Health & Benefits resources

Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about getting help with buying food through the SNAP program, also known as food stamps.

FAQ

Food stamps or SNAP benefits basics

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

Guide

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

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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

Using a Link card

Explore how to use and update information on your Link Card for TANF cash benefits as well as SNAP benefits.

FAQ

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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 common questions

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

FAQ

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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Disabilities guidebook: social security disability benefits

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

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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

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Eligible for supplemental security income or SSI benefits

Explains qualifications to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits.

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Dedicated accounts for SSI benefits

When Social Security pays a large amount of past-due SSI benefits for a child, the money must go into a special account called a “dedicated account.” Learn about how to set up and use dedicated accounts as a representative payee.

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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Disabilities guidebook: social security disability benefits

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Disabilities recognized under the ADA

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)

All Kids health insurance common questions

Describes 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

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Private health insurance

Litigating policyholder claims against insurance companies

An aid for attorneys who are litigating claims of an insured person against their insurance company.

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Your rights in a hospital

Learn about your rights as both a patient and a visitor in a hospital.

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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.

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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.

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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

I want a new or replacement social security card

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

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Representative payees for SSI and Social Security recipients

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

FAQ

Working while getting Social Security retirement income

Learn how working after retirement can affect your Social Security benefits if you earn more than a certain amount.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Community spouse rules for Medicaid

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

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Home Services Program

Explains the Home Services Program which allows Illinois residents with disabilities to receive the care they need in their homes rather than in an institutional setting.

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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

Getting mental health care for a loved one

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

Guide

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.

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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.

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Unpaid medical bills and Medicaid

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

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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.

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Your rights in a hospital

Learn about your rights as both a patient and a visitor in a hospital.

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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

How to create a Living Will

Explains the steps to create a Living Will, who you should share your Living Will with, and how to cancel a Living Will.

How-To

How to set up a Power of Attorney for Health Care

Learn the steps to create a Power of Attorney for Health Care.

How-To

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Disaster Relief

Resources for disaster relief

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

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Injury or accident

What to do if your dog bites someone

Explains what can happen if your animal attacks or injures someone.

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What to expect after a car accident

This article explains what to do after a car accident, including how to gather important information, understand court rules, calculate damages, and deal with auto insurance.

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Understanding nursing home resident's rights

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

Guide

I’m putting my family member in a nursing home. What should I do legally?

Explains how to place a family member into a nursing home legally.

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Other health and benefits issues

Government benefits for immigrants

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

FAQ