Bill Text: IL HB2694 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) Act. Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program is inoperative after June 30, 2026 and is replaced by the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) program. Contains provisions concerning persons eligible for CASH assistance, including pregnant persons without dependent children and assistance units headed by a caretaker relative, as defined; income thresholds; immigration status; the amount of aid paid to eligible assistance units; application requirements; income verification requirements; eligibility redeterminations; substitute payees; transitioning assistance units from TANF to CASH; and Department rules to implement the CASH program. Makes conforming changes in other Articles of the Code. Effective July 1, 2026.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-04 - Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Lilian Jiménez [HB2694 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB2694-Introduced.html

---

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2694 Introduced , by Rep. Lilian Jiménez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index
Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) Act. Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program is inoperative after June 30, 2026 and is replaced by the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) program. Contains provisions concerning persons eligible for CASH assistance, including pregnant persons without dependent children and assistance units headed by a caretaker relative, as defined; income thresholds; immigration status; the amount of aid paid to eligible assistance units; application requirements; income verification requirements; eligibility redeterminations; substitute payees; transitioning assistance units from TANF to CASH; and Department rules to implement the CASH program. Makes conforming changes in other Articles of the Code. Effective July 1, 2026.
LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
A BILL FOR
HB2694 LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
AN ACT concerning public aid.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Reference to Act. This Act may be referred to as
the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) Act.
Section 5. Findings and declaration of policy. The General
Assembly finds, determines, and declares the following:
(1) All people deserve to live with dignity and have
their basic needs met.
(2) Elimination of deep poverty in the State of
Illinois is attainable and long overdue. However, deep
poverty is rising in Illinois. According to the Department
of Human Services over 763,000 people including over
218,000 children in Illinois now live in deep poverty and
have few resources to meet their basic needs.
(3) The Illinois Commission on Poverty Elimination and
Economic Security, created by the Intergenerational
Poverty Act of 2020, was tasked with the development of a
strategic plan to meet the statutorily outlined goals of
reducing deep poverty in Illinois by 50% by 2026,
eliminating child poverty by 2031, and eliminating all
poverty in Illinois by 2036. According to the Commission,
a key component of meeting these goals is increasing

HB2694 - 2 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
uptake, access, and the value of public benefits programs
while investing in direct cash assistance structures.
(4) Cash assistance programs, particularly the
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program,
reach far fewer families and provide less cash assistance
than predecessor programs existing before "welfare reform"
in 1996, leaving more families in deep poverty. Due to
cumbersome federal restrictions, where cash assistance is
available, it is often accompanied by onerous processes
and strict requirements that make it difficult for
families to obtain and maintain benefits.
(5) To better serve Illinois families struggling to
meet their basic needs, the General Assembly rejects the
false thesis of federal "welfare reform": that income
supports foster dependence, disincentivize work, and trap
families in a cycle of poverty. Nearly 3 decades of data
and research related to the TANF program, coupled with
emerging research studying the effects of unrestricted
cash transfers like guaranteed income, have shown that
cash assistance, when designed with broader access, more
generous grants, and fewer restrictions, is an effective
tool for reducing family and child poverty and improving
family well-being. Emerging research examining the growing
number of direct cash transfer experiments shows
compelling evidence that unrestricted cash assistance can
improve a multitude of outcomes including employment,

HB2694 - 3 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
physical and mental health, nutrition, and justice
involvement.
(6) The State of Illinois is committed to exploring
innovative and effective ways to address poverty while
upholding the values of equity and justice. The General
Assembly recognizes and prioritizes the benefits of
dramatically reducing restrictions related to social
safety-net programs, which currently function to frustrate
access for eligible families with significant need. The
General Assembly finds that greater access to and fewer
restrictions on the receipt of cash assistance is
necessary to promote economic stability, enhance the
quality of life and general welfare for all its residents,
and meaningfully progress toward the General Assembly's
goals as set forth in the Intergenerational Poverty Act of
2020.
Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
changing the heading of Article IV and Sections 1-7, 1-11,
4-1, 4-1.1, 4-1.2, 4-1.2a, 4-1.6, 4-1.6b, 4-2, 4-4, 4-9, 4-12,
4-22, 4-23, 6-1.3, 8A-18, 9A-3, 9A-4, 9A-8, 9A-8.1, 9A-9,
9A-10, 9A-11, 9A-13, 9A-15, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-7,
10-8, 10-10, 10-11.1, 10-15, 11-6, 11-17, 11-18, 11-19,
11-20.1, 11-22c, 11-32, 12-4.4, 12-4.11, 12-4.14, 12-4.33,
12-4.104, 12-13.05, 12-13.4, 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4, and 16-5
and by adding Sections 4-0.5.1, 4-0.6.1, 4-1.6c, 4-1.13,

HB2694 - 4 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
4-2.1, 4-2.2, 4-2.3, 4-24, and 4-25 as follows:
(305 ILCS 5/1-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 1-7)
Sec. 1-7. (a) For purposes of determining eligibility for
assistance under this Code, the Illinois Department, County
Departments, and local governmental units shall exclude from
consideration restitution payments, including all income and
resources derived therefrom, made to persons of Japanese or
Aleutian ancestry pursuant to the federal Civil Liberties Act
of 1988 and the Aleutian and Pribilof Island Restitution Act,
P.L. 100-383.
(b) For purposes of any program or form of assistance
where a person's income or assets are considered in
determining eligibility or level of assistance, whether under
this Code or another authority, neither the State of Illinois
nor any entity or person administering a program wholly or
partially financed by the State of Illinois or any of its
political subdivisions shall include restitution payments,
including all income and resources derived therefrom, made
pursuant to the federal Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the
Aleutian and Pribilof Island Restitution Act, P.L. 100-383, in
the calculation of income or assets for determining
eligibility or level of assistance.
(c) For purposes of determining eligibility for or the
amount of assistance under this Code, except for the
determination of eligibility for payments or programs under

HB2694 - 5 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
the TANF employment, education, and training programs and the
Food Stamp Employment and Training Program, the Illinois
Department, County Departments, and local governmental units
shall exclude from consideration any financial assistance
received under any student aid program administered by an
agency of this State or the federal government, by a person who
is enrolled as a full-time or part-time student of any public
or private university, college, or community college in this
State.
(d) For purposes of determining eligibility for or the
amount of assistance under this Code, except for the
determination of eligibility for payments or programs under
the TANF employment, education, and training programs and the
SNAP Employment and Training Program, the Illinois Department,
County Departments, and local governmental units shall exclude
from consideration, for a period of 36 months, any financial
assistance, including wages, that is provided to a person who
is enrolled in a demonstration project that is not funded with
general revenue funds and that is intended as a bridge to
self-sufficiency by offering (i) intensive workforce support
and training and (ii) support services for new and expectant
parents that are intended to foster multi-generational healthy
families as described in Section 12-4.51.
(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code,
and to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, for
purposes of determining eligibility and the amount of

HB2694 - 6 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
assistance under this Code, the Illinois Department and local
governmental units shall exclude from consideration any
financial assistance, including cash transfers or gifts, that
is provided to a person through a guaranteed income program.
As used in this subsection, "guaranteed income program" means
a publicly or privately funded program that provides one-time
or recurring unconditional cash transfers or payments, or
gifts to individuals or households, for a defined number of
months or years for the purposes of reducing poverty,
promoting economic mobility, or increasing the financial
stability of Illinois residents.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, and
to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, for purposes
of determining eligibility and the amount of assistance under
this Code, the Illinois Department and local governmental
units shall exclude from consideration cash assistance under
Article IV of this Code.
(3) (2) The Department shall choose State options and seek
all necessary federal approvals or waivers to implement this
subsection.
(Source: P.A. 103-492, eff. 1-1-24.)
(305 ILCS 5/1-11)
Sec. 1-11. Citizenship. To the extent not otherwise
provided in this Code or federal law, all clients who receive
cash or medical assistance under Article III, IV, V, or VI of

HB2694 - 7 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
this Code must meet the citizenship requirements as
established in this Section. To be eligible for assistance an
individual, who is otherwise eligible, must be either a United
States citizen or included in one of the following categories
of non-citizens:
(1) United States veterans honorably discharged and
persons on active military duty, and the spouse and
unmarried dependent children of these persons;
(2) Refugees under Section 207 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act;
(3) Asylees under Section 208 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act;
(4) Persons for whom deportation has been withheld
under Section 243(h) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act;
(5) Persons granted conditional entry under Section
203(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as in
effect prior to April 1, 1980;
(6) Persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence
under the Immigration and Nationality Act;
(7) Parolees, for at least one year, under Section
212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
(8) Nationals of Cuba or Haiti admitted on or after
April 21, 1980;
(9) Amerasians from Vietnam, and their close family
members, admitted through the Orderly Departure Program

HB2694 - 8 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
beginning on March 20, 1988;
(10) Persons identified by the federal Office of
Refugee Resettlement (ORR) as victims of trafficking;
(11) Persons legally residing in the United States who
were members of a Hmong or Highland Laotian tribe when the
tribe helped United States personnel by taking part in a
military or rescue operation during the Vietnam era
(between August 5, 1965 and May 7, 1975); this also
includes the person's spouse, a widow or widower who has
not remarried, and unmarried dependent children;
(12) American Indians born in Canada under Section 289
of the Immigration and Nationality Act and members of an
Indian tribe as defined in Section 4e of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act;
(13) Persons who are a spouse, widow, or child of a
U.S. citizen or a spouse or child of a legal permanent
resident (LPR) who have been battered or subjected to
extreme cruelty by the U.S. citizen or LPR or a member of
that relative's family who lived with them, who no longer
live with the abuser or plan to live separately within one
month of receipt of assistance and whose need for
assistance is due, at least in part, to the abuse; and
(14) Persons who are foreign-born victims of
trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes as defined
in Section 2-19 of this Code.
Those persons who are in the categories set forth in

HB2694 - 9 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
subdivisions 6 and 7 of this Section, who enter the United
States on or after August 22, 1996, shall not be eligible for 5
years beginning on the date the person entered the United
States.
The Illinois Department may, by rule, cover prenatal care
or emergency medical care for non-citizens who are not
otherwise eligible under this Section. Local governmental
units which do not receive State funds may impose their own
citizenship requirements and are authorized to provide any
benefits and impose any citizenship requirements as are
allowed under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193).
(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)
(305 ILCS 5/Art. IV heading)
ARTICLE IV. CASH ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN HOUSEHOLDS TEMPORARY
ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
(305 ILCS 5/4-0.5.1 new)
Sec. 4-0.5.1. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Program inoperative. The Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) Program is inoperative after June 30, 2026.
(305 ILCS 5/4-0.6.1 new)
Sec. 4-0.6.1. Reference to TANF considered a reference to
CASH. On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of

HB2694 - 10 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
the 104th General Assembly, any reference in any law to
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF, except for
references to TANF included in this Article, shall be
considered to be a reference to the Cash Assistance to
Strengthen Households program (CASH).
(305 ILCS 5/4-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1)
Sec. 4-1. Eligibility requirements. Cash assistance
Financial aid in meeting basic maintenance requirements for a
livelihood compatible with health and well-being shall be
given under this Article to or in behalf of families with
dependent children who have established residence in Illinois
as defined in Section 2-10, and meet the eligibility
conditions of Sections 4-1.1 through 4-1.13 4-1.12. It shall
be the policy of the Illinois Department to provide cash
assistance aid under this Article to all qualified persons who
seek assistance and to conduct outreach efforts to educate the
public about the program. The Department shall provide timely,
accurate, and fair service to all applicants for assistance.
Persons who meet the eligibility criteria authorized under
this Article shall be treated equally, provided that nothing
in this Article shall be construed to create an entitlement to
a particular grant or service level or to aid in amounts not
authorized under this Code, nor construed to limit the
authority of the General Assembly to change the eligibility
requirements or provisions respecting assistance amounts. The

HB2694 - 11 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
General Assembly recognizes that the need for aid will
fluctuate with the economic situation in Illinois and that at
times the number of people receiving aid under this Article
will increase.
The Illinois Department shall advise every applicant for
and recipient of aid under this Article of (i) the requirement
that all recipients move toward self-sufficiency and (ii) the
value and benefits of employment. As a condition of
eligibility for that aid, every person who applies for aid
under this Article on or after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of 1995 shall prepare and submit, as part of the
application or subsequent redetermination, a personal plan for
achieving employment and self-sufficiency. The plan shall
incorporate the individualized assessment and employability
plan set out in subsections (d), (f), and (g) of Section 9A-8.
The plan may be amended as the recipient's needs change. The
assessment process to develop the plan shall include questions
that screen for domestic violence issues and steps needed to
address these issues may be part of the plan. If the individual
indicates that he or she is a victim of domestic violence, he
or she may also be referred to an available domestic violence
program. Failure of the client to follow through on the
personal plan for employment and self-sufficiency may be a
basis for sanction under Section 4-21.
(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

HB2694 - 12 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.1)
Sec. 4-1.1. Child age eligibility.
(a) Every assistance unit must include a child, except as
provided in subsection (b) subsections (b) and (c). The child
or children must have already been born and be under age 18,
or, if age 18, must be a full-time student in a secondary
school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical
training.
(b) Cash assistance Grants shall be provided for
assistance units including consisting exclusively of a
pregnant person woman with no dependent child, and may include
her husband if living with her, if the pregnancy has been
determined by medical diagnosis.
(c) (Blank). Grants may be provided for assistance units
consisting of only adults if all the children living with
those adults are children with disabilities and receive
Supplemental Security Income.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2)
Sec. 4-1.2. Living Arrangements - Parents - Relatives -
Foster Care.
(a) The child or children must live with a caretaker
relative as set forth in subsection (b) unless the child or
children have been:
(1)(A) removed from the home of the parents or other

HB2694 - 13 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
relatives by court order under the Juvenile Court Act or
the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, (B) placed under the
guardianship of the Department of Children and Family
Services, and (C) under such guardianship, placed in a
foster family home, group home, or child care institution
licensed pursuant to the Child Care Act of 1969 or
approved by that Department as meeting standards
established for licensing under that Act; or
(2) relinquished in accordance with the Abandoned
Newborn Infant Protection Act.
(b) A caretaker relative is the specified relative with
whom the child is living. Specified relatives are the
following blood and adoptive relatives:
(1) First Degree of Relationship:
(A) father; or
(B) mother.
(2) Second Degree of Relationship:
(A) brother;
(B) sister;
(C) grandmother; or
(D) grandfather.
(3) Third Degree of Relationship:
(A) great-grandfather;
(B) great-grandmother;
(C) uncle;
(D) aunt;

HB2694 - 14 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(E) nephew; or
(F) niece.
(4) Fourth Degree of Relationship:
(A) great-great-grandfather;
(B) great-great-grandmother;
(C) great-uncle;
(D) great-aunt;
(E) first cousin;
(F) great-nephew; or
(G) great-niece.
(5) Fifth Degree of Relationship:
(A) great-great-great-grandfather;
(B) great-great-great-grandmother;
(C) great-great-uncle;
(D) great-great-aunt;
(E) first cousin once removed;
(F) second cousin;
(H) great-great niece; or
(I) great-great nephew.
(6) Step-Relatives
(A) step-father;
(B) step-mother;
(C) step-brother; or
(D) step-sister.
(c) Notwithstanding the exceptions set forth in paragraphs
(1) and (2) of subsection (a), every assistance unit shall

HB2694 - 15 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
have one specified relative of the child or children
designated as the caretaker relative. The caretaker relative
does not have to meet a minimum or a maximum age requirement.
If the caretaker relative is included in the assistance unit,
this person shall be considered an adult. For pregnant persons
eligible for cash assistance under subsection (b) of Section
4-1.1, the pregnant person shall be designated as the
caretaker relative. When a child lives with a parent, that
parent shall be designated as the caretaker relative except as
follows:
(1) another relative in the home shall be the
caretaker relative if the Department of Children and
Family Services has placed the child with the relative; or
(2) another relative in the home has assumed
responsibility for the child due to the parent's inability
to adequately care for the child.
(d) Assistance unit.
(1) For purposes of assessing income eligibility for
CASH under Section 4-1.6 and the amount of cash assistance
under Section 4-2, the following people, if living
together, must be included in the same assistance unit:
(i) A child, as set forth in subsection (a) of
Section 4-1.1, and his or her blood or adoptive
siblings who are children as set forth in subsection
(a) of Section 4-1.1,
(ii) The blood or adoptive mother of the child or

HB2694 - 16 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
children and the spouse of the blood or adoptive
mother, and
(iii) The blood or adoptive father of the children
and the spouse of the blood or adoptive father.
(1a) The assistance unit may include a specified
relative who is neither the blood or adoptive father nor
mother of the children or children in the assistance unit
but has been designated as the caretaker relative for the
assistance unit. The assistance unit may also include the
spouse of the caretaker relative.
(2) If eligibility for CASH is based on the assistance
unit including a pregnant person under subsection (b) of
Section 4-1.1, and the assistance unit does not contain a
child, as set forth in subsection (a) of Section 4-1.1,
the assistance unit must include both the pregnant person
and, if the pregnant person is married, pregnant person's
spouse if living together.
(2a) If the pregnant person is a child, as set forth in
Section 4-1.1(a), the assistance unit may include:
(i) The blood or adoptive mother of the pregnant
child, and the spouse of the blood or adoptive mother.
(ii) The blood or adoptive father of the pregnant
child, and the spouse of the blood or adoptive father.
(iii) A specified relative serving as the
caretaker relative for the pregnant child, and the
spouse of the caretaker relative.

