Health & Benefits resources

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps)

Explore the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and how it can help people with food insecurity.

Guide

Applying for SNAP benefits

Learn how to apply for SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, from the application to how long the process should take.

How-To

Appealing a SNAP benefits decision

Discover how to appeal a SNAP benefits decision, from the forms you need to how the court hearing works.

How-To

Applying for emergency SNAP benefits

This how-to discusses steps for applying for emergency SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps. These requests are processed faster than the normal 30 day period.

How-To

View all

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Getting temporary financial help with TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) gives temporary financial help to pregnant women and families.

Guide

Applying for TANF benefits

Steps to get Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) from the forms you need to how long the process takes.

How-To

Appealing a TANF benefits decision

Steps to appeal any decision that denied, changed, or stopped Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

How-To

TANF payment levels

Gives details about the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and explains that the amount you receive from TANF depends on a few factors, including your income.

Text article

View all

General Assistance

General Assistance basics

Gives an overview of General Assistance programs that help people meet their basic needs.

Guide

Applying for General Assistance

Steps to get General Assistance through your local township and how long they have to approve or deny the application.

How-To

Appealing a General Assistance decision

Steps to appeal a decision that denied, changed, or stopped General Assistance benefits and how long the process takes.

How-To

General Assistance

Learn about eligibility, applying for, and receiving help from your township's General Assistance program.

FAQ

View all

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Disabilities guidebook: social security disability benefits

Describes your rights to social security disability benefits and supplemental security income.

Text article

Apply for SSI and SSDI at a local social security office

Explains how to begin an application for Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance

Text article

Eligible for supplemental security income or SSI benefits

Explains qualifications to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits.

Text article

Being a representative payee for SSI and Social Security

Learn about the rules and responsibilities of being a representative payee for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security.

FAQ

View all

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Disabilities guidebook: social security disability benefits

Describes your rights to social security disability benefits and supplemental security income.

Text article

Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits

A brief explanation of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Disability Evaluation under Social Security (SSD/SSDI) and how to apply for each.

Text article

Fight a denial, reduction, or end in Social Security benefits

Steps to appeal a Social Security decision from the deadlines you must follow to how the administrative hearing works.

How-To

How to handle Social Security overpayments

Learn about your options if the Social Security Administration overpays you, including your right to appeal, ask for a waiver, or negotiate a payment plan.

Text article

View all

Aid to the aged, blind, disabled (AABD)

Assistance for older adults and people with disabilities

Explains who qualifies for AABD benefits in Illinois. Recipients receive cash and medical assistance.

Guide

Aid to the aged, blind, and disabled or AABD benefits

Steps to apply for Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) benefits including how to appeal an AABD decision.

How-To

AABD allowable limits

Explains that DHS considers your situation to decide how much you get in AABD. DHS does not look at what you actually pay for your needs, their grants cover shelter, utilities, food, clothing, but do not take into account what you pay. You may qualify for one or more of these allowances.

Text article

Disabilities recognized under the ADA

Explains what kind of impairments count as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Text article

View all

Medicaid

Medicaid basics

Describes Medicaid and who is eligible for the program.

Guide

Am I eligible for Medicaid?

Learn about who qualifies for Medicaid in Illinois, including income and citizenship requirements, and how to find healthcare options if you're not eligible.

Text article

Applying for Medicaid

This article explains the steps you need to take to apply for Medicaid and details about renewing your Medicaid every year in order to help pay for medical issues and doctor visits.

How-To

Appealing a Medicaid decision

Learn how to appeal a Medicaid decision from the forms you need to getting a fair hearing.

How-To

View all

Medicare

Getting Medicare benefits

Explore the basics of Medicare, including who is eligible and the four parts of Medicare.

Guide

Medicare Part D drug coverage

Describes the Medicare Part D program, what it covers and how to apply. Anyone enrolled in Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, or both may also enroll in a Medicare Part D program.

Guide

Appealing a Medicare claim denial decision

Steps to appeal for Medicare if you were denied or think you were not given the proper amount of benefits.

How-To

Understanding Medigap

Describes Medigap insurance from private companies which supplement your Medicare insurance.

Text article

View all

Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)

All Kids health insurance

Discover answers to the most frequently asked questions about the All Kids health insurance program for children.

