Health & Benefits

A person may be eligible for AABD if they:

• Are a U.S. citizen or meet specific requirements for non-citizens,
• Are an Illinois resident,
• Are 65 years or older, blind, or disabled, and
• Meet any of the following requirements:
  • Receive Supplemental Security Income A federal program that gives money to low-income elderly, blind and disabled people on a monthly basis (SSI),
  • Are not eligible for SSI due to income, or
  • Are not eligible for SSI due to the time limit expiration on aid to certain non-citizens.

If a person does not get SSI due to their income, they may qualify for AABD medical assistance. They must have less than $17,500 in assets, Anything a person owns that has financial value or have “countable income” at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. Countable income is calculated differently depending on whether the applicant is blind, disabled, or 65 years and older.

People interested in their eligibility can check the IDHS website or call the IDHS Help Line at (800) 843-6154 or TTY (866) 324-5553.

Non-citizens may be eligible for an AABD cash grant if they do not have enough income to meet their basic needs. They must also:

• Be age 65 years or older,
• Meet the immigration requirements for medical assistance,
• Were legally residing in the U.S. on August 22, 1996, and
• Have been denied SSI because the Social Security Administration found them to not be disabled.

Non-citizens may also be eligible if they are:

• Under age 65, and
• Ineligible for SSI due to the expiration of the federal seven-year limit, but have immigration status that would make them eligible under the federal seven-year exception rules.

A program similar to AABD is also available to give medical assistance to non-citizens. It is called Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS).

Note: The HBIS program was paused for new enrollees beginning November 6, 2023 and remains paused. Existing participants can continue to receive and renew benefits under the HBIS program.

IDHS looks at a person’s income and assets. Anything a person owns that has financial value A person qualifies if their income is less than their needs by at least $1.  Certain payments do not count as income. For example, earned income tax credit Can reduce the amount of tax a person owes or increase their tax refund and energy assistance payments do not count. After adding up income from countable sources, IDHS subtracts $25 from the total. If a person works, IDHS will subtract work-related other work-related expenses as income.

A person’s countable income is whatever is left after subtracting expenses.

IDHS adds up the following expenses to determine a person's needs:

• Housing,
• Utilities,
• Clothing,
• Laundry,
• Household supplies,
• Personal essentials,
• Phone line,
• Food, and
• Transit.

If the total cost of these needs is at least $1 less than a person’s countable income, they may be eligible for an AABD cash grant.

A person is not eligible for AABD cash benefits if they own assets worth $2,000 or more. The asset limit is increased to $3,000 if they are living with a spouse or another dependent. A person who relies on another for support, such as a child or person with a disability The limit is further increased by $50 for each additional dependent.

IDHS counts the recipient’s resources and the resources of any person in the home who is legally responsible for the recipient. For example, IDHS will count a spouse’s resources. IDHS does not consider the resources of anyone in the home who is not responsible for the recipient, like the recipient’s child or children. 

IDHS will not count certain assets including the following:

• The family home,
• Clothing, personal effects, and household furnishings (up to $2,000 total equity Amount that is left after a person pays off their loan value),
• Wedding or engagement rings,
• Items required because of a person’s medical or physical condition,
• Life insurance policies with a total face value of $1,500 or less, and all term life insurance policies,
• Burial spaces for the use of the recipient, or any other member of their immediate family,
• Funds set aside for the burial expenses (but not prepaid) of the adult Any person 18 years old or over and his or her spouse (up to a limit of $1,500 each),
• Irrevocable prepaid burial contracts (up to $8,434),
• Jointly held assets (for example, joint bank accounts) that cannot be reduced or transferred without the consent When someone gives permission for someone else to do something of the joint owner and the joint owner does not give consent, and
• One vehicle. The vehicle must be necessary for employment, transportation to medical treatment or essential daily activities, or modified for transporting a disabled person, or needed to provide transport to essential daily activities.

A person over the asset limit for cash benefits may still be able to receive AABD medical assistance. The asset limits for AABD medical and AABD cash are very different. Starting in May 2023, the asset limit for AABD medical assistance increased to $17,500. This limit applies regardless of the number of people in the household.

A person that qualifies for cash benefits is automatically eligible for medical benefits. 

Grant amounts vary based on income and needs, but the minimum payment is $1. Payments rarely exceed $70 if the person is receiving SSI.

If a person’s income does not meet these minimum living expenses, IDHS will give them an AABD grant to make up the difference.

Eligibility for AABD cash assistance will be reevaluated every 12 months. To avoid an overpayment, recipients should make sure to fill out any redetermination forms that are mailed to them. They must report any changes in income or assets Anything a person owns that has financial value within 10 days of the change.

They can apply for AABD benefits on the IDHS website, in person at a local IDHS office, or by calling (866) 311-1119. 

Learn more about getting AABD.