HB2694 - 17 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(3) One person may be the caretaker relative for 2
separate assistance units under this Section if:
(i) the person, his or her child or children,
siblings and the child or children's other parent
shall receive CASH in one assistance unit; and
(ii) a separate assistance unit shall be
established when the person is also caretaker relative
for other related children (for whom the person is not
a parent). The second assistance unit must also
contain an eligible parent or parents and siblings of
the child or children in the unit.
(e) When a specified relative is no longer available to
act as a caretaker relative for children already receiving
CASH, another person whom the children are living with may
serve as a temporary caretaker for the remainder of the
certification period as set forth in Section 4-2.2. The
temporary caretaker shall not be included in the assistance
unit.
(a) The child or children must (1) be living with his or
their father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother,
sister, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle
or aunt, or other relative approved by the Illinois
Department, in a place of residence maintained by one or more
of such relatives as his or their own home, or (2) have been
(a) removed from the home of the parents or other relatives by
judicial order under the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile

HB2694 - 18 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Court Act of 1987, as amended, (b) placed under the
guardianship of the Department of Children and Family
Services, and (c) under such guardianship, placed in a foster
family home, group home or child care institution licensed
pursuant to the "Child Care Act of 1969", approved May 15,
1969, as amended, or approved by that Department as meeting
standards established for licensing under that Act, or (3)
have been relinquished in accordance with the Abandoned
Newborn Infant Protection Act. A child so placed in foster
care who was not receiving aid under this Article in or for the
month in which the court proceedings leading to that placement
were initiated may qualify only if he lived in the home of his
parents or other relatives at the time the proceedings were
initiated, or within 6 months prior to the month of
initiation, and would have received aid in and for that month
if application had been made therefor.
(b) The Illinois Department may, by rule, establish those
persons who are living together who must be included in the
same assistance unit in order to receive cash assistance under
this Article and the income and assets of those persons in an
assistance unit which must be considered in determining
eligibility.
(c) The conditions of qualification herein specified shall
not prejudice aid granted under this Code for foster care
prior to the effective date of this 1969 Amendatory Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-408, eff. 8-17-01; 92-432, eff. 8-17-01.)

HB2694 - 19 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.2a) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2a)
Sec. 4-1.2a. Residents of public institutions. Residents
of municipal, county, state or national institutions for
persons with mental illness or persons with a developmental
disability or for the tuberculous, or residents of a home or
other institution maintained by such governmental bodies when
not in need of institutional care because of sickness,
convalescence, infirmity, or chronic illness, and inmates of
penal or correctional institutions maintained by such
governmental bodies, may qualify for aid under this Article
only after they have ceased to be residents or inmates.
A person shall not be deemed a resident of a State
institution for persons with mental illness or persons with a
developmental disability within the meaning of this Section if
he or she has been conditionally discharged by the Department
of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities or the
Department of Human Services (acting as successor to the
Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities)
and is no longer residing in the institution.
Recipients of benefits under this Article who become
residents of such institutions shall be permitted a period of
up to 30 days in such institutions without suspension or
termination of eligibility. Benefits for which such person is
eligible shall be restored, effective on the date of discharge
or release, for persons who are residents of institutions.

HB2694 - 20 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Within a reasonable time after the discharge of a person who
was a resident of an institution, the Department shall
redetermine the eligibility of such person.
The Department shall provide for procedures to expedite
the determination of incapacity or ability to engage in
employment of persons scheduled to be discharged from
facilities operated by the Department.
(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.6) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.6)
Sec. 4-1.6. Need.
(a) The assistance unit, as set forth in subsection (d) of
Section 4-1.2, shall be eligible for CASH if the assistance
unit has countable income as defined in subsection (b), at or
below 50% of the federal poverty level updated periodically in
the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).
(b) Countable income. In determining whether an assistance
unit has countable income at or below 50% of the federal
poverty level, the Department shall consider only income from
the following sources:
(1) wages and salaries of an employee;
(2) net earnings from self-employment;
(3) Social Security Retirement benefits;
(4) unemployment insurance benefits;
(5) pensions;

HB2694 - 21 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(6) dividends, interest, and royalties;
(7) spousal maintenance payments made pursuant to a
court order;
(8) payments provided to striking workers by a labor
union; and
(9) insurance payments made pursuant to a short-term
disability policy.
Income available to the family as defined by the Illinois
Department by rule, or to the child in the case of a child
removed from his or her home, when added to contributions in
money, substance or services from other sources, including
income available from parents absent from the home or from a
stepparent, contributions made for the benefit of the parent
or other persons necessary to provide care and supervision to
the child, and contributions from legally responsible
relatives, must be equal to or less than the grant amount
established by Department regulation for such a person. For
purposes of eligibility for aid under this Article, the
Department shall (a) disregard all earned income between the
grant amount and 50% of the Federal Poverty Level and (b)
disregard the value of all assets held by the family.
In considering income to be taken into account,
consideration shall be given to any expenses reasonably
attributable to the earning of such income. Three-fourths of
the earned income of a household eligible for aid under this
Article shall be disregarded when determining the level of

HB2694 - 22 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
assistance for which a household is eligible. All child
support, whether it be current support, past support owed, or
future support, that is collected on or after January 1, 2023
on behalf of a family shall be passed through to the family and
disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant
provided to the family under this Article. Any amount of child
support that would be disregarded in determining the amount of
the assistance grant shall be disregarded in determining
eligibility for cash assistance provided under this Article.
The Illinois Department may also permit all or any portion of
earned or other income to be set aside for the future
identifiable needs of a child. The Illinois Department may
provide by rule and regulation for the exemptions thus
permitted or required. The eligibility of any applicant for or
recipient of public aid under this Article is not affected by
the payment of any grant under the "Senior Citizens and
Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act" or any
distributions or items of income described under subparagraph
(X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 203 of the
Illinois Income Tax Act.
The Illinois Department may, by rule, set forth criteria
under which an assistance unit is ineligible for cash
assistance under this Article for a specified number of months
due to the receipt of a lump sum payment.
(Source: P.A. 102-1115, eff. 7-1-24.)

HB2694 - 23 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.6b)
Sec. 4-1.6b. Date for providing aid; employability
assessment.
(a) Except as set forth in subsection (c), the The
Department shall provide an eligibility determination to all
applicants for cash assistance under this Article financial
aid no more than 30 45 days after the date of application.
(b) During the first 45 days after the date of
application, the applicant shall undergo a thorough
employability assessment, in accordance with subsection (d) of
Section 9A-8 of this Code, and shall prepare a personal plan
for achieving employment and self-sufficiency in accordance
with Section 4-1 of this Code. The requirement to engage in
work-related activity may commence 30 days after the date of
application.
(b) Cash assistance (c) Financial aid under this Article
shall be authorized effective 30 days after the date of
application, and immediately provided to the assistance unit
if the assistance unit is determined to be eligible. provided
that the applicant is eligible on that date.
(c) Expedited processing. Assistance units with zero
dollars of countable income as set forth in subsection (b) of
Section 4-1.6 shall be entitled to expedited processing of the
assistance unit's initial application. For assistance units
entitled to expedited processing, the Department shall provide
a determination of eligibility no later than 5 days after the

HB2694 - 24 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
date of application. For assistance units determined to be
eligible through expedited processing, cash assistance under
this Article shall be authorized and provided to the
assistance unit no later than 5 days after the date of
application.
(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10; 97-683, eff. 7-1-12.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.6c new)
Sec. 4-1.6c. Budgeting countable income.
(a) The Department shall use the estimated monthly income
of the assistance unit to determine income eligibility for
CASH. All applicants, and recipients whose eligibility is
being redetermined under Section 4-2.3, shall have their
income and attendant circumstances budgeted prospectively.
Estimated monthly income shall be further defined by the
Department by rule, subject to the provisions of this Article.
(b) In determining the eligibility of the assistance unit,
the Department shall consider only the countable income, as
set forth in subsection (b) of Section 4-1.6, of members of the
assistance unit, as set forth in subsection (d) of Section
4-1.2. The countable income of persons living with members of
the assistance unit, but who are not themselves members of the
assistance unit, shall not be considered.
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.13 new)
Sec. 4-1.13. Citizenship; immigration status.

HB2694 - 25 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(a) Cash assistance under this Article shall be made
available to assistance units eligible under Sections 4-1.1
through 4.1.6, regardless of the citizenship or immigration
status of any members of the assistance unit or any persons
with whom members of the assistance unit are living.
(b) The Department shall not attempt to verify the
citizenship or immigration status of eligible assistance
units, unless the household has also submitted an application
for benefits in addition to CASH, where verifying citizenship
or immigration status is necessary to determine eligibility
for such benefits under this Code or federal law.
(305 ILCS 5/4-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-2)
Sec. 4-2. Amount of aid.
(a) The amount of cash assistance that shall be paid to
eligible assistance units under this Article is equal to 40%
of the federal poverty level, updated periodically in the
Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2), based on
the number of persons included in the assistance unit as set
forth in Section 4-1.2(d). The amount of assistance is equal
to 40% of the federal poverty level, regardless of the amount
of countable income of the assistance unit below the income
eligibility limit as set forth in subsection (a) of Section
4-1.6. During the certification period, as set forth in
Section 4-2.2, the amount of cash assistance shall be divided

HB2694 - 26 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
into 12 installments with one installment provided to the
assistance unit each calendar month. and nature of financial
aid shall be determined in accordance with the grant amounts,
rules and regulations of the Illinois Department. Due regard
shall be given to the self-sufficiency requirements of the
family and to the income, money contributions and other
support and resources available, from whatever source.
However, the amount and nature of any financial aid is not
affected by the payment of any grant under the "Senior
Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief
Act" or any distributions or items of income described under
subparagraph (X) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section
203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act. The aid shall be
sufficient, when added to all other income, money
contributions and support to provide the family with a grant
in the amount established by Department regulation.
(a-5) For the purposes of this subsection, TANF grant
amounts shall consist of the following portions:
(1) 75% shall be designated for the child or children
of the assistance unit; and
(2) 25% shall be designated for the adult member or
members of the assistance unit.
(b) The Illinois Department may conduct special projects,
which may be known as Grant Diversion Projects, under which
recipients of financial aid under this Article are placed in
jobs and their grants are diverted to the employer who in turn

HB2694 - 27 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
makes payments to the recipients in the form of salary or other
employment benefits. The Illinois Department shall by rule
specify the terms and conditions of such Grant Diversion
Projects. Such projects shall take into consideration and be
coordinated with the programs administered under the Illinois
Emergency Employment Development Act.
(c) The amount and nature of the financial aid for a child
requiring care outside his own home shall be determined in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois
Department, with due regard to the needs and requirements of
the child in the foster home or institution in which he has
been placed.
(d) If the Department establishes grants for family units
consisting exclusively of a pregnant woman with no dependent
child or including her husband if living with her, the grant
amount for such a unit shall be equal to the grant amount for
an assistance unit consisting of one adult, or 2 persons if the
husband is included. Other than as herein described, an unborn
child shall not be counted in determining the size of an
assistance unit or for calculating grants.
Payments for basic maintenance requirements of a child or
children and the relative with whom the child or children are
living shall be prescribed, by rule, by the Illinois
Department.
Grants under this Article shall not be supplemented by
General Assistance provided under Article VI.

HB2694 - 28 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(b) Cash assistance (e) Grants shall be paid to the
designated caretaker relative as set forth in Section 4-1.2.
parent or other person with whom the child or children are
living, except for such amount as is paid in behalf of the
child or his parent or other relative to other persons or
agencies pursuant to this Code or the rules and regulations of
the Illinois Department.
(c) The amount of cash assistance shall not vary on the
basis of the applicant assistance unit's county of residence.
(f) Subject to subsection (f-5), an assistance unit,
receiving financial aid under this Article or temporarily
ineligible to receive aid under this Article under a penalty
imposed by the Illinois Department for failure to comply with
the eligibility requirements or that voluntarily requests
termination of financial assistance under this Article and
becomes subsequently eligible for assistance within 9 months,
shall not receive any increase in the amount of aid solely on
account of the birth of a child; except that an increase is not
prohibited when the birth is (i) of a child of a pregnant woman
who became eligible for aid under this Article during the
pregnancy, or (ii) of a child born within 10 months after the
date of implementation of this subsection, or (iii) of a child
conceived after a family became ineligible for assistance due
to income or marriage and at least 3 months of ineligibility
expired before any reapplication for assistance. This
subsection does not, however, prevent a unit from receiving a

HB2694 - 29 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
general increase in the amount of aid that is provided to all
recipients of aid under this Article.
The Illinois Department is authorized to transfer funds,
and shall use any budgetary savings attributable to not
increasing the grants due to the births of additional
children, to supplement existing funding for employment and
training services for recipients of aid under this Article IV.
The Illinois Department shall target, to the extent the
supplemental funding allows, employment and training services
to the families who do not receive a grant increase after the
birth of a child. In addition, the Illinois Department shall
provide, to the extent the supplemental funding allows, such
families with up to 24 months of transitional child care
pursuant to Illinois Department rules. All remaining
supplemental funds shall be used for employment and training
services or transitional child care support.
In making the transfers authorized by this subsection, the
Illinois Department shall first determine, pursuant to
regulations adopted by the Illinois Department for this
purpose, the amount of savings attributable to not increasing
the grants due to the births of additional children. Transfers
may be made from General Revenue Fund appropriations for
distributive purposes authorized by Article IV of this Code
only to General Revenue Fund appropriations for employability
development services including operating and administrative
costs and related distributive purposes under Article IXA of

HB2694 - 30 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
this Code. The Director, with the approval of the Governor,
shall certify the amount and affected line item appropriations
to the State Comptroller.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit
the Illinois Department from using funds under this Article IV
to provide assistance in the form of vouchers that may be used
to pay for goods and services deemed by the Illinois
Department, by rule, as suitable for the care of the child such
as diapers, clothing, school supplies, and cribs.
(f-5) Subsection (f) shall not apply to affect the monthly
assistance amount of any family as a result of the birth of a
child on or after January 1, 2004. As resources permit after
January 1, 2004, the Department may cease applying subsection
(f) to limit assistance to families receiving assistance under
this Article on January 1, 2004, with respect to children born
prior to that date. In any event, subsection (f) shall be
completely inoperative on and after July 1, 2007.
(g) (Blank).
(d) (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code,
the Illinois Department is authorized to suspend acceptance of
new applications for CASH and suspend redeterminations of
eligibility for CASH reduce payment levels used to determine
cash grants under this Article after December 31 of any fiscal
year if the Illinois Department determines that the caseload
upon which the appropriations for the current fiscal year are
based have increased by more than 5% and the appropriation is

HB2694 - 31 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
not sufficient to ensure that cash benefits under this Article
do not exceed the amounts appropriated for those cash
benefits. The suspension of applications or redeterminations
Reductions in payment levels may be accomplished by emergency
rule under Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative
Procedure Act, except that the limitation on the number of
emergency rules that may be adopted in a 24-month period shall
not apply and the provisions of Sections 5-115 and 5-125 of the
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act shall not apply.
Increases in payment levels shall be accomplished only in
accordance with Section 5-40 of the Illinois Administrative
Procedure Act. Before any rule to increase payment levels
promulgated under this Section shall become effective, a joint
resolution approving the rule must be adopted by a roll call
vote by a majority of the members elected to each chamber of
the General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 101-103, eff. 7-19-19.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-2.1 new)
Sec. 4-2.1. Application.
(a) To receive CASH under this Article, assistance units
must submit an application.
(b) The Department shall make applications for CASH
available to the public immediately upon the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. The
Department shall integrate the application for CASH into the

HB2694 - 32 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
combined Application for Benefits Eligibility, or any other
system that the Department may use in the future to allow
applications for multiple forms of assistance. The Department
shall make paper applications for CASH available at all local
offices. In addition to the methods set forth above, the
Department may develop other methods by which to accept
applications for CASH.
(c) For households applying only for CASH, the application
shall include a request for only such information as required
to verify eligibility for CASH under this Article.
(d) In verifying the income eligibility of the assistance
unit, the Department shall make reasonable efforts to limit
the verification documentation from the applicant assistance
unit. Department efforts shall include but are not limited to:
(1) utilizing any and all electronic data sources
already available to the Department for purposes of
assessing eligibility for benefits, subject to any
restrictions in State or federal law, including, but not
limited to:
(i) income tax information;
(ii) unearned income, retirement benefits, and
other relevant information maintained by the Social
Security Administration;
(iii) employer reports of income and unemployment
insurance payment information maintained by the
Department of Employment Security;