FAQ

Applying for All Kids health insurance

Steps to apply for and receive All Kids health insurance including how to appeal a denial.

How-To

All Kids health insurance basics

Learn about the All Kids health insurance program, including eligibility and coverage.

Guide

View all

Retirement benefits (Social Security Administration)

Social Security benefits

An article that explains how to apply for Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. These are available for retired workers and families, and people with disabilities.

Guide

Representative payees for SSI and Social Security recipients

Explains what a representative payee is, their responsibilities, and how they are chosen.

FAQ

Being a representative payee for SSI and Social Security

Learn about the rules and responsibilities of being a representative payee for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security.

FAQ

I want a new or replacement social security card

Explains the process of how to get a new or replacement social security card.

Text article

View all

Survivor benefits (Social Security Administration)

How to handle Social Security overpayments

Learn about your options if the Social Security Administration overpays you, including your right to appeal, ask for a waiver, or negotiate a payment plan.

Text article

Social Security's Appeals Council

Learn about where the Appeals Council fits in the Social Security appeals process, how to request a review from the Appeals Council, and what to expect at the Appeals Council.

FAQ

Social Security benefits

An article that explains how to apply for Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. These are available for retired workers and families, and people with disabilities.

Guide

View all

Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits

Veterans benefits and resources

Explains benefits and resources offered by federal, state, and county governments for veterans, their dependents, and their survivors. Also links to resources about taking time off of work for military service.

Text article

View all

Disaster Relief

Resources for disaster relief

Learn about state and federal disaster relief resources, emergency financial assistance, and insurance basics.

Text article

View all

Other public benefits issues

Government benefits for immigrants

Discover different government assistance programs available for immigrants and the qualifications for those programs.

FAQ

The low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP)

Learn about how the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP can help low-income households pay for utilities like electric, heat, and gas.

Guide

US federal poverty guidelines

US federal poverty level numbers

Link

Food assistance for women, infants, and children or WIC

Learn about WIC, the Women, Infants, and Children federal food assistance program.

FAQ

View all

Medical or nursing home care

Understanding nursing home resident's rights

Explains what you can expect if you are moving to a long-term care facility.

Guide

My rights in a nursing home

Know your rights as a nursing home resident, including your financial rights, health care rights, and right to be free from abuse.

Text article

Community spouse rules for Medicaid

Describes financial rules for couples when one person receives Medicaid and is in a nursing home.

Text article

Confidentiality for mental and developmental disabilities

Information about privacy and protection under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.

Text article

View all

Mental health care

Getting an involuntary admission order

Explains the process for getting a loved one admitted to a mental health facility.

How-To

Being admitted to a mental health facility in an emergency

If you need immediate hospitalization to protect yourself or others from physical harm, you may be admitted through the admission by emergency certification process.

How-To

Mental health treatment for children

Describes when children may receive outpatient mental health care without parental consent, and explains the special rules that govern the hospitalization and discharge of children from mental health care facilities.

Text article

Getting mental health care for a loved one

Information about rights in a voluntary or involuntary admission, transfer, and discharge.

Guide

View all

Paying medical bills

Dealing with hospital bills

Learn what a hospital can do to collect a bill and the rights you have as a patient.

Text article

Unpaid medical bills and Medicaid

Discusses the ability to have Medicaid pay unpaid medical bills from before you applied to Medicaid.

Text article

No Surprises Acts

Learn about the state and federal No Surprises Acts. These laws help prevent certain types of surprise billing for your health care.

Text article

Dealing with medical debt

Explains medical debt and options to lower the cost of care.

Text article

View all

Private health insurance

Health insurance if you don't qualify for Medicaid

Learn about health insurance options if you don't qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, including coverage through the Illinois Marketplace.

Text article

Understanding Medigap

Describes Medigap insurance from private companies which supplement your Medicare insurance.

Text article

What is COBRA?

Learn about COBRA, a federal law that gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan.

Text article

Health insurance under the Affordable Care Act

Learn about marketplace health insurance, including different coverage options and essential health benefits covered under the Affordable Care Act.

Text article

View all

Planning for loss of health or life

Living Will basics

Learn about using a Living Will to share your wishes about death-delaying medical care with your doctor if you are terminally ill.

Guide

Power of Attorney for Health Care basics

Learn how to give someone the ability to make health care decisions for you.

Guide