Health & Benefits

You can apply for AABD on the DHS website, or in person at your local DHS office, or by calling (866) 311-1119. DHS will ask you for proof of your income, assets, and expenses. DHS is required to process your application within 45 days if you are aged or blind or within 60 days if you have a disability. They must give you a written notice telling you if your application was accepted or denied.

You may file an appeal of any decision to deny, change, or stop AABD benefits. You can file an appeal by:

• Email to [email protected],
• Fax to 312-793-3387,
• Phone to (800) 435-0774, or
• In writing at your local DHS office or by calling.

You must file an appeal within 60 days of the date of the written notice. Be sure to get some kind of a record that you filed your appeal showing the date it was filed.

To keep getting payments during an appeal, you must appeal within 10 days of the date of the notice of change or before the date of change becomes effective (the date the change becomes effective is included on the notice of change), whichever is later. However, if DHS's decision to cut back or stop your benefits was correct, you will owe DHS the difference between what you received during the appeal and what you should have gotten.

After you file the appeal, DHS will hold a pre-appeal conference. You will meet with your case manager and their supervisor. They will explain why your benefits changed and answer any questions you might have.  

If your application was denied, or your AABD payments were changed or ended because of a mistake or a misunderstanding about the facts, DHS may agree to approve the case or restore your full benefits right away. If not, DHS will schedule a fair hearing. 

Usually, the fair hearing is held at the local DHS office that handles your case. If you have a disability and are physically unable to come to your local office, or need some other kind of accommodation, contact the Bureau of Assistance Hearings right away at (800) 435-0774.

An impartial, or fair, hearing officer will hold the hearing. At the hearing, you may bring anyone to represent you, including a lawyer. You may also represent yourself. You will have the following rights at the hearing:

• To present your testimony and other witnesses in support of your claim,
• To present documents that support your case,
• To examine the records relied on by DHS, and
• To cross-examine other witnesses.

After the hearing, the hearing officer will give their decision in writing.