HB2694 - 33 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(iv) wage reporting and similar information
maintained by states contiguous to this State;
(v) employment information maintained by the
Department of Employment Security in its New Hire
Directory database;
(vi) employment information maintained by the
United States Department of Health and Human Services
in its National Directory of New Hires database;
(vii) veterans' benefits information maintained by
the United States Department of Health and Human
Services, in coordination with the Department of
Health and Human Services and the Department of
Veterans' Affairs, in the federal Public Assistance
Reporting Information System (PARIS) database;
(viii) residency information maintained by the
Illinois Secretary of State; and
(ix) a database which is substantially similar to
or a successor of a database described in this Section
that contains information relevant for verifying
eligibility;
(2) utilizing income eligibility information submitted
by members of the assistance unit pursuant to the
assistance unit's application or redetermination of other
benefits administered by the Department, subject to any
restrictions in State or federal law, including, but not
limited to:

HB2694 - 34 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(i) Aid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD)
under Article III;
(ii) Medical Assistance under Article V;
(iii) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP);
(iv) the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);
(v) the Child Care Assistance Program under
Article IX; and
(vi) benefits for foreign-born victims of
trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes under
Article XVI.
(e) The Department shall adopt a reasonable compatibility
test for determining if the amount of countable income
reported by the applicant assistance unit is reasonably
compatible with income the Department has verified
electronically or from other sources, including, but not
limited to, those set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection
(d). Reported income is reasonably compatible with
electronically verified income when the Federal Poverty Level
(FPL), updated periodically in the Federal Register by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the
authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2), of the income reported on the
application or redetermination of eligibility form is within
5% of the federal poverty level of countable income
verification obtained by the Department electronically or from

HB2694 - 35 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
another data source.
(1) If the countable income reported by the applicant
assistance unit, or recipient assistance unit during a
redetermination of eligibility, is in an amount less than
or equal to 50% of the Federal Poverty Level, and the
reported countable income is reasonably compatible with
countable income the Department has verified
electronically or from other sources, additional
verification of income shall not be requested of the
assistance unit, and the Department shall finalize the
determination of eligibility.
(2) If the countable income reported by the applicant
assistance unit, or recipient assistance unit during a
redetermination of eligibility, is in an amount less than
or equal to 50% of the Federal Poverty Level, and the
reported countable income is not reasonably compatible
with countable income the Department has verified
electronically or from other sources, additional
verification of income shall be requested of the
assistance unit.
(3) If the countable income reported by the applicant
assistance unit, or recipient assistance unit during a
redetermination of eligibility, is in an amount greater
than 50% of the Federal Poverty Level, and the reported
countable income is reasonably compatible with countable
income the Department has verified electronically or from

HB2694 - 36 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
other sources, where the countable income the Department
has verified electronically or from other sources is in an
amount less than or equal to 50% of the Federal Poverty
Level, additional verification of income shall be
requested of the assistance unit.
(4) If the countable income reported by the applicant
assistance unit, or recipient assistance unit during a
redetermination of eligibility, is in an amount greater
than 50% of the Federal Poverty Level, but less than or
equal to 55% of the Federal Poverty Level, and the
countable income the Department has verified
electronically or from other sources is also in an amount
greater than 50% of the Federal Poverty Level, additional
verification of countable income shall be requested of the
applicant assistance unit.
(5) If the countable income reported by the applicant
assistance unit, or recipient assistance unit during a
redetermination of eligibility, is in an amount greater
than 55% of the Federal Poverty Level, and the countable
income the Department has verified electronically or from
other sources is also in an amount greater than 50% of the
Federal Poverty Level, additional verification of income
shall not be requested of the applicant assistance unit
and the Department shall finalize the determination of
ineligibility.
(f) Assistance units must cooperate in the determination

HB2694 - 37 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
of eligibility for CASH. When the Department is not in
possession of reliable or reasonably compatible information
sufficient to verify the eligibility of the assistance unit,
and the assistance unit is unwilling or fails to provide
additional verification or to consent to verification, the
application will be denied.
(305 ILCS 5/4-2.2 new)
Sec. 4-2.2. Certification period.
(a) Assistance units deemed eligible to receive CASH
either at the point of initial application, as set forth in
Section 4-2.1, or following a redetermination of eligibility,
as set forth in Section 4-2.3, shall be certified to receive
monthly cash installments as set forth in subsection (a) of
Section 4-2 for a period of 12 months.
(b) Assistance units certified as eligible for CASH shall
receive monthly cash installments during the 12-month
certification period regardless of changes in household
circumstances, such as increased countable income or a change
in the composition of the assistance unit.
(c) Assistance units shall not be obligated to report to
the Department any changes in circumstances until the
eligibility of the assistance unit is redetermined as set
forth in Section 4-2.3.
The assistance unit may report changes in circumstances to
the Department where those changes would result in an increase

HB2694 - 38 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
in the amount of cash assistance as set forth in Section 4-2,
such as the birth of a child. Upon receiving a report from an
assistance unit that would result in an increase in the
benefits of the assistance unit, the Department shall reassess
the amount of assistance under Section 4-2 and issue the
increased allotments beginning from the date of the reported
change.
(305 ILCS 5/4-2.3 new)
Sec. 4-2.3. Redetermination of eligibility.
(a) A redetermination of the eligibility of each
assistance unit receiving CASH shall be conducted before the
end of the 12-month certification period. It is the
Department's responsibility to determine the continued
eligibility of all assistance units receiving CASH and it is
the responsibility of the assistance unit to cooperate in the
redetermination of eligibility.
(b) In redetermining the eligibility of the assistance
unit, the Department shall request only such information as
required to verify continued eligibility for CASH under this
Article.
(c) Just as with the determination of eligibility at the
point of application as set forth in Section 4-2.1, in
redetermining the income eligibility of the assistance unit,
the Department shall make reasonable efforts to limit the
verification documentation from the assistance unit and apply

HB2694 - 39 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
the reasonable compatibility test for countable income set
forth in subsection (e) of Section 4-2.1. The Department shall
make reasonable efforts to provide assistance units with
redetermination forms that are pre-populated with reliable and
timely information, including updated information related to
countable income, that is accessible to the Department without
the cooperation of the assistance unit.
(d) If additional information is necessary to redetermine
the eligibility of the assistance unit, the Department shall
make a request of that information from the household. The
assistance unit's failure to produce the requested information
in a timely manner will result in a termination of
eligibility.
(e) When information of a change in an assistance unit's
circumstances is received by the Department and the review and
application of that information would result in a decision
that an assistance unit is eligible for an increased amount of
financial assistance, the Department shall provide the
increased amount of assistance payment no later than 30
calendar days from the date that the Department initially
received the information.
(305 ILCS 5/4-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-4)
Sec. 4-4. Entitlement to medical assistance.
(a) Children and adults qualified for cash assistance
under this Article aid shall be entitled to receive, under

HB2694 - 40 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Article V, all necessary medical assistance under Article V.
(b) Adults qualified for cash assistance under this
Article who are not enrolled in medical assistance under
Article V and who have not submitted an application for
medical assistance under Article V shall be notified by the
Department of their potential eligibility for medical
assistance under Article V and provided information on how to
apply.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-9)
Sec. 4-9. Protective payment to substitute payee. If the
parent or designated caretaker relative becomes absent from
the home or is otherwise unable to manage the cash assistance
on behalf of the child or children in the assistance unit, the
Department other grantee relative persistently mismanages the
grant to the detriment of the child and the family but there is
reason to believe that, with specialized counseling and
guidance services, the parent or relative may develop ability
to manage the funds properly, the County Department, in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois
Department, may designate a person who is interested in or
concerned with the welfare of the child and its family as a
substitute payee to receive the cash assistance aid payment on
behalf of the assistance unit family. The County Department
may designate private welfare or social service agencies to

HB2694 - 41 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
serve as substitute payees in appropriate cases.
The substitute payee shall serve without compensation and
assume the obligation of seeing that the cash assistance aid
payment is expended for the benefit of the child and the
family. The substitute payee He may spend the grant for the
family, or supervise the parent or other relative in the use of
the grant, depending upon the circumstances in each case, and
shall make monthly reports to the County Department as the
County Department and the Illinois Department may require.
The County Department shall terminate the protective
payment when it is no longer necessary to assure that the grant
is being used for the welfare of the child and family, or when
the parent or other relative is no longer receiving and no
longer requires treatment for substance use disorders, mental
health services, or other special care or treatment.
A substitute payee may be removed, in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the Illinois Department, for
unsatisfactory service. The removal may be effected without
hearing. The decision shall not be appealable to the Illinois
Department nor shall it be reviewable in the courts.
The County Department shall conduct periodic reviews as
may be required by the Illinois Department to determine
whether there is a continuing need for a protective payment.
If it appears that the need for the payment is likely to
continue beyond a reasonable period, the County Department
shall take one of the other actions set out in Section 4-8.

HB2694 - 42 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
The parent or other relative shall be advised, in advance
of a determination to make a protective payment, that he may
appeal the decision to the Illinois Department under the
provisions of Section 11-8 of Article XI.
(Source: P.A. 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-12) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-12)
Sec. 4-12. Crisis assistance. Where a family has been (1)
rendered homeless or threatened with homelessness by fire,
flood, other natural disaster, eviction or court order to
vacate the premises for reasons other than nonpayment of rent,
or where a family has become homeless because they have left
their residence due to domestic or sexual violence; (1.5)
deprived of the household's income as a result of domestic or
sexual violence; (2) deprived of essential items of furniture
or essential clothing by fire or flood or other natural
disaster; (3) deprived of food as a result of actions other
than loss or theft of cash and where the deprivation cannot be
promptly alleviated through the federal food stamp program;
(4) as a result of a documented theft or documented loss of
cash, deprived of food or essential clothing or deprived of
shelter or immediately threatened with deprivation of shelter
as evidenced by a court order requiring immediate eviction due
to nonpayment of rent; or (5) rendered the victim of such other
hardships as the Illinois Department shall by rule define, the
Illinois Department may provide assistance to alleviate such

HB2694 - 43 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
needs. The Illinois Department shall verify need and determine
eligibility for crisis assistance for families already
receiving grants from the Illinois Department within 5 working
days following application for such assistance and shall
determine eligibility for all other families and afford such
assistance for families found eligible within such time limits
as the Illinois Department shall by rule provide. The Illinois
Department may, by rule, limit crisis assistance to an
eligible family to once in any 12 consecutive months. This
limitation may be made for some or all items of crisis
assistance.
The Illinois Department by regulation shall specify the
criteria for determining eligibility and the amount and nature
of assistance to be provided. The Department shall not limit
eligibility for crisis assistance based on the employment
status of the assistance unit. Where deprivation of shelter
exists or is threatened, the Illinois Department may provide
reasonable moving expenses, short term rental costs, including
one month's rent and a security deposit where such expenses
are needed for relocation, and, where the Department
determines appropriate, provide assistance to prevent an
imminent eviction or foreclosure. These amounts may be
described in established amounts or maximums. The Illinois
Department may also describe, for each form of assistance
authorized, the method by which the assistance shall be
delivered, including but not limited to warrants or disbursing

HB2694 - 44 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
orders.
Annual expenditures under this Section shall not exceed
$2,000,000. The Illinois Department shall review such
expenditures quarterly and shall, if necessary, reduce the
amounts or nature of assistance authorized in order to assure
that the limit is not exceeded.
(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-22)
Sec. 4-22. Domestic and sexual violence.
(a) The initial application assessment process set forth
under Section 4-2.1 to develop the personal plan for achieving
self-sufficiency shall include a question or set of questions
that screen for domestic and sexual violence issues.
Accompanying these questions shall be a statement notifying
the applicant that their answers to these questions will not
impact their eligibility for CASH. If the individual indicates
that he or she is the victim of domestic or sexual violence and
further indicates a need to address domestic or sexual
violence issues, the Department shall take in order to reach
self-sufficiency, the plan shall take this factor into account
in determining the work, education, and training activities
suitable to the client for achieving self-sufficiency. In
addition, in such a case, specific steps needed to directly
address the domestic or sexual violence issues may also be
made part of the plan, including referral to an available

HB2694 - 45 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
domestic or sexual violence program. Assistance under this
Article shall not be conditioned on participation in a
domestic or sexual violence program. The Department shall
conduct an individualized assessment and grant waivers of
program requirements and other required activities for victims
of domestic violence to the fullest extent allowed by 42
U.S.C. 602(a)(7)(A), and shall apply the same laws,
regulations, and policies to victims of sexual violence. The
duration of such waivers shall be initially determined and
subsequently redetermined on a case-by-case basis. There shall
be no limitation on the total number of months for which
waivers under this Section may be granted, but continuing
eligibility for a waiver shall be redetermined no less often
than every 6 months.
(b) The Illinois Department shall develop and monitor
compliance procedures for its employees, contractors, and
subcontractors to ensure that any information pertaining to
any member of an assistance unit client who claims to be a past
or present victim of domestic violence or an individual at
risk of further domestic violence, whether provided by the
victim or by a third party, will remain confidential.
(c) The Illinois Department shall develop and implement a
domestic violence training curriculum for Illinois Department
employees who serve applicants for and recipients of aid under
this Article. The curriculum shall be designed to better equip
those employees to identify and serve domestic violence

HB2694 - 46 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
victims. The Illinois Department may enter into a contract for
the development of the curriculum with one or more
organizations providing services to domestic violence victims.
The Illinois Department shall adopt rules necessary to
implement this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 96-866, eff. 7-1-10.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-23)
Sec. 4-23. Civil rights impact statement.
(a) The Department of Human Services must submit to the
Governor and the General Assembly on January 1 of each
even-numbered year a written report that details the disparate
impact of various provisions of the CASH TANF program on
people of different racial or ethnic groups who identify
themselves in an application for benefits as any of the
following:
(1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person having
origins in any of the original peoples of North and South
America, including Central America, and who maintains
tribal affiliation or community attachment).
(2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the
Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited to,
Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan,
the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam).
(3) Black or African American (a person having origins

HB2694 - 47 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
(4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban, Mexican,
Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish
culture or origin, regardless of race).
(5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
person having origins in any of the original peoples of
Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
(6) White (a person having origins in any of the
original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North
Africa).
(b) The report must at least compare the number of persons
in each group:
(1) who are receiving CASH TANF assistance;
(2) whose 60-month lifetime limit on receiving
assistance has expired;
(2) who were no longer eligible for CASH at the end of
their 12-month certification period (3) who have left TANF
due to increased earned income;
(4) who have left TANF due to non-compliance with
program rules;
(5) whose TANF grants have been reduced by sanctions
for non-compliance with program rules;
(3) (6) who have returned to CASH within TANF 6 months
after being determined no longer eligible for CASH at the
end of their most recent 12-month certification period
leaving due to increased earned income; and

HB2694 - 48 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(4) (7) who have returned to CASH within TANF 12
months after being determined no longer eligible for CASH
at the end of their most recent 12-month certification
period leaving due to increased earned income. ;
(8) who have one or more children excluded from
receiving TANF cash assistance due to the child exclusion
rule;
(9) who have been granted an exemption from work
requirements; and
(10) who are participating in post-secondary education
activities.
(Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-24 new)
Sec. 4-24. Transition of assistance units from TANF to
CASH.
(a) On the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
104th General Assembly, the Department shall immediately apply
the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 104th General
Assembly to assistance units receiving assistance under this
Article, such that households do not experience an
interruption of assistance.
(b) Households receiving TANF assistance on the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly
shall not be required to newly apply for CASH. The Department
shall redetermine the assistance unit's eligibility for CASH

HB2694 - 49 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
as set forth in Section 4-2.3 at a time that is 12 months after
the date of the assistance unit's most recent eligibility
determination for TANF, prior to the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.
(305 ILCS 5/4-25 new)
Sec. 4-25. Rules. The Department shall adopt any rules
necessary to implement the changes made to this Article by
this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. In adopting
rules implementing the program, the Department shall make
reasonable efforts to promote access and limit administrative
burdens on applicants and participating assistance units.
(305 ILCS 5/6-1.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.3)
Sec. 6-1.3. Utilization of aid available under other
provisions of Code. The person must have been determined
ineligible for aid under the federally funded programs to aid
refugees and Articles III, IV or V. Nothing in this Section
shall prevent the use of General Assistance funds to pay any
portion of the costs of care and maintenance in a residential
substance use disorder treatment program licensed by the
Department of Human Services, or in a County Nursing Home, or
in a private nursing home, retirement home or other facility
for the care of the elderly, of a person otherwise eligible to
receive General Assistance except for the provisions of this
paragraph.

