a one-time start-up payment to be used for initial living expenses. 

This scholarship is available to students for up to five consecutive years, or through age 25, whichever comes first, as long as students are enrolled full-time and maintain at least a “C” average each semester. Students must also apply for financial aid every year to cover tuition or room and board costs.

To qualify for the Youth In College Placement Program, DCFS must have court-ordered legal responsibility for the foster youth. In addition, a recipient must be 16 - 20 years old at the time of application. 

To apply, complete the CFS 449 application for the current year.

Tuition and fee waivers

On January 1, 2019 a new law was implemented. It says that youth from foster care in Illinois can receive a tuition and fee waiver if they go to a public, in-state college or university, or an in-district community college. You must be either still in foster care, have aged out of foster care, or have an adoption or guardianship subsidy. 

If the student is awarded the Illinois MAP grant and/or a federal Pell grant, these funds may be applied first. Please note that this is applied differently from the DCFS Scholarship waiver. 

Benefits are available for up to five consecutive years. An applicant must apply for federal and state assistance by completing the FAFSA. 

Keep in mind that additional costs for room and board, transportation, orientation, or supplies are not included. Be sure to fill out DCFS’s Form 438A to receive the waiver. See the Tuition and Fee Waiver Tip Sheet for more information. You may also email DCFS.Tuition [email protected].

Community College Payment Program

The Community College Payment Program applies to allows youth who:

• Are under DCFS Guardianship, 
• Have completed a FAFSA, 
• Are enrolled in an in-district community college, 
• Make “Satisfactory Academic Progress” (per the college’s definition), and 
• Read and sign the services agreement on the application. 

The program provides them with the opportunity to have the following paid by DCFS if they are not paid by financial aid grants. Payment requests can be submitted for career and technical education programs that are part of the community college curriculum.

• In-district tuition, 
• Fees, 
• Required books, 
• Supplies, 
• Uniforms and 
• Equipment. 

Employment

DCFS's Employment/Job Training/Apprenticeship Incentive Program (EJTAIP) provides support to help youth gain marketable job skills. The program provides a monthly stipend of $158 and start-up funding for work-related items up to $210. 

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a youth that DCFS is legally responsible for, between the ages of 17 and 21. Youths who are 16 and participating in a Job Corps program are also eligible.
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate.
• Complete Casey Life Skills Assessment.
• Have one of the following:
  • Be involved in job training through a certified job skills training program (e.g., Job Corps, internship), 
  • Be working for: 
    • At least one month prior to applying for the EJTAIP, and 
    • A minimum of 20 hours per week or 80 hours a month, or 
  • Be participating in an apprenticeship training program approved or recognized by: 
    • The Illinois Department of Employment Security, or 
    • by The United States Department of Labor.
       

Youth enrolled in an approved apprenticeship are eligible if they are: 

• In care of the Department,
• Aged out of care of the Department at age 18 or older, or
• Achieved adoption or guardianship directly from the Department’s care. 

Youth must be under the age of 26 before enrolling in a qualified apprenticeship program. Youth must also document active participation. 

Learn more about DCFS's Employment/Job Training/Apprenticeship Incentive Program. Apply by filling out Form CFS 449-2, among other documents. You may contact (217) 557-2689 for additional information. 
 

LGBTQIA+ resources

Lambda Legal's Youth in Out-of-Home Care Project raises awareness and advances reform on behalf of LGBTQ youth in: 

• Child welfare,
• Juvenile justice, and
• Homeless systems of care. 

You may contact the Midwest regional office to learn more about your rights work, healthcare, school, and more. Call (312) 663-4413 and ask for the help desk. 

They also have a compiled resources sheet by state that you can check out. You can also contact the LGBT National Youth Talkline by calling (800) 246-7743.

Financial literacy

Every individual child and adult Any person 18 years old or over in the care of the Illinois DCFS Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in foster care has the right to: 

• Have an emancipation bank account, and
• Manage their personal income. 

Learn about how to open a bank account.

If you are unclear about where to start when it comes to saving and handling your money, it may be a good idea to take a financial literacy course. Hands on Banking has a free financial literacy course that you can take for free and complete at your own pace. They also have a helpful glossary with terms that you may need to know.

If you find yourself having more questions, it may be worth checking out some other resources, like Money Under 30. It is a website that provides easy-to-understand information on: 

• Getting a credit card,  
• Investing,
• Paying off debt,
• Buying a car, and
• More.