Health & Benefits

All parents receiving TANF must sign and follow a Responsibility and Services Plan (RSP). The RSP is written after a Family Assessment is done by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS).

The RSP plan is updated regularly. DHS will monitor your family’s progress to make sure you are following the rules. 

Your RSP will make goals in the following areas:

• Employment,
• General Educational Development or GED,
• Vocational training, and
• Job skills training.

Supportive services

Supportive services will be provided to help you meet your RSP goals. Supportive services include:

• Child care,
• Transportation, such as bus passes, car insurance, or car repair, 
• Family health and well-being, such as domestic violence Harm by one household or family member against another household or family member. Harm may be an emotional, mental, or physical injury services or mental health services, 
• School fees, including books and necessary equipment for school,
• Required tools, special clothing, or expenses required to become licensed by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services for child care or to start a micro business,
• Initial employment expenses, such as background checks or uniforms,
• Job retention expenses, and 
• $20 per month per person for job search or work in a DHS Work Experience or Community Service Program. 

TANF work and training requirements

To get TANF benefits, you must work or take part in work training for at least 30 hours per week.

Work requirement for one parent 

If you are a single parent who is able to work and your child is under age 6, you must:

• Work at least 20 hours per week; or
• Participate in work and training activities for at least 20 hours per week.

If you are a single parent who is able to work and your child is age 6 or older, you must:

• Work at least 30 hours per week; or
• Participate in work and training activities for at least 30 hours per week.

Work requirement if there are 2 parents in the home 

If there are 2 parents in the home, one or both parents may have to:

• Work at least 35 hours per week; or
• Participate in work and training activities for 35 hours per week.

If one parent is exempt from the work requirement, then the case is considered a one-parent case.

Young Parents

A parent under the age of 20 who has not finished high school must be in a program to earn their high school diploma or a GED. 

Young parents must also participate in program services called "Teen Parent Services." These services may include parenting classes, family planning, job training, and workshops.  

Exemptions from TANF work and training requirements 

An exempt person does not have to add work and training activities to their RSP. Exempt means some of the requirements don’t apply to you. 

If you are exempt, you can volunteer to participate in a work activity as part of your RSP, but you aren't required to participate. 

You are exempt if any of the following apply to you:

• You take care of a related child who is less than one year old and lives in your home,
• You are a minor A person under 18 years old child who is not a parent, or
• You are age 60 or older.

Barriers to work and training activities

Some people don’t have to do work and training activities if they have an approved barrier. You have a barrier if you:

• Have a medical condition approved by DHS that prevents you from doing work or training activities,
• Are pregnant and expect to deliver in 6 weeks, 
• Gave birth in the last 12 weeks, 
• Are a victim of domestic or family violence that prevents you from doing work or training activities,
• Provide full-time care to your spouse or related child due to their medical condition, or 
• Have a child eligible for the Medically Fragile Technology Dependent A person who relies on another for support, such as a child or person with a disability program.