HB2694 - 50 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
A person otherwise eligible for aid under the federally
funded programs to aid refugees or Articles III, IV or V who
fails or refuses to comply with provisions of this Code or
other laws, or rules and regulations of the Illinois
Department, which would qualify him for aid under those
programs or Articles, shall not receive General Assistance
under this Article nor shall any of his dependents whose
eligibility is contingent upon such compliance receive General
Assistance.
Persons and families who are ineligible for aid under
Article IV due to having received benefits under Article IV
for any maximum time limits set under the Illinois Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Plan shall not be
eligible for General Assistance under this Article unless the
Illinois Department or the local governmental unit, by rule,
specifies that those persons or families may be eligible.
(Source: P.A. 100-759, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)
(305 ILCS 5/8A-18)
Sec. 8A-18. Application assistance fraud; SNAP; AABD; CASH
TANF. It is a Class C misdemeanor for any person, including an
individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, or
joint venture, or any employee or agent of any of those, to
assist or represent another person in completing or submitting
an application for benefits under the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the State's Aid to the

HB2694 - 51 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Aged, Blind, or Disabled (AABD) program, or the State's Cash
Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, in exchange for
a portion of the applicant's SNAP, AABD, or CASH TANF benefits
or cash or any other form of payment from any other source. An
applicant who receives such assistance or representation is
not in violation of this Section. Nothing in this Section
shall be construed as prohibiting an applicant from receiving
such assistance or representation when appealing a denial of
an application for SNAP, AABD, or CASH TANF benefits.
(Source: P.A. 98-931, eff. 8-15-14.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-3)
Sec. 9A-3. Establishment of Program and Level of Services.
(a) The Illinois Department shall establish and maintain a
program to provide recipients with services to promote their
economic stability and well-being consistent with the purposes
and provisions of this Article. The program offered in
different counties of the State may vary depending on the
resources available to the State to provide a program under
this Article, and no program may be offered in some counties,
depending on the resources available. Services may be provided
directly by the Illinois Department or through contract.
References to the Illinois Department or staff of the Illinois
Department shall include contractors when the Illinois
Department has entered into contracts for these purposes. The

HB2694 - 52 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Illinois Department shall make provide each recipient who
participates with such services available to each recipient
under the program as are necessary to achieve his
employability plan as specified in the plan.
(b) The Illinois Department, in operating the program,
shall cooperate with public and private education and
vocational training or retraining agencies or facilities, the
Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Community
College Board, the Departments of Employment Security and
Commerce and Economic Opportunity or other sponsoring
organizations funded under the federal Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act and other public or licensed private
employment agencies.
(Source: P.A. 100-477, eff. 9-8-17.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-4)
Sec. 9A-4. Participation.
(a) Participation in, or cooperation with, any program or
service provided under this Article shall not be a condition
of eligibility for receipt of assistance under Article IV.
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to require
recipients to participate to be eligible for assistance under
Article IV. The Department shall inform all applicants and
recipients of assistance under Article IV that the recipient's
participation in, or cooperation with, any program or service
provided under this Article is not required to be eligible

HB2694 - 53 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
for, or maintain, assistance under Article IV. Programs and
services will be offered to recipients who wish to volunteer
to participate only to the extent resources permit. Except for
those exempted under subsection (b) below, and to the extent
resources permit, the Illinois Department as a condition of
eligibility for public aid, may, as provided by rule, require
all recipients to participate in an education, training, and
employment program, which shall include accepting suitable
employment and refraining from terminating employment or
reducing earnings without good cause.
(b) Recipients shall be exempt from the requirement of
participation in the education, training, and employment
program in the following circumstances:
(1) The recipient is a person over age 60; or
(2) The recipient is a person with a child under age
one.
Recipients are entitled to request a reasonable
modification to the requirement of participation in the
education, training and employment program in order to
accommodate a qualified individual with a disability as
defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for a
reasonable modification shall be evaluated on a case-by-case
functional basis by designated staff based on Department rule.
All such requests shall be monitored as part of the agency's
quality assurance process or processes to attest to the
expediency with which such requests are addressed.

HB2694 - 54 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Implementation of the changes made to this Section by this
amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly is subject to
appropriation.
(Source: P.A. 94-629, eff. 1-1-06.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8)
Sec. 9A-8. Operation of program.
(a) At the time of application or redetermination of
eligibility under Article IV, as determined by rule, the
Illinois Department shall provide information in writing and
orally regarding the availability of the education, training
and employment program to all applicants and recipients. The
information required shall be established by rule and shall
include, but need not be limited to:
(1) education (including literacy training),
employment and training opportunities available, the
criteria for approval of those opportunities, and the
right to request changes in the personal responsibility
and services plan to include those opportunities;
(1.1) a complete list of all activities that are
available approvable activities, and the circumstances
under which they are approvable, including work
activities, substance use disorder or mental health
treatment, activities to escape and prevent domestic
violence, additional supports available for caring for a
medically impaired family member, and any other approvable

HB2694 - 55 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
activities, together with the right to and procedures for
amending the responsibility and services plan to include
these activities;
(1.2) the rules concerning the lifetime limit on
eligibility, including the current status of the applicant
or recipient in terms of the months of remaining
eligibility, the criteria under which a month will not
count towards the lifetime limit, and the criteria under
which a recipient may receive benefits beyond the end of
the lifetime limit;
(2) supportive services including child care and the
rules regarding eligibility for and access to the child
care assistance program, transportation, initial expenses
of employment, job retention, books and fees, and any
other supportive services;
(3) the obligation of the Department to provide
supportive services;
(4) the rights and responsibilities of participants,
including exemption, sanction, reconciliation, and good
cause criteria and procedures, termination for
non-cooperation and reinstatement rules and procedures,
and appeal and grievance procedures; and
(4) (5) the types and locations of child care
services; and .
(5) notice to the client that participation with any
program or service offered as part of the education,

HB2694 - 56 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
training, and employment program is not required to
receive assistance under Article IV.
(b) The Illinois Department shall notify the recipient in
writing of the opportunity to volunteer to participate in the
program.
(c) (Blank).
(d) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment
and self-sufficiency, the Department shall conduct an
individualized assessment of the participant's employability.
No participant may be assigned to any component of the
education, training and employment activity prior to such
assessment. The plan shall include collection of information
on the individual's background, proficiencies, skills
deficiencies, education level, work history, employment goals,
interests, aptitudes, and employment preferences, as well as
factors affecting employability or ability to meet
participation requirements (e.g., health, physical or mental
limitations, child care, family circumstances, domestic
violence, sexual violence, substance use disorders, and
special needs of any child of the individual). As part of the
plan, individuals and Department staff shall work together to
identify any supportive service needs required to enable the
client to participate and meet the objectives of his or her
employability plan. The assessment may be conducted through
various methods such as interviews, testing, counseling, and
self-assessment instruments. In the assessment process, the

HB2694 - 57 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Department shall offer to include standard literacy testing
and a determination of English language proficiency and shall
provide it for those who accept the offer. Based on the
assessment, the individual will be assigned to the appropriate
activity. The decision will be based on a determination of the
individual's level of preparation for employment as defined by
rule.
(e) Recipients determined to be exempt may volunteer to
participate pursuant to Section 9A-4 and must be assessed.
(f) As part of the personal plan for achieving employment
and self-sufficiency under Section 4-1, an employability plan
for recipients shall be developed in consultation with the
participant. The Department shall have final responsibility
for approving the employability plan. The employability plan
shall:
(1) contain an employment goal of the participant;
(2) describe the services to be provided by the
Department, including child care and other support
services;
(3) describe the activities, such as component
assignment, that will be undertaken by the participant to
achieve the employment goal. The Department shall treat
participation in high school and high school equivalency
programs as a core activity and count participation in
high school and high school equivalency programs toward
the first 20 hours per week of participation. The

HB2694 - 58 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Department shall approve participation in high school or
high school equivalency programs upon written or oral
request of the participant if he or she has not already
earned a high school diploma or a State of Illinois High
School Diploma. However, participation in high school or
high school equivalency programs may be delayed as part of
an applicant's or recipient's personal plan for achieving
employment and self-sufficiency if it is determined that
the benefit from participating in another activity, such
as, but not limited to, treatment for a substance use
disorder or an English proficiency program, would be
greater to the applicant or recipient than participation
in high school or a high school equivalency program. The
availability of high school and high school equivalency
programs may also delay enrollment in those programs. The
Department shall treat such activities as a core activity
as long as satisfactory progress is made, as determined by
the high school or high school equivalency program. Proof
of satisfactory progress shall be provided by the
participant or the school at the end of each academic
term; and
(4) describe any other needs of the family that might
be met by the Department.
(g) The employability plan shall take into account:
(1) available program resources;
(2) the participant's support service needs;

HB2694 - 59 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(3) the participant's skills level and aptitudes;
(4) local employment opportunities; and
(5) the preferences of the participant.
(h) A reassessment shall be conducted to assess a
participant's progress and to review the employability plan on
the following occasions:
(1) upon completion of an activity and before
assignment to an activity;
(2) upon the request of the participant;
(3) if the individual is not cooperating with the
requirements of the program; and
(4) if the individual has failed to make satisfactory
progress in an education or training program.
Based on the reassessment, the Department may revise the
employability plan of the participant.
(Source: P.A. 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-8.1)
Sec. 9A-8.1. Improvement of information to applicants and
recipients. The Illinois Department shall annually review all
procedures and written materials that it has in place for
purposes of compliance with subsection (a) of Section 9A-8 and
Section 11-20.1 requiring the Illinois Department to provide
full and timely information to applicants and recipients of
cash assistance aid under Article IV of this Code about their
opportunities and , rights and responsibilities under the CASH

HB2694 - 60 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and related
programs and services administered under this Article. As part
of this annual review, the Illinois Department shall provide
copies of all procedures and materials to the Family Self
Sufficiency Advisory Council or any successor advisory body
containing a similar number and assortment of advocates,
providers, contractors, clients, and citizens. The Family Self
Sufficiency Advisory Council or successor advisory body shall
review the existing procedures and materials in light of
program rules, recent changes in the law or rules, and
experience in the field, and it shall suggest changes to the
Illinois Department. The Illinois Department shall produce new
or revised procedures and materials, or ratify the existing
ones, for use beginning each October 1. If the Illinois
Department rejects changes suggested by the Family Self
Sufficiency Advisory Council, it shall explain the reasons in
a written response.
(Source: P.A. 91-331, eff. 7-29-99.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9)
Sec. 9A-9. Program Activities. The Department shall
establish education, training and placement activities by
rule. Not all of the same activities need be provided in each
county in the State. Such activities may include the
following:
(a) Education (Below post secondary). In the Education

HB2694 - 61 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(below post secondary) activity, the individual receives
information, referral, counseling services and support
services to increase the individual's employment potential.
Participants may be referred to testing, counseling and
education resources. Educational activities will include basic
and remedial education; English proficiency classes; high
school or its equivalency or alternative education at the
secondary level; and with any educational program, structured
study time to enhance successful participation. An
individual's participation in an education program such as
literacy, basic adult education, high school equivalency, or a
remedial program shall be limited to 2 years unless the
individual also is working or participating in a work activity
approved by the Illinois Department as defined by rule; this
requirement does not apply, however, to students enrolled in
high school.
(b) Job Skills Training (Vocational). Job Skills Training
is designed to increase the individual's ability to obtain and
maintain employment. Job Skills Training activities will
include vocational skill classes designed to increase a
participant's ability to obtain and maintain employment. Job
Skills Training may include certificate programs.
(c) Job Readiness. The job readiness activity is designed
to enhance the quality of the individual's level of
participation in the world of work while learning the
necessary essentials to obtain and maintain employment. This

HB2694 - 62 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
activity helps individuals gain the necessary job finding
skills to help them find and retain employment that will lead
to economic independence.
(d) Job Search. Job Search may be conducted individually
or in groups. Job Search includes the provision of counseling,
job seeking skills training and information dissemination.
Group job search may include training in a group session.
Assignment exclusively to job search cannot be in excess of 8
consecutive weeks (or its equivalent) in any period of 12
consecutive months.
(e) Work Experience. Work Experience assignments may be
with private employers or not-for-profit or public agencies in
the State. The Illinois Department shall provide workers'
compensation coverage. Participants who are not members of a
2-parent assistance unit may not be assigned more hours than
their cash grant amount plus food stamps divided by the
minimum wage. Private employers and not-for-profit and public
agencies shall not use Work Experience participants to
displace regular employees. Participants in Work Experience
may perform work in the public interest (which otherwise meets
the requirements of this Section) for a federal office or
agency with its consent, and notwithstanding the provisions of
31 U.S.C. 1342, or any other provision of law, such agency may
accept such services, but participants shall not be considered
federal employees for any purpose. A participant shall be
reassessed at the end of assignment to Work Experience. The

HB2694 - 63 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
participant may be reassigned to Work Experience or assigned
to another activity, based on the reassessment.
(f) On the Job Training. In On the Job Training, a
participant is hired by a private or public employer and while
engaged in productive work receives training that provides
knowledge or skills essential to full and adequate performance
of the job.
(e) (g) Work Supplementation. In work supplementation, the
Department pays a wage subsidy to an employer who hires a
participant to work for a wage. In addition to wages through
work supplementation, the participant shall continue to
receive their cash assistance for the remainder of the
assistance units certification period as set forth in Section
4-2.2. The cash grant which a participant would receive if not
employed is diverted and the diverted cash grant is used to pay
the wage subsidy.
(f) (h) Post Secondary Education. Post secondary education
must be administered by an educational institution accredited
under requirements of State law.
(g) (i) Self Initiated Education. Participants who are
attending an institution of higher education or a vocational
or technical program of their own choosing and who are in good
standing, may continue to attend and receive supportive
services only if the educational program is approved by the
Department, and is in conformity with the participant's
personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency

HB2694 - 64 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
and the participant is employed part-time, as defined by the
Illinois Department by rule.
(h) (j) Job Development and Placement. Department staff
shall develop through contacts with public and private
employers unsubsidized job openings for participants. Job
interviews will be secured for clients by the marketing of
participants for specific job openings. For recipients
volunteering to participate with job development and placement
services offered by the Department, the Department may conduct
an individualized assessment of the participant's
employability to determine the job readiness of the recipient.
The assessment and the factors the Department will use to
determine the individual's level of preparation for
employment, shall be defined by rule. Job ready individuals
may be assigned to Job Development and Placement.
(i) (k) Job Retention. The job retention component is
designed to assist participants in retaining employment.
Initial employment expenses and job retention services are
provided. The individual's support service needs are assessed
and the individual receives counseling regarding job retention
skills.
(l) (Blank).
(j) (l-5) Transitional Jobs. These programs provide
temporary wage-paying work combined with case management and
other social services designed to address employment barriers.
The wage-paying work is treated as regular employment for all

HB2694 - 65 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
purposes under this Code, and the additional activities, as
determined by the Transitional Jobs provider, shall be
countable work activities. The program must comply with the
anti-displacement provisions of this Code governing the Work
Experience program.
(m) Pay-after-performance Program. A parent may be
required to participate in a pay-after-performance program in
which the parent must work a specified number of hours to earn
the grant. The program shall comply with provisions of this
Code governing work experience programs.
(n) Community Service. Community service includes unpaid
work that the client performs in his or her community, such as
for a school, church, government agency, or nonprofit
organization.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-10)
Sec. 9A-10. Support Services.
(a) The Illinois Department shall provide or pay for child
care and other support services, if otherwise unavailable, to
enable recipients to participate in or prepare for education,
training and employment programs authorized under this
Article. The Illinois Department shall provide and pay for
such support services in accordance with procedures, standards
and rates established by rule.
(b) Support services may include:

HB2694 - 66 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(1) transportation;
(2) child care;
(3) job search allowance;
(4) initial employment expenses;
(5) required books, fees, supplies; and
(6) required physical examinations and medical
services.
(c) Participation shall not be required to receive cash
assistance under Article IV. if support services are needed
for effective participation but unavailable from the
Department or some other reasonably available source. Support
services shall be made available to the participant at no
cost.
(Source: P.A. 86-1184; 86-1381; 87-860.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-11)
Sec. 9A-11. Child care.
(a) The General Assembly recognizes that families with
children need child care in order to work. Child care is
expensive and families with limited access to economic
resources, including those who are transitioning from welfare
to work, often struggle to pay the costs of day care. The
General Assembly understands the importance of helping working
families with limited access to economic resources meet their
basic needs. become and remain self-sufficient. The General
Assembly also believes that it is the responsibility of

HB2694 - 67 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
families to share in the costs of child care. It is also the
preference of the General Assembly that all working families
with limited access to economic resources should be treated
equally, regardless of their welfare status.
(b) To the extent resources permit, the Illinois
Department shall provide child care services to parents or
other relatives as defined by rule who are working or
participating in employment or Department approved education
or training programs. At a minimum, the Illinois Department
shall cover the following categories of families:
(1) recipients of CASH TANF under Article IV who are
working or voluntarily participating in work and training
activities as specified in Section 9A-9 the personal plan
for employment and self-sufficiency;
(2) families transitioning from TANF to work;
(2) (3) families at risk of becoming recipients of
CASH TANF;
(3) (4) families with special needs as defined by
rule;
(4) (5) working families with very low incomes as
defined by rule;
(5) (6) families that are not recipients of CASH TANF
and that need child care assistance to participate in
education and training activities;
(6) (7) youth in care, as defined in Section 4d of the
Children and Family Services Act, who are parents,

HB2694 - 68 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
regardless of income or whether they are working or
participating in Department-approved employment or
education or training programs. Any family that receives
child care assistance in accordance with this paragraph
shall receive one additional 12-month child care
eligibility period after the parenting youth in care's
case with the Department of Children and Family Services
is closed, regardless of income or whether the parenting
youth in care is working or participating in
Department-approved employment or education or training
programs;
(7) (8) families receiving Extended Family Support
Program services from the Department of Children and
Family Services, regardless of income or whether they are
working or participating in Department-approved employment
or education or training programs; and
(8) (9) families with children under the age of 5 who
have an open intact family services case with the
Department of Children and Family Services. Any family
that receives child care assistance in accordance with
this paragraph shall remain eligible for child care
assistance 6 months after the child's intact family
services case is closed, regardless of whether the child's
parents or other relatives as defined by rule are working
or participating in Department approved employment or
education or training programs. The Department of Early

HB2694 - 69 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Childhood, in consultation with the Department of Children
and Family Services, shall adopt rules to protect the
privacy of families who are the subject of an open intact
family services case when such families enroll in child
care services. Additional rules shall be adopted to offer
children who have an open intact family services case the
opportunity to receive an Early Intervention screening and
other services that their families may be eligible for as
provided by the Department of Human Services.
Beginning October 1, 2027, and every October 1 thereafter,
the Department of Children and Family Services shall report to
the General Assembly on the number of children who received
child care via vouchers paid for by the Department of Early
Childhood during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall
include the ages of children who received child care, the type
of child care they received, and the number of months they
received child care.
The Department shall specify by rule the conditions of
eligibility, the application process, and the types, amounts,
and duration of services. Eligibility for child care benefits
and the amount of child care provided may vary based on family
size, income, and other factors as specified by rule.
The Department shall update the Child Care Assistance
Program Eligibility Calculator posted on its website to
include a question on whether a family is applying for child
care assistance for the first time or is applying for a

HB2694 - 70 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
redetermination of eligibility.
A family's eligibility for child care services shall be
redetermined no sooner than 12 months following the initial
determination or most recent redetermination. During the
12-month periods, the family shall remain eligible for child
care services regardless of (i) a change in family income,
unless family income exceeds 85% of State median income, or
(ii) a temporary change in the ongoing status of the parents or
other relatives, as defined by rule, as working or attending a
job training or educational program.
In determining income eligibility for child care benefits,
the Department annually, at the beginning of each fiscal year,
shall establish, by rule, one income threshold for each family
size, in relation to percentage of State median income for a
family of that size, that makes families with incomes below
the specified threshold eligible for assistance and families
with incomes above the specified threshold ineligible for
assistance. Through and including fiscal year 2007, the
specified threshold must be no less than 50% of the
then-current State median income for each family size.
Beginning in fiscal year 2008, the specified threshold must be
no less than 185% of the then-current federal poverty level
for each family size. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law or administrative rule to the contrary, beginning in
fiscal year 2019, the specified threshold for working families
with very low incomes as defined by rule must be no less than

HB2694 - 71 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
185% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family
size. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or
administrative rule to the contrary, beginning in State fiscal
year 2022 through State fiscal year 2023, the specified income
threshold shall be no less than 200% of the then-current
federal poverty level for each family size. Beginning in State
fiscal year 2024, the specified income threshold shall be no
less than 225% of the then-current federal poverty level for
each family size.
In determining eligibility for assistance, the Department
shall not give preference to any category of recipients or
give preference to individuals based on their receipt of
benefits under this Code.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as conferring
entitlement status to eligible families.
The Illinois Department is authorized to lower income
eligibility ceilings, raise parent co-payments, create waiting
lists, or take such other actions during a fiscal year as are
necessary to ensure that child care benefits paid under this
Article do not exceed the amounts appropriated for those child
care benefits. These changes may be accomplished by emergency
rule under Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative
Procedure Act, except that the limitation on the number of
emergency rules that may be adopted in a 24-month period shall
not apply.
The Illinois Department may contract with other State

HB2694 - 72 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
agencies or child care organizations for the administration of
child care services.
(c) Payment shall be made for child care that otherwise
meets the requirements of this Section and applicable
standards of State and local law and regulation, including any
requirements the Illinois Department promulgates by rule.
Through June 30, 2026, the rules of this Section include
licensure requirements adopted by the Department of Children
and Family Services. On and after July 1, 2026, the rules of
this Section include licensure requirements adopted by the
Department of Early Childhood. In addition, the regulations of
this Section include the Fire Prevention and Safety
requirements promulgated by the Office of the State Fire
Marshal, and is provided in any of the following:
(1) a child care center which is licensed or exempt
from licensure pursuant to Section 2.09 of the Child Care
Act of 1969;
(2) a licensed child care home or home exempt from
licensing;
(3) a licensed group child care home;
(4) other types of child care, including child care
provided by relatives or persons living in the same home
as the child, as determined by the Illinois Department by
rule.
(c-5) Solely for the purposes of coverage under the
Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, child and day care home

HB2694 - 73 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
providers, including licensed and license exempt,
participating in the Department's child care assistance
program shall be considered to be public employees and the
State of Illinois shall be considered to be their employer as
of January 1, 2006 (the effective date of Public Act 94-320),
but not before. The State shall engage in collective
bargaining with an exclusive representative of child and day
care home providers participating in the child care assistance
program concerning their terms and conditions of employment
that are within the State's control. Nothing in this
subsection shall be understood to limit the right of families
receiving services defined in this Section to select child and
day care home providers or supervise them within the limits of
this Section. The State shall not be considered to be the
employer of child and day care home providers for any purposes
not specifically provided in Public Act 94-320, including, but
not limited to, purposes of vicarious liability in tort and
purposes of statutory retirement or health insurance benefits.
Child and day care home providers shall not be covered by the
State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971.
In according child and day care home providers and their
selected representative rights under the Illinois Public Labor
Relations Act, the State intends that the State action
exemption to application of federal and State antitrust laws
be fully available to the extent that their activities are
authorized by Public Act 94-320.

HB2694 - 74 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(d) The Illinois Department shall establish, by rule, a
co-payment scale that provides for cost sharing by families
that receive child care services, including parents whose only
income is from assistance under this Code. The co-payment
shall be based on family income and family size and may be
based on other factors as appropriate. Co-payments may be
waived for families whose incomes are at or below the federal
poverty level.
(d-5) The Illinois Department, in consultation with its
Child Care and Development Advisory Council, shall develop a
plan to revise the child care assistance program's co-payment
scale. The plan shall be completed no later than February 1,
2008, and shall include:
(1) findings as to the percentage of income that the
average American family spends on child care and the
relative amounts that low-income families and the average
American family spend on other necessities of life;
(2) recommendations for revising the child care
co-payment scale to assure that families receiving child
care services from the Department are paying no more than
they can reasonably afford;
(3) recommendations for revising the child care
co-payment scale to provide at-risk children with complete
access to Preschool for All and Head Start; and
(4) recommendations for changes in child care program
policies that affect the affordability of child care.

HB2694 - 75 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(e) (Blank).
(f) The Illinois Department shall, by rule, set rates to
be paid for the various types of child care. Child care may be
provided through one of the following methods:
(1) arranging the child care through eligible
providers by use of purchase of service contracts or
vouchers;
(2) arranging with other agencies and community
volunteer groups for non-reimbursed child care;
(3) (blank); or
(4) adopting such other arrangements as the Department
determines appropriate.
(f-1) Within 30 days after June 4, 2018 (the effective
date of Public Act 100-587), the Department of Human Services
shall establish rates for child care providers that are no
less than the rates in effect on January 1, 2018 increased by
4.26%.
(f-5) (Blank).
(g) Families eligible for assistance under this Section
shall be given the following options:
(1) receiving a child care certificate issued by the
Department or a subcontractor of the Department that may
be used by the parents as payment for child care and
development services only; or
(2) if space is available, enrolling the child with a
child care provider that has a purchase of service

HB2694 - 76 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
contract with the Department or a subcontractor of the
Department for the provision of child care and development
services. The Department may identify particular priority
populations for whom they may request special
consideration by a provider with purchase of service
contracts, provided that the providers shall be permitted
to maintain a balance of clients in terms of household
incomes and families and children with special needs, as
defined by rule.
(Source: P.A. 102-491, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
102-926, eff. 5-27-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-594, eff.
6-25-24.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-13)
Sec. 9A-13. Work activity; anti-displacement provisions.
(a) As used in this Section "work activity" means any
workfare, earnfare, pay-after-performance,
work-off-the-grant, work supplementation experience, or other
activity under Section 9A-9 or any other Section of this Code
in which a recipient of public assistance performs work as a
part of the education, training and employment program offered
by the Department, for any employer as a condition of
receiving the public assistance, and the employer does not pay
wages for the work; or as any grant diversion, wage
supplementation, or similar program in which the Department
provides public assistance grant is provided to the employer

HB2694 - 77 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
with as a subsidy for placement of the wages of any recipient
in its workforce.
(b) An employer may not utilize a work activity
participant if such utilization would result in:
(1) the displacement or partial displacement of
current employees, including but not limited to a
reduction in hours of non-overtime or overtime work,
wages, or employment benefits; or
(2) the filling of a position that would otherwise be
a promotional opportunity for current employees; or
(3) the filling of a position created by or causing
termination, layoff, a hiring freeze, or a reduction in
the workforce; or
(4) the placement of a participant in any established
unfilled vacancy; or
(5) the performance of work by a participant if there
is a strike, lockout, or other labor dispute in which the
employer is engaged.
(c) An employer who wishes to utilize work activity
participants shall, at least 15 days prior to utilizing such
participants, notify the labor organization of the name, work
location, and the duties to be performed by the participant.
(d) The Department of Human Services shall establish a
grievance procedure for employees and labor organizations to
utilize in the event of any alleged violation of this Section.
Notwithstanding the above, a labor organization may utilize

HB2694 - 78 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
the established grievance or arbitration procedure in its
collective bargaining agreement to contest violations of this
Section.
(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-15)
Sec. 9A-15. College education assistance; pilot program.
(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
Services shall establish a pilot program to provide recipients
of assistance under Article IV with additional assistance in
obtaining a post-secondary education degree to the extent
permitted by the federal law governing the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program. This assistance may
include, but is not limited to, moneys for the payment of
tuition, but the Department may not use any moneys
appropriated for payment of cash assistance the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) under Article IV
to pay for tuition under the pilot program. In addition to
criteria, standards, and procedures related to post-secondary
education required by rules applicable to the TANF program,
the Department shall provide that the time that a pilot
program participant spends in post-secondary classes shall
apply toward the time that the recipient is required to spend
in education, placement, and training activities under this
Article.
The Department shall define the pilot program by rule,

HB2694 - 79 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
including a determination of its duration and scope, the
nature of the assistance to be provided, and the criteria,
standards, and procedures for participation.
(b) The Department shall enter into an interagency
agreement with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for
the administration of the pilot program.
(c) The Department shall evaluate the pilot program and
report its findings and recommendations after 2 years of its
operation to the Governor and the General Assembly, including
proposed rules to modify or extend the pilot program beyond
the scope and schedule upon which it was originally
established.
(Source: P.A. 94-371, eff. 1-1-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(305 ILCS 5/10-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-1)
Sec. 10-1. Declaration of public policy; persons eligible
for child support enforcement services; fees for
non-applicants and non-recipients. It is the intent of this
Code that the financial aid and social welfare services herein
provided supplement rather than supplant the primary and
continuing obligation of the family unit for self-support to
the fullest extent permitted by the resources available to it.
This primary and continuing obligation applies whether the
family unit of parents and children or of husband and wife
remains intact and resides in a common household or whether
the unit has been broken by absence of one or more members of

HB2694 - 80 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
the unit. The obligation of the family unit is particularly
applicable when a member is in necessitous circumstances and
lacks the means of a livelihood compatible with health and
well-being.
It is the purpose of this Article to provide for locating
an absent parent or spouse, for determining his financial
circumstances, and for enforcing his legal obligation of
support, if he is able to furnish support, in whole or in part.
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall give
priority to establishing, enforcing, and collecting the
current support obligation, and then to past due support owed
to the family unit, except with respect to collections
effected through the intercept programs provided for in this
Article. The establishment or enforcement actions provided in
this Article do not require a previous court order for
custody/allocation of parental responsibilities.
The child support enforcement services provided hereunder
shall be furnished dependents of an absent parent or spouse
who are applicants for or recipients of financial aid under
this Code. However, participation in or cooperation with child
support enforcement services under this Article shall not be a
condition of eligibility for receipt of CASH under Article IV.
In addition, it It is not, however, a condition of eligibility
for financial aid that there be no responsible relatives who
are reasonably able to provide support. Nor, except as
provided in Section Sections 4-1.7 and 10-8, shall the

HB2694 - 81 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
existence of such relatives or their payment of support
contributions disqualify a needy person for financial aid.
By accepting financial aid under this Code, a spouse or a
parent or other person having physical or legal custody of a
child shall be deemed to have made assignment to the Illinois
Department for aid under Articles III, IV, V, and VII or to a
local governmental unit for aid under Article VI of any and all
rights, title, and interest in any support obligation,
including statutory interest thereon, up to the amount of
financial aid provided. The rights to support assigned to the
Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly
Illinois Department of Public Aid) or local governmental unit
shall constitute an obligation owed the State or local
governmental unit by the person who is responsible for
providing the support, and shall be collectible under all
applicable processes.
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall
also furnish the child support enforcement services
established under this Article in behalf of persons who are
not applicants for or recipients of financial aid under this
Code in accordance with the requirements of Title IV, Part D of
the Social Security Act. The Department may establish a
schedule of reasonable fees, to be paid for the services
provided and may deduct a collection fee, not to exceed 10% of
the amount collected, from such collection. The Department of
Healthcare and Family Services shall cause to be published and

HB2694 - 82 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
distributed publications reasonably calculated to inform the
public that individuals who are not recipients of or
applicants for public aid under this Code are eligible for the
child support enforcement services under this Article X. Such
publications shall set forth an explanation, in plain
language, that the child support enforcement services program
is independent of any public aid program under the Code and
that the receiving of child support enforcement services in no
way implies that the person receiving such services is
receiving public aid.
(Source: P.A. 102-541, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(305 ILCS 5/10-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-2)
Sec. 10-2. Extent of liability. A husband is liable for
the support of his wife and a wife for the support of her
husband. Unless the child is otherwise emancipated, the
parents are severally liable for the support of any child
under age 18, and for any child aged 18 who is attending high
school, until that child graduates from high school, or
attains the age of 19, whichever is earlier. The term "child"
includes a child born out of wedlock, or legally adopted
child.
The liability for the support of a child provided for in
this Article does not require a previous court order for
custody and is in conjunction with the guidelines set forth in
Section 505 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of

HB2694 - 83 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Marriage Act, as provided for in Section 10-10 of this
Article. The obligation to support contained in this Article
is concurrent to any other appropriate State law.
This Article does not create, enlarge, abrogate, or
diminish parental rights or duties under other laws of this
State, including the common law.
An action to establish or enforce a support obligation,
under this or any other Act providing for the support of a
child, may be brought subsequent to an adjudication dismissing
that action based on any of the following reasons: (1) no duty
of support exists under this Article because this Article
requires a previous court order for custody/allocation of
parental responsibilities (as no such requirement exists under
this Act); (2) there is no common law duty of support (as a
common law duty of support is recognized as a valid basis for
child support); or (3) there is no duty of support under the
Illinois Parentage Act of 2015 because a judgment of paternity
results in a de facto custody/allocation of parental
responsibilities order (as this ignores the cumulative nature
of the Act and the plain language of the statute permitting an
explicit reservation of the issue. The Illinois Parentage Act
of 2015 will be clarified regarding a de facto
custody/allocation of parental responsibilities order as it
relates to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act).
In addition to the primary obligation of support imposed
upon responsible relatives, such relatives, if individually or

HB2694 - 84 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
together in any combination they have sufficient income or
other resources to support a needy person, in whole or in part,
shall be liable for any financial aid, except cash assistance
provided under Article IV, extended under this Code to a
person for whose support they are responsible, including
amounts expended for funeral and burial costs.
(Source: P.A. 102-541, eff. 8-20-21.)
(305 ILCS 5/10-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-3)
Sec. 10-3. Standard and Regulations for Determining
Ability to Support. The Illinois Department shall establish a
standard by which shall be measured the ability of responsible
relatives to provide support, and shall implement the standard
by rules governing its application. The standard and the rules
shall take into account the buying and consumption patterns of
self-supporting persons of modest income, present or future
contingencies having direct bearing on maintenance of the
relative's self-support status and fulfillment of his
obligations to his immediate family, and any unusual or
exceptional circumstances including estrangement or other
personal or social factors, that have a bearing on family
relationships and the relative's ability to meet his support
obligations. The standard shall be recomputed periodically to
reflect changes in the cost of living and other pertinent
factors.
In addition to the standard, the Illinois Department may

HB2694 - 85 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
establish guidelines to be used exclusively to measure the
ability of responsible relatives to provide support on behalf
of applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article
IV of this Act and other persons who are given access to the
child support enforcement services of this Article as provided
in Section 10-1. In such case, the Illinois Department shall
base the guidelines upon the applicable provisions of Sections
504, 505 and 505.2 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of
Marriage Act, as amended, and shall implement such guidelines
by rules governing their application.
The term "administrative enforcement unit", when used in
this Article, means local governmental units or the Child and
Spouse Support Unit established under Section 10-3.1 when
exercising the powers designated in this Article. The
administrative enforcement unit shall apply the standard or
guidelines, rules and procedures provided for by this Section
and Sections 10-4 through 10-8 in determining the ability of
responsible relatives to provide support for applicants for or
recipients of financial aid under this Code, except that the
administrative enforcement unit may apply such standard or
guidelines, rules and procedures at its discretion with
respect to those applicants for or recipients of financial aid
under Article IV and other persons who are given access to the
child support enforcement services of this Article as provided
by Section 10-1.
(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02.)

HB2694 - 86 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(305 ILCS 5/10-4) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-4)
Sec. 10-4. Notification of Support Obligation. The
administrative enforcement unit within the authorized area of
its operation shall notify each responsible relative of an
applicant or recipient, or responsible relatives of other
persons given access to the child support enforcement services
of this Article, of his legal obligation to support and shall
request such information concerning his financial status as
may be necessary to determine whether he is financially able
to provide such support, in whole or in part. In cases
involving a child born out of wedlock, the notification shall
include a statement that the responsible relative has been
named as the biological father of the child identified in the
notification.
In the case of applicants, the notification shall be sent
as soon as practical after the filing of the application. In
the case of recipients, the notice shall be sent at such time
as may be established by rule of the Illinois Department.
The notice shall be accompanied by the forms or
questionnaires provided in Section 10-5. It shall inform the
relative that he may be liable for reimbursement of any
support furnished from public aid funds, except those provided
under Article IV, prior to determination of the relative's
financial circumstances, as well as for future support. In the
alternative, when support is sought on behalf of applicants

HB2694 - 87 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
for or recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this
Code and other persons who are given access to the child
support enforcement services of this Article as provided in
Section 10-1, the notice shall inform the relative that the
relative may be required to pay support for a period before the
date an administrative support order is entered, as well as
future support.
Neither the mailing nor receipt of such notice shall be
deemed a jurisdictional requirement for the subsequent
exercise of the investigative procedures undertaken by an
administrative enforcement unit or the entry of any order or
determination of paternity or support or reimbursement by the
administrative enforcement unit; except that notice shall be
served by certified mail addressed to the responsible relative
at his or her last known address, return receipt requested, or
by a person who is licensed or registered as a private
detective under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private
Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 or by
a registered employee of a private detective agency certified
under that Act, or in counties with a population of less than
2,000,000 by any method provided by law for service of
summons, in cases where a determination of paternity or
support by default is sought on behalf of applicants for or
recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this Act and
other persons who are given access to the child support
enforcement services of this Article as provided in Section

HB2694 - 88 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
10-1.
(Source: P.A. 94-92, eff. 6-30-05; 95-613, eff. 9-11-07.)
(305 ILCS 5/10-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-7)
Sec. 10-7. Notice of support due.
(a) When an administrative enforcement unit has determined
that a responsible relative is financially able to contribute
to the support of an applicant or recipient, the responsible
relative shall be notified by mailing him a copy of the
determination by United States registered or certified mail,
advising him of his legal obligation to make support payments
for such period or periods of time, definite in duration or
indefinite, as the circumstances require. The notice shall
direct payment as provided in Section 10-8. Where applicable,
the determination and notice may include a demand for
reimbursement for emergency aid granted an applicant or
recipient during the period between the application and
determination of the relative's obligation for support and for
aid granted during any subsequent period the responsible
relative was financially able to provide support but failed or
refused to do so.
(b) In the alternative, when support is sought on behalf
of applicants for or recipients of financial aid under Article
IV of this Act and other persons who are given access to the
child support enforcement services of this Article as provided
in Section 10-1, the administrative enforcement unit shall not

HB2694 - 89 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
be required to send the notice and may enter an administrative
order immediately under the provisions of Section 10-11. The
order shall be based upon the determination made under the
provisions of Section 10-6 or, in instances of default, upon
the needs of the persons for whom support is sought. In
addition to requiring payment of future support, the
administrative order may require payment of support for a
period before the date the order is entered. The amount of
support to be paid for the prior period shall be determined
under the guidelines established by the Illinois Department
pursuant to Section 10-3. The order shall direct payment as
provided in Section 10-10.
(Source: P.A. 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/10-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-8)
Sec. 10-8. Support Payments - Partial Support - Full
Support. The notice to responsible relatives issued pursuant
to Section 10-7 shall direct payment (a) to the Illinois
Department in cases of applicants and recipients under
Articles III, IV, V and VII, (b) except as provided in Section
10-3.1, to the local governmental unit in the case of
applicants and recipients under Article VI, and (c) to the
Illinois Department in cases of non-applicants and
non-recipients given access to the child support enforcement
services of this Article, as provided by Section 10-1.
However, if the support payments by responsible relatives are

HB2694 - 90 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
sufficient to meet needs of a recipient in full, including
current and anticipated medical needs, and the Illinois
Department or the local governmental unit, as the case may be,
has reasonable grounds to believe that such needs will
continue to be provided in full by the responsible relatives,
the relatives may be directed to make subsequent support
payments to the needy person or to some person or agency in his
behalf and the recipient shall be removed from the rolls. In
such instance the recipient also shall be notified by
registered or certified mail of the action taken. If a
recipient removed from the rolls requests the Illinois
Department to continue to collect the support payments in his
behalf, the Department, at its option, may do so and pay
amounts so collected to the person. The Department may provide
for deducting any costs incurred by it in making the
collection from the amount of any recovery made and pay only
the net amount to the person.
Payments under this Section to the Illinois Department
pursuant to the Child Support Enforcement Program established
by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act shall be paid into the
Child Support Enforcement Trust Fund. All payments under this
Section to the Illinois Department of Human Services shall be
deposited in the DHS Recoveries Trust Fund. Disbursements from
these funds shall be as provided in Sections 12-9.1 and
12-10.2 of this Code. Payments received by a local
governmental unit shall be deposited in that unit's General

HB2694 - 91 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Assistance Fund.
To the extent the provisions of this Section are
inconsistent with the requirements pertaining to the State
Disbursement Unit under Sections 10-10.4 and 10-26 of this
Code, the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement
Unit shall apply.
(Source: P.A. 91-24, eff. 7-1-99; 91-212, eff. 7-20-99; 92-16,
eff. 6-28-01; 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/10-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-10)
Sec. 10-10. Court enforcement; applicability also to
persons who are not applicants or recipients. Except where
the Illinois Department, by agreement, acts for the local
governmental unit, as provided in Section 10-3.1, local
governmental units shall refer to the State's Attorney or to
the proper legal representative of the governmental unit, for
judicial enforcement as herein provided, instances of
non-support or insufficient support when the dependents are
applicants or recipients under Article VI. The Child and
Spouse Support Unit established by Section 10-3.1 may
institute in behalf of the Illinois Department any actions
under this Section for judicial enforcement of the support
liability when the dependents are (a) applicants or recipients
under Articles III, IV, V or VII; (b) applicants or recipients
in a local governmental unit when the Illinois Department, by
agreement, acts for the unit; or (c) non-applicants or

HB2694 - 92 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
non-recipients who are receiving child support enforcement
services under this Article X, as provided in Section 10-1.
Where the Child and Spouse Support Unit has exercised its
option and discretion not to apply the provisions of Sections
10-3 through 10-8, the failure by the Unit to apply such
provisions shall not be a bar to bringing an action under this
Section.
Action shall be brought in the circuit court to obtain
support, or for the recovery of aid granted during the period
such support was not provided, or both for the obtainment of
support and the recovery of the aid provided. Actions for the
recovery of aid may be taken separately or they may be
consolidated with actions to obtain support. Such actions may
be brought in the name of the person or persons requiring
support, or may be brought in the name of the Illinois
Department or the local governmental unit, as the case
requires, in behalf of such persons.
The court may enter such orders for the payment of moneys
for the support of the person as may be just and equitable and
may direct payment thereof for such period or periods of time
as the circumstances require, including support for a period
before the date the order for support is entered. The order may
be entered against any or all of the defendant responsible
relatives and may be based upon the proportionate ability of
each to contribute to the person's support.
The Court shall determine the amount of child support

HB2694 - 93 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(including child support for a period before the date the
order for child support is entered) by using the guidelines
and standards set forth in subsection (a) of Section 505 and in
Section 505.2 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of
Marriage Act. For purposes of determining the amount of child
support to be paid for a period before the date the order for
child support is entered, there is a rebuttable presumption
that the responsible relative's net income for that period was
the same as his or her net income at the time the order is
entered.
If (i) the responsible relative was properly served with a
request for discovery of financial information relating to the
responsible relative's ability to provide child support, (ii)
the responsible relative failed to comply with the request,
despite having been ordered to do so by the court, and (iii)
the responsible relative is not present at the hearing to
determine support despite having received proper notice, then
any relevant financial information concerning the responsible
relative's ability to provide child support that was obtained
pursuant to subpoena and proper notice shall be admitted into
evidence without the need to establish any further foundation
for its admission.
An order entered under this Section shall include a
provision requiring the obligor to report to the obligee and
to the clerk of court within 10 days each time the obligor
obtains new employment, and each time the obligor's employment

HB2694 - 94 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
is terminated for any reason. The report shall be in writing
and shall, in the case of new employment, include the name and
address of the new employer. Failure to report new employment
or the termination of current employment, if coupled with
nonpayment of support for a period in excess of 60 days, is
indirect criminal contempt. For any obligor arrested for
failure to report new employment bond shall be set in the
amount of the child support that should have been paid during
the period of unreported employment. An order entered under
this Section shall also include a provision requiring the
obligor and obligee parents to advise each other of a change in
residence within 5 days of the change except when the court
finds that the physical, mental, or emotional health of a
party or that of a minor child, or both, would be seriously
endangered by disclosure of the party's address.
The Court shall determine the amount of maintenance using
the standards set forth in Section 504 of the Illinois
Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
Any new or existing support order entered by the court
under this Section shall be deemed to be a series of judgments
against the person obligated to pay support thereunder, each
such judgment to be in the amount of each payment or
installment of support and each such judgment to be deemed
entered as of the date the corresponding payment or
installment becomes due under the terms of the support order.
Each such judgment shall have the full force, effect and

HB2694 - 95 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
attributes of any other judgment of this State, including the
ability to be enforced. Any such judgment is subject to
modification or termination only in accordance with Section
510 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
Notwithstanding any other State or local law to the contrary,
a lien arises by operation of law against the real and personal
property of the noncustodial parent for each installment of
overdue support owed by the noncustodial parent.
When an order is entered for the support of a minor, the
court may provide therein for reasonable visitation of the
minor by the person or persons who provided support pursuant
to the order. Whoever willfully refuses to comply with such
visitation order or willfully interferes with its enforcement
may be declared in contempt of court and punished therefor.
Except where the local governmental unit has entered into
an agreement with the Illinois Department for the Child and
Spouse Support Unit to act for it, as provided in Section
10-3.1, support orders entered by the court in cases involving
applicants or recipients under Article VI shall provide that
payments thereunder be made directly to the local governmental
unit. Orders for the support of persons who are given access to
the child support enforcement services of this Article as
provided in Section 10-1 all other applicants or recipients
shall provide that payments thereunder be made directly to the
Illinois Department. In accordance with federal law and
regulations, the Illinois Department may continue to collect

HB2694 - 96 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
current maintenance payments or child support payments, or
both, after those persons cease to receive public assistance
and until termination of services under Article X. The
Illinois Department shall pay the net amount collected to
those persons after deducting any costs incurred in making the
collection or any collection fee from the amount of any
recovery made. In both cases the order shall permit the local
governmental unit or the Illinois Department, as the case may
be, to direct the responsible relative or relatives to make
support payments directly to the needy person, or to some
person or agency in his behalf, upon removal of the person from
the public aid rolls or upon termination of services under
Article X.
If the notice of support due issued pursuant to Section
10-7 directs that support payments be made directly to the
needy person, or to some person or agency in his behalf, and
the recipient is removed from the public aid rolls, court
action may be taken against the responsible relative hereunder
if he fails to furnish support in accordance with the terms of
such notice.
Actions may also be brought under this Section in behalf
of any person who is in need of support from responsible
relatives, as defined in Section 2-11 of Article II who is not
an applicant for or recipient of financial aid under this
Code. In such instances, the State's Attorney of the county in
which such person resides shall bring action against the

HB2694 - 97 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
responsible relatives hereunder. If the Illinois Department,
as authorized by Section 10-1, extends the child support
enforcement services provided by this Article to spouses and
dependent children who are not applicants or recipients under
this Code, the Child and Spouse Support Unit established by
Section 10-3.1 shall bring action against the responsible
relatives hereunder and any support orders entered by the
court in such cases shall provide that payments thereunder be
made directly to the Illinois Department.
Whenever it is determined in a proceeding to establish or
enforce a child support or maintenance obligation that the
person owing a duty of support is unemployed, the court may
order the person to seek employment and report periodically to
the court with a diary, listing or other memorandum of his or
her efforts in accordance with such order. Additionally, the
court may order the unemployed person to report to the
Department of Employment Security for job search services or
to make application with the local Job Training Partnership
Act provider for participation in job search, training or work
programs and where the duty of support is owed to a child
receiving child support enforcement services under this
Article X, the court may order the unemployed person to report
to the Illinois Department for participation in job search,
training or work programs established under Section 9-6 and
Article IXA of this Code.
Whenever it is determined that a person owes past-due

HB2694 - 98 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
support for a child receiving assistance under this Code, the
court shall order at the request of the Illinois Department:
(1) that the person pay the past-due support in
accordance with a plan approved by the court; or
(2) if the person owing past-due support is
unemployed, is subject to such a plan, and is not
incapacitated, that the person participate in such job
search, training, or work programs established under
Section 9-6 and Article IXA of this Code as the court deems
appropriate. The requirement to participate in programs
under Section 9-6 and Article IXA of this Code shall not
apply to persons who owe past-due support for a child who
is only receiving cash assistance under Article IV, and no
other assistance under this Code.
A determination under this Section shall not be
administratively reviewable by the procedures specified in
Sections 10-12, and 10-13 to 10-13.10. Any determination under
these Sections, if made the basis of court action under this
Section, shall not affect the de novo judicial determination
required under this Section.
If a person who is found guilty of contempt for failure to
comply with an order to pay support is a person who conducts a
business or who is self-employed, the court in addition to
other penalties provided by law may order that the person do
one or more of the following: (i) provide to the court monthly
financial statements showing income and expenses from the

HB2694 - 99 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
business or the self-employment; (ii) seek employment and
report periodically to the court with a diary, listing, or
other memorandum of his or her employment search efforts; or
(iii) report to the Department of Employment Security for job
search services to find employment that will be subject to
withholding of child support.
A one-time charge of 20% is imposable upon the amount of
past-due child support owed on July 1, 1988 which has accrued
under a support order entered by the court. The charge shall be
imposed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-21 of
this Code and shall be enforced by the court upon petition.
All orders for support, when entered or modified, shall
include a provision requiring the non-custodial parent to
notify the court and, in cases in which a party is receiving
child support enforcement services under this Article X, the
Illinois Department, within 7 days, (i) of the name, address,
and telephone number of any new employer of the non-custodial
parent, (ii) whether the non-custodial parent has access to
health insurance coverage through the employer or other group
coverage and, if so, the policy name and number and the names
of persons covered under the policy, and (iii) of any new
residential or mailing address or telephone number of the
non-custodial parent. In any subsequent action to enforce a
support order, upon a sufficient showing that a diligent
effort has been made to ascertain the location of the
non-custodial parent, service of process or provision of

HB2694 - 100 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
notice necessary in the case may be made at the last known
address of the non-custodial parent in any manner expressly
provided by the Code of Civil Procedure or this Code, which
service shall be sufficient for purposes of due process.
An order for support shall include a date on which the
current support obligation terminates. The termination date
shall be no earlier than the date on which the child covered by
the order will attain the age of 18. However, if the child will
not graduate from high school until after attaining the age of
18, then the termination date shall be no earlier than the
earlier of the date on which the child's high school
graduation will occur or the date on which the child will
attain the age of 19. The order for support shall state that
the termination date does not apply to any arrearage that may
remain unpaid on that date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be
construed to prevent the court from modifying the order or
terminating the order in the event the child is otherwise
emancipated.
If there is an unpaid arrearage or delinquency (as those
terms are defined in the Income Withholding for Support Act)
equal to at least one month's support obligation on the
termination date stated in the order for support or, if there
is no termination date stated in the order, on the date the
child attains the age of majority or is otherwise emancipated,
then the periodic amount required to be paid for current
support of that child immediately prior to that date shall

HB2694 - 101 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
automatically continue to be an obligation, not as current
support but as periodic payment toward satisfaction of the
unpaid arrearage or delinquency. That periodic payment shall
be in addition to any periodic payment previously required for
satisfaction of the arrearage or delinquency. The total
periodic amount to be paid toward satisfaction of the
arrearage or delinquency may be enforced and collected by any
method provided by law for the enforcement and collection of
child support, including but not limited to income withholding
under the Income Withholding for Support Act. Each order for
support entered or modified on or after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly must contain
a statement notifying the parties of the requirements of this
paragraph. Failure to include the statement in the order for
support does not affect the validity of the order or the
operation of the provisions of this paragraph with regard to
the order. This paragraph shall not be construed to prevent or
affect the establishment or modification of an order for the
support of a minor child or the establishment or modification
of an order for the support of a non-minor child or educational
expenses under Section 513 of the Illinois Marriage and
Dissolution of Marriage Act.
Payments under this Section to the Illinois Department
pursuant to the Child Support Enforcement Program established
by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act shall be paid into the
Child Support Enforcement Trust Fund. All payments under this

HB2694 - 102 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Section to the Illinois Department of Human Services shall be
deposited in the DHS Recoveries Trust Fund. Disbursements from
these funds shall be as provided in Sections 12-9.1 and
12-10.2 of this Code. Payments received by a local
governmental unit shall be deposited in that unit's General
Assistance Fund.
To the extent the provisions of this Section are
inconsistent with the requirements pertaining to the State
Disbursement Unit under Sections 10-10.4 and 10-26 of this
Code, the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement
Unit shall apply.
(Source: P.A. 97-186, eff. 7-22-11; 97-1029, eff. 1-1-13.)
(305 ILCS 5/10-11.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-11.1)
Sec. 10-11.1. (a) Whenever it is determined in a
proceeding under Sections 10-6, 10-7, 10-11 or 10-17.1 that
the responsible relative is unemployed, and support is sought
on behalf of applicants for or recipients of financial aid
under Article IV of this Code or other persons who are given
access to the child support enforcement services of this
Article as provided in Section 10-1, the administrative
enforcement unit may order the responsible relative to report
to the Illinois Department for participation in job search,
training or work programs established under Section 9-6 and
Article IXA of this Code or to the Illinois Department of
Employment Security for job search services or to make

HB2694 - 103 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
application with the local Job Training Partnership Act
provider for participation in job search, training or work
programs.
(b) Whenever it is determined that a responsible relative
owes past-due support for a child under an administrative
support order entered under subsection (b) of Section 10-7 or
under Section 10-11 or 10-17.1 and the child is receiving
assistance under this Code, the administrative enforcement
unit shall order the following:
(1) that the responsible relative pay the past-due
support in accordance with a plan approved by the
administrative enforcement unit; or
(2) if the responsible relative owing past-due support
is unemployed, is subject to such a plan, and is not
incapacitated, that the responsible relative participate
in job search, training, or work programs established
under Section 9-6 and Article IXA of this Code. The
requirement to participate in programs under Section 9-6
and Article IXA of this Code shall not apply to a
responsible relative who owes past-due support for a child
who is only receiving cash assistance under Article IV,
and no other assistance under this Code.
(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/10-15) (from Ch. 23, par. 10-15)
Sec. 10-15. Enforcement of administrative order; costs and

HB2694 - 104 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
fees. If a responsible relative refuses, neglects, or fails to
comply with a final administrative support or reimbursement
order of the Illinois Department entered by the Child and
Spouse Support Unit pursuant to Sections 10-11 or 10-11.1 or
registered pursuant to Section 10-17.1, the Child and Spouse
Support Unit may file suit against the responsible relative or
relatives to secure compliance with the administrative order.
Suits shall be instituted in the name of the People of the
State of Illinois on the relation of the Department of
Healthcare and Family Services of the State of Illinois and
the spouse or dependent children for whom the support order
has been issued.
The court shall order the payment of the support
obligation, or orders for reimbursement of moneys for support
provided, directly to the Illinois Department but the order
shall permit the Illinois Department to direct the responsible
relative or relatives to make payments of support directly to
the spouse or dependent children, or to some person or agency
in his or their behalf, as provided in Section 10-8 or 10-10,
as applicable.
Whenever it is determined in a proceeding to enforce an
administrative order that the responsible relative is
unemployed, and support is sought on behalf of applicants for
or recipients of financial aid under Article IV of this Code or
other persons who are given access to the child support
enforcement services of this Article as provided in Section

HB2694 - 105 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
10-1, the court may order the responsible relative to seek
employment and report periodically to the court with a diary,
listing or other memorandum of his or her efforts in
accordance with such order. In addition, the court may order
the unemployed responsible relative to report to the Illinois
Department for participation in job search, training or work
programs established under Section 9-6 of this Code or to the
Illinois Department of Employment Security for job search
services or to make application with the local Job Training
Partnership Act provider for participation in job search,
training or work programs.
Charges imposed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 10-21 shall be enforced by the Court in a suit filed
under this Section.
To the extent the provisions of this Section are
inconsistent with the requirements pertaining to the State
Disbursement Unit under Sections 10-10.4 and 10-26 of this
Code, the requirements pertaining to the State Disbursement
Unit shall apply.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 11-6)
Sec. 11-6. Decisions on applications. Within 10 days after
a decision is reached on an application, the applicant shall
be notified in writing of the decision. If the applicant
resides in a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act

HB2694 - 106 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
or a supportive living facility authorized under Section
5-5.01a, the facility shall also receive written notice of the
decision, provided that the notification is related to a
Department payment for services received by the applicant in
the facility. Only facilities enrolled in and subject to a
provider agreement under the medical assistance program under
Article V may receive such notices of decisions. The
Department shall consider eligibility for, and the notice
shall contain a decision on, each of the following assistance
programs for which the client may be eligible based on the
information contained in the application: Cash Assistance to
Strengthen Households (CASH) Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families, Medical Assistance, Aid to the Aged, Blind and
Disabled, General Assistance (in the City of Chicago), and
food stamps. No decision shall be required for any assistance
program for which the applicant has expressly declined in
writing to apply. If the applicant is determined to be
eligible, the notice shall include a statement of the amount
of financial aid to be provided and a statement of the reasons
for any partial grant amounts. If the applicant is determined
ineligible for any public assistance the notice shall include
the reason why the applicant is ineligible. If the application
for any public assistance is denied, the notice shall include
a statement defining the applicant's right to appeal the
decision. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall determine
the date on which assistance shall begin for applicants

HB2694 - 107 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
determined eligible. That date may be no later than 30 days
after the date of the application.
Under no circumstances may any application be denied
solely to meet an application-processing deadline. As used in
this Section, "application" also refers to requests for
admission approval to facilities licensed under the Nursing
Home Care Act or to supportive living facilities authorized
under Section 5-5.01a.
(Source: P.A. 100-665, eff. 8-2-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-17) (from Ch. 23, par. 11-17)
Sec. 11-17. Duplication or supplementation of aid
prohibited-Exceptions. Except (1) for Medical Assistance
provided under Article V, (2) cash assistance provided under
Article IV, or (3) (2) when necessary to accomplish the
purposes of this Code, where not inconsistent therewith, and
subject to the rules of the Illinois Department, a person
receiving aid under Article any one of Articles III, IV, or VI
of this Code shall not at the same time receive aid under any
other of such Articles or any other financial aid from the
State, any political subdivision thereof, or any municipal
corporation therein.
(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-18) (from Ch. 23, par. 11-18)
Sec. 11-18. Duty to report changes in circumstances.

HB2694 - 108 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Except as set forth in Article IV regarding the
administration of CASH, it It is the duty of every applicant
and recipient to notify promptly the county department or the
supervisor of general assistance, as the case may be, of any
change of status with respect to his property, or need, or
family composition, amount of income, money contributions and
other support, from whatever source, occurring, in the case of
an applicant, between the time of his filing an application
for financial aid and the issuance of the grant, and, in the
case of a recipient, occurring at any time during the period
that he receives financial aid.
If an applicant or recipient fails to give prompt notice
of changes in his circumstances, and as a result financial aid
is given to which he is not entitled, he shall be liable to the
county department or to the local governmental unit, as the
case may be, for refunding a sum of money up to but not in
excess of the entire amount of financial aid provided. Unless
the refund is made the amount may be recovered in a civil
action.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-19) (from Ch. 23, par. 11-19)
Sec. 11-19. Reports by recipients. Except as set forth in
Article IV regarding the administration of CASH, every Every
recipient who is of legal age, and every grantee of record of
aid provided for a minor recipient, shall file with the county

HB2694 - 109 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
department or the local governmental unit, as the case may be,
a statement in respect to any change occurring in his status
since his application was made or the filing of his last such
report, whichever is applicable. The report shall set out any
changes occurring in respect to his property or need, family
composition, amount of income, money contributions or other
support, from whatever source. Such reports shall be required
to be filed as often as may be specified by rule, and the
required frequency of such reports may vary by program,
geographic area, condition of employment, or such other
differentiation as may be specified by rule. The Illinois
Department may require that information in the reports filed
under this Section include a child immunization history for
recipients age 6 and under not attending school. For
recipients who report that they have not obtained the
immunizations in accordance with recommended schedules, the
Illinois Department shall respond by providing information
about the availability and location of immunization services
and shall transmit the immunization history information to the
Healthy Kids Program administered under Section 5-19 of this
Code.
(Source: P.A. 88-342.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-20.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 11-20.1)
Sec. 11-20.1. Employment; Rights of recipient and
obligations of Illinois Department when recipients become

HB2694 - 110 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
employed; Assistance when a recipient has employment or earned
income or both.
(a) When a recipient reports employment or earned income,
or both, or the Illinois Department otherwise learns of a
recipient's employment or earned income, or both, the Illinois
Department shall provide the recipient with:
(1) An explanation of how the earned income will
affect the recipient's eligibility for a grant, and
whether the recipient must engage in additional work
activities to meet the recipient's monthly work activities
requirement and what types of activities may be approved
for that purpose, and whether the employment is sufficient
to cause months of continued receipt of a grant not to be
counted against the recipient's lifetime eligibility
limit.
(2) An explanation of the Work Pays budgeting process,
and an explanation of how the first month's income on a new
job will be projected, and how the recipient should report
the new job to avoid the Department overestimating the
first month's income.
(3) An explanation of how the earned income will
affect the recipient's eligibility for food stamps,
whether the recipient will continue to receive food
stamps, and, if so, the amount of food stamps.
(4) The names and telephone numbers of all caseworkers
to whom the recipient's case or cases are assigned or will

HB2694 - 111 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
be transferred, an explanation of which type of case each
worker will be handling, and the effective date of the
transfer.
(5) An explanation of the recipient's responsibilities
to report income and household circumstances, the process
by which quarterly reporting forms are sent to recipients,
where and to whom the reports should be returned, the
deadline by which reports must be returned, instructions
on how to fill out the reports, an explanation of what the
recipient should do if he or she does not receive the form,
advice on how to prove the report was returned by the
recipient such as by keeping a copy, and an explanation of
the effects of failure to file reports.
(6) If the recipient will continue to receive a grant,
an explanation of the recipient's new fiscal month and a
statement as to when the recipient will receive his or her
grant.
(7) An explanation of Kidcare, Family Assist, Family
Care, and the 12 month extension of medical assistance
that is available when a grant is cancelled due to earned
income.
(8) An explanation of the medical assistance the
person may be eligible for when the 12 month extension
expires and how to request or apply for it.
(9) An explanation of the availability of a child care
subsidy to all families below the child care assistance

HB2694 - 112 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
program's income limit, how to apply for the benefit
through the Child Care Resource and Referral or
site-administered child care program or both, the nature
of the child care program's sliding scale co-payments, the
availability of the 10% earned income disregard in
determining eligibility for child care assistance and the
amount of the parent co-payment, the right to use the
subsidy for either licensed or license exempt legal care,
and the availability of benefits when the parent is
engaged in an education and training program.
(10) (Blank).
(11) (Blank).
(11a) (Blank).
(12) (Blank).
(13) An explanation of the availability of payment for
initial expenses of employment and how to request or apply
for it.
(14) An explanation of the job retention component and
how to participate in it, and an explanation of the
recipient's eligibility to receive supportive services to
participate in education and training programs while
working.
(15) A statement of the types of assistance that will
be provided to the person automatically or continued and a
statement of the types of assistance for which the person
must apply or reapply.

HB2694 - 113 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(16) If the recipient will not continue to receive a
cash grant and the recipient has assigned his or her right
to child support to the Illinois Department, an
explanation of the recipient's right to continue to
receive child support enforcement services, the
recipient's right to have all current support paid after
grant cancellation forwarded promptly to the recipient,
the procedures by which child support will be forwarded,
and the procedures by which the recipient will be informed
of the collection and distribution of child support.
(17) An explanation of the availability of payments if
the recipient experiences a decrease in or loss of earned
income during a calendar quarter as to which the monthly
grant was previously budgeted based upon the higher
income.
(18) If the recipient will not continue to receive a
cash grant, an explanation of the procedures for
reapplying for cash assistance if the person experiences a
decrease in or loss of earned income.
(19) An explanation of the earned income tax credit
and the procedures by which it may be obtained and the
rules for disregarding it in determining eligibility for
and the amount of assistance.
(20) An explanation of the education and training
opportunities available to recipients.
(b) The information listed in subsection (a) shall be

HB2694 - 114 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
provided to the recipient on an individual basis during an
in-person meeting with a representative of the Illinois
Department. The individual in-person meeting shall be held at
a time which does not conflict with the recipient's work
schedule within 30 days of the date the recipient begins
working. If the recipient informs the Illinois Department that
an in-person meeting would be inconvenient, the Illinois
Department may provide the information during a home visit, by
telephone, or by mail within 30 days of the date the recipient
begins working, whichever the client prefers.
For individuals receiving only cash assistance under
Article IV, the Department shall provide the information
listed in subsection (a) by telephone, mail, electronic mail,
text message, or other method of preferred communication as
indicated by the individual. The Department shall not seek to
conduct an in-person meeting with individuals receiving only
cash assistance under Article IV.
(c) At the conclusion of the meeting described in
subsection (b), the Illinois Department shall ensure that all
case transfers and calculations of benefits necessitated by
the recipient's employment or receipt of earned income have
been performed, that applications have been made or provided
for all benefits for which the person must apply or reapply,
and that the person has received payment for initial expenses
of employment.
(d) In food stamp cases in which an applicant or recipient

HB2694 - 115 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
reports earned income, the applicant's or recipient's
employment shall be presumed to be a hardship for purposes of
scheduling an in-person meeting with a representative of the
Illinois Department and an in-person meeting shall be waived.
(Source: P.A. 96-867, eff. 1-1-11.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-22c) (from Ch. 23, par. 11-22c)
Sec. 11-22c. Recovery of back wages.
(a) As used in this Section, "recipient" means any person
receiving financial assistance under Article IV or Article VI
of this Code, receiving health care benefits under the
Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, or receiving health
care benefits under the Veterans' Health Insurance Program Act
or the Veterans' Health Insurance Program Act of 2008.
(b) If a recipient maintains any suit, charge or other
court or administrative action against an employer seeking
back pay for a period during which the recipient received
financial assistance under Article IV or Article VI of this
Code, health care benefits under the Covering ALL KIDS Health
Insurance Act, or health care benefits under the Veterans'
Health Insurance Program Act or the Veterans' Health Insurance
Program Act of 2008, the recipient shall report such fact to
the Department. To the extent of the amount of assistance
provided to or on behalf of the recipient under Article IV or
Article VI, health care benefits provided under the Covering
ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, or health care benefits

HB2694 - 116 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
provided under the Veterans' Health Insurance Program Act or
the Veterans' Health Insurance Program Act of 2008, the
Department may by intervention or otherwise without the
necessity of assignment of claim, attach a lien on the
recovery of back wages equal to the amount of assistance
provided by the Department to the recipient under Article IV
or Article VI, under the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance
Act, or under the Veterans' Health Insurance Program Act or
the Veterans' Health Insurance Program Act of 2008.
(Source: P.A. 94-693, eff. 7-1-06; 94-816, eff. 5-30-06;
95-755, eff. 7-25-08.)
(305 ILCS 5/11-32)
Sec. 11-32. Premium debts; forgiveness, compromise,
reduction. The Department may forgive, compromise, or reduce
any debt owed by a former or current recipient of medical
assistance under this Code or health care benefits under the
Children's Health Insurance Program or the Covering ALL KIDS
Health Insurance Program that is related to any premium that
was determined or imposed in accordance with (i) the
Children's Health Insurance Program Act or the Covering ALL
KIDS Health Insurance Act prior to those Acts becoming
inoperative or (ii) any corresponding administrative rule.
The Department may forgive, compromise, or reduce any debt
owed by a former or current recipient of cash assistance under
Article IV, including those recipients whose debt was

HB2694 - 117 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
generated by overpayment of TANF cash assistance before July
1, 2026.
(Source: P.A. 102-43, eff. 7-6-21.)
(305 ILCS 5/12-4.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.4)
Sec. 12-4.4. Administration of federally-aided programs.
Direct County Departments of Public Aid in the administration
of the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
(SNAP) Program, programs to aid refugees and Articles III, IV,
and V of this Code.
The Illinois Department of Human Services shall operate a
SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program in compliance
with federal law. The SNAP E&T program may only be mandatory in
counties where the Department can show that there are
sufficient program slots for at least the majority of the
county's current non-exempt work registrants as described in
Section 11-20 of this Code. Nothing in this Section shall
prevent the Department from operating a fully voluntary SNAP
E&T program. The SNAP E&T program will have an Earnfare
component. The Earnfare component shall be available in
selected geographic areas based on criteria established by the
Illinois Department of Human Services by rule. Participants in
Earnfare will, to the extent resources allow, earn their
assistance. Participation in the Earnfare program is
voluntary, except when ordered by a court of competent
jurisdiction. Eligibility for Earnfare may be limited to only

HB2694 - 118 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
6 months out of any 12 consecutive month period. Clients are
not entitled to be placed in an Earnfare slot. Earnfare slots
shall be made available only as resources permit. Earnfare
shall be available to persons receiving SNAP benefits who meet
eligibility criteria established by the Illinois Department of
Human Services by rule. The Illinois Department may, by rule,
extend the Earnfare Program to clients who do not receive SNAP
benefits. Receipt of SNAP benefits is not an eligibility
requirement of Earnfare when a court of competent jurisdiction
orders an individual to participate in the Earnfare Program.
To the extent resources permit, the Earnfare program will
allow participants to engage in work-related activities to
earn monthly financial assistance payments and to improve
participants' employability in order for them to succeed in
obtaining employment. The Illinois Department of Human
Services may enter into contracts with other public agencies
including State agencies, with local governmental units, and
with not-for-profit community based organizations to carry out
the elements of the Program that the Department of Human
Services deems appropriate.
The Earnfare Program shall contain the following elements:
(1) To the extent resources allow and slots exist, the
Illinois Department of Human Services shall refer
recipients of SNAP benefits who meet eligibility criteria,
as established by rule. Receipt of SNAP benefits is not an
eligibility requirement of Earnfare when a court of

HB2694 - 119 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
competent jurisdiction orders an individual to participate
in the Earnfare Program.
(2) Persons participating in Earnfare shall engage in
employment assigned activities equal to the amount of the
SNAP benefits divided by the State or federal minimum
wage, whichever is higher, and subsequently shall earn
minimum wage assistance for each additional hour of
performance in Earnfare activity. Earnfare participants
shall be offered the opportunity to earn up to $154. The
Department of Human Services may establish a higher amount
by rule provided resources permit. If a court of competent
jurisdiction orders an individual to participate in the
Earnfare program, hours engaged in employment assigned
activities shall first be applied for a $50 payment made
to the custodial parent as a support obligation. If the
individual receives SNAP benefits, the individual shall
engage in employment assigned activities equal to the
amount of the SNAP benefits divided by the State or
federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, and
subsequently shall earn State or federal minimum wage
assistance, whichever is higher, for each additional hour
of performance in Earnfare activity.
(3) To the extent appropriate slots are available, the
Illinois Department of Human Services shall assign
Earnfare participants to Earnfare activities based on an
assessment of the person's age, literacy, education,

HB2694 - 120 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
educational achievement, job training, work experience,
and recent institutionalization, whenever these factors
are known to the Department of Human Services or to the
contractor and are relevant to the individual's success in
carrying out the assigned activities and in ultimately
obtaining employment.
(4) The Department of Human Services shall consider
the participant's preferences and personal employment
goals in making assignments to the extent administratively
possible and to the extent that resources allow.
(5) The Department of Human Services may enter into
cooperative agreements with local governmental units
(which may, in turn, enter into agreements with
not-for-profit community based organizations): with other
public, including State, agencies; directly with
not-for-profit community based organizations, and with
private employers to create Earnfare activities for
program participants.
(6) To the extent resources permit, the Department of
Human Services shall provide the Earnfare participants
with the costs of transportation in looking for work and
in getting to and from the assigned Earnfare job site and
initial expenses of employment.
(7) All income and asset limitations of the Federal
SNAP Program will govern continued Earnfare participation,
except that court ordered participants shall participate

HB2694 - 121 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
for 6 months unless the court orders otherwise.
(8) Earnfare participants shall not displace or
substitute for regular, full time or part time employees,
regardless of whether or not the employee is currently
working, on a leave of absence or in a position or similar
position where a layoff has taken place or the employer
has terminated the employment of any regular employee or
otherwise reduced its workforce with the effect of filling
the vacancy so created with a participant subsidized under
this program, or is or has been involved in a labor dispute
between a labor organization and the sponsor.
(9) Persons who fail to cooperate with the SNAP E&T
program in counties where available program slots exist
for at least the majority of that county's current work
registrants shall become ineligible for SNAP benefits
according to SNAP regulations, and for Earnfare
participation. Failure to participate in Earnfare for all
of the hours assigned is not a failure to cooperate unless
so established by the employer pursuant to Department of
Human Services rules. If a person who is ordered by a court
of competent jurisdiction to participate in the Earnfare
Program fails to cooperate with the Program, the person
shall be referred to the court for failure to comply with
the court order.
(Source: P.A. 101-566, eff. 8-23-19.)

HB2694 - 122 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(305 ILCS 5/12-4.11) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.11)
Sec. 12-4.11. Grant amounts. The Department, with due
regard for and subject to budgetary limitations, shall
establish grant amounts for each of the programs, by
regulation, except as provided by Section 4-2. The grant
amounts may vary by program, size of assistance unit and
geographic area. Grant amounts under the Cash Assistance to
Strengthen Households (CASH) Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) program may not vary on the basis of a TANF
recipient's county of residence.
Payments of cash assistance under Article IV shall not be
reduced, for any reason, for eligible households during their
certification as set forth in Section 4-2.2. All other aid Aid
payments administered under this Code shall not be reduced
except: (1) for changes in the cost of items included in the
grant amounts, or (2) for changes in the expenses of the
recipient, or (3) for changes in the income or resources
available to the recipient, or (4) for changes in grants
resulting from adoption of a consolidated grant amount.
The maximum benefit levels provided to TANF recipients
shall increase as follows: beginning October 1, 2023, the
Department of Human Services shall increase TANF grant amounts
in effect on September 30, 2023 to at least 35% of the most
recent United States Department of Health and Human Services
Federal Poverty Guidelines for each family size. Beginning
October 1, 2024, and each October 1 thereafter, the maximum

HB2694 - 123 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
benefit levels shall be annually adjusted to remain equal to
at least 35% of the most recent poverty guidelines updated
periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C.
9902(2) for each family size.
TANF grants for child-only assistance units shall be at
least 75% of TANF grants for assistance units of the same size
that consist of a caretaker relative with children.
In fixing standards to govern payments or reimbursements
for funeral and burial expenses, the Department shall
establish a minimum allowable amount of not less than $1,000
for Department payment of funeral services and not less than
$500 for Department payment of burial or cremation services.
On January 1, 2006, July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, the
Department shall increase the minimum reimbursement amount for
funeral and burial expenses under this Section by a percentage
equal to the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index
for All Urban Consumers, if any, during the 12 months
immediately preceding that January 1 or July 1. In
establishing the minimum allowable amount, the Department
shall take into account the services essential to a dignified,
low-cost (i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation, including
reasonable amounts that may be necessary for burial space and
cemetery charges, and any applicable taxes or other required
governmental fees or charges. If no person has agreed to pay
the total cost of the (i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation

HB2694 - 124 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
charges, the Department shall pay the vendor the actual costs
of the (i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation, or the minimum
allowable amount for each service as established by the
Department, whichever is less, provided that the Department
reduces its payments by the amount available from the
following sources: the decedent's assets and available
resources and the anticipated amounts of any death benefits
available to the decedent's estate, and amounts paid and
arranged to be paid by the decedent's legally responsible
relatives. A legally responsible relative is expected to pay
(i) funeral and (ii) burial or cremation expenses unless
financially unable to do so.
Nothing contained in this Section or in any other Section
of this Code shall be construed to prohibit the Illinois
Department (1) from consolidating existing standards on the
basis of any standards which are or were in effect on, or
subsequent to July 1, 1969, or (2) from employing any
consolidated standards in determining need for public aid and
the amount of money payment or grant for individual recipients
or recipient families.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(305 ILCS 5/12-4.14) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.14)
Sec. 12-4.14. Investigation of resources of applicants,
recipients, and responsible relatives. Investigate the
financial condition of applicants, recipients, and responsible

HB2694 - 125 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
relatives as defined in Section 2-11 of Article II, in order to
determine whether an applicant or recipient has or can obtain
property, income, resources, or other sources of support
sufficient to provide him with a standard of living compatible
with health and well-being.
This Section shall not apply to the administration of cash
assistance under Article IV.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)
(305 ILCS 5/12-4.33)
Sec. 12-4.33. Welfare reform research and accountability.
(a) The Illinois Department shall collect and report upon
all data in connection with federally funded or assisted
welfare programs as federal law may require, including, but
not limited to, Section 411 of the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and its
implementing regulations and any amendments thereto as may
from time to time be enacted.
(b) In addition to and on the same schedule as the data
collection required by federal law and subsection (a), the
Department shall collect and report on further information
with respect to the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households
(CASH) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ("TANF")
program, as follows:
(1) With respect to denials of applications for
benefits, all of the same information about the family

HB2694 - 126 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
required under the federal law, plus the specific reason
or reasons for denial of the application.
(2) With respect to all terminations of benefits, all
of the same information as required under the federal law,
plus the specific reason or reasons for the termination.
(c) (Blank). The Department shall collect all of the same
data as set forth in subsections (a) and (b), and report it on
the same schedule, with respect to all cash assistance
benefits provided to families that are not funded from the
TANF program federal block grant or are not otherwise required
to be included in the data collection and reporting in
subsections (a) and (b).
(d) Whether or not reports under this Section must be
submitted to the federal government, they shall be considered
public and they shall be promptly made available to the public
at the end of each fiscal year, free of charge upon request.
The data underlying the reports shall be made available to
academic institutions and public policy organizations involved
in the study of welfare issues or programs and redacted to
conform with applicable privacy laws. The cost shall be no
more than that incurred by the Department in assembling and
delivering the data.
(e) (Blank).
(f) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 95-322, eff. 1-1-08.)

HB2694 - 127 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(305 ILCS 5/12-4.104)
Sec. 12-4.104. Family and Community Development Grant
Program.
(a) Subject to funding availability, a family and
community development grant program shall be administered by
the Department of Human Services. The program shall be
designed to make services available to families who are at
risk of long-term economic dependency and to work with
communities to provide economic opportunities. The purpose of
the program is to fund, evaluate, and provide recommendations
on not less than 8 nor more than 10 projects to move 100
families at risk of long-term economic dependency to
self-sufficiency through the family and community development
program.
(b) As used in this Section only:
"Applicant" means a public or private organization that
makes application for a grant through the request for
proposals process.
"Council" means the Social Services Advisory Council.
"Department" means the Department of Human Services.
"Grant" means an award to fund a project approved by the
Department with the advice of the Council.
"Grantee" means the recipient of a grant approved by the
Department.
(c) The Social Services Advisory Council as established
within the Department of Human Services shall, with respect to

HB2694 - 128 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
the family and community development grants administered by
the Department, involve a representative of the Human Resource
Investment Council in considering proposed projects and
monitoring approved projects.
(d) The Council shall:
(1) Identify the factors and conditions that place
Illinois families at risk of long-term dependency upon the
AFDC program or its successor program. The Council shall
seek to use relevant research findings and national and
Illinois-specific data on TANF (formerly AFDC), and, after
July 1, 2026, data related to the administration of the
CASH program including data set forth in Section 12-4.33.
(2) Identify the factors and conditions that place
Illinois families at risk of family instability, long-term
economic dependency, and foster care placement.
(3) Report those findings to the Secretary of Human
Services for his or her evaluation.
(4) Recommend grants to public or private
organizations to provide family and community development
services to families at risk of long-term economic
dependency.
(5) In cooperation with the Illinois Community Action
Association, use family and community development outcome
measures to independently evaluate the effectiveness of
demonstration projects.
(6) Seek the support of an Illinois accredited

HB2694 - 129 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
university to continue research and evaluation
responsibilities.
(7) Seek additional support for the funding of family
and community development grants.
(8) Make recommendations to the Governor, the General
Assembly, and the Secretary of Human Services on the
effectiveness of family and community development
intervention programs in Illinois.
(9) Evaluate and make recommendations regarding the
cost and benefits to the expansion of eligibility or the
services provided under CASH TANF (formerly TANF AFDC) to
include tuition for parenting skills programs, family
support and counseling services, child development
services, job readiness and job skill training, and
transportation and child care expenses associated with the
programs and services.
(e) In cooperation with the Illinois Community Action
Association, the grantees shall identify families that receive
CASH TANF (formerly TANF AFDC) payments that may place
families at risk of long-term economic dependency.
(f) The Department shall adopt rules for the operation of
this program.
(Source: P.A. 90-783, eff. 8-14-98.)
(305 ILCS 5/12-13.05)
Sec. 12-13.05. Rules for Temporary Assistance for Needy

HB2694 - 130 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Families. All rules regulating the Cash Assistance to
Strengthen Households (CASH) (formerly the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program) and all other
rules regulating the amendatory changes to this Code made by
this amendatory Act of 1997 shall be promulgated pursuant to
this Section.
(Source: P.A. 94-416, eff. 1-1-06.)
(305 ILCS 5/12-13.4)
Sec. 12-13.4. Materials on nutritional health. The
Department of Human Services, in cooperation with the
Department of Public Health, shall develop materials and
resources on nutritional health for distribution to new
enrollees in the CASH TANF program under Article IV and the
Food Stamp program. The Department of Public Health shall
develop a video presentation on nutritional health to be shown
to new enrollees in the TANF program under Article IV and the
Food Stamp program. The Department of Human Services shall
develop the materials and resources within 6 months after the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General
Assembly and shall provide those materials and resources to
all persons who enroll in the TANF program and the Food Stamp
program after the materials and resources are developed.
(Source: P.A. 94-433, eff. 1-1-06.)
(305 ILCS 5/16-1)

HB2694 - 131 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
Sec. 16-1. Benefits for foreign-born victims of
trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes. In order to
protect persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking,
torture, or other serious crimes and to reduce the risk of
further harm, exploitation, and re-trafficking, beginning
January 1, 2018, cash assistance provided under the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families program established under
Article IV of this Code and benefits provided under the
federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shall
be provided to such persons and their derivative family
members to the same extent cash assistance and SNAP benefits
are provided to individuals who are admitted to the United
States as refugees under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United
States Code. To the extent that federal funding is not
available, any cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under
this Article shall be paid from State funds. If changes made in
this Section require federal approval, they shall not take
effect until such approval has been received.
(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)
(305 ILCS 5/16-2)
Sec. 16-2. Eligibility. Subject to available funding, a
foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other serious
crimes and the individual's derivative family members, but not
a single adult without derivative family members, are eligible
for cash assistance or SNAP benefits under this Article if the

HB2694 - 132 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
individual:
(a) has filed:
(1) an application for T Nonimmigrant status with
the appropriate federal agency pursuant to Section
1101(a)(15)(T) of Title 8 of the United States Code,
or is otherwise taking steps to meet the conditions
for federal benefits eligibility under Section 7105 of
Title 22 of the United States Code;
(2) a formal application with the appropriate
federal agency for status pursuant to Section
1101(a)(15)(U) of Title 8 of the United States Code;
or
(3) a formal application with the appropriate
federal agency for status under Section 1158 of Title
8 of the United States Code; and
(b) is otherwise eligible for cash assistance or SNAP
benefits, as applicable.
An individual residing in an institution or other setting
that provides the majority of the individual's daily meals is
not eligible for SNAP benefits.
(Source: P.A. 103-588, eff. 6-5-24.)
(305 ILCS 5/16-3)
Sec. 16-3. Determination of eligibility.
(a) The Department shall determine that an applicant for
cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article

HB2694 - 133 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
is eligible for such benefits if the applicant meets the
income guidelines and is otherwise eligible and either:
(1) the applicant has filed:
(A) an application for T Nonimmigrant status with
the appropriate federal agency pursuant to Section
1101(a)(15)(T) of Title 8 of the United States Code,
or is otherwise taking steps to meet the conditions
for federal benefits eligibility under Section 7105 of
Title 22 of the United States Code;
(B) a formal application with the appropriate
federal agency for status pursuant to Section
1101(a)(15)(U) of Title 8 of the United States Code;
or
(C) a formal application with the appropriate
federal agency for status under Section 1158 of Title
8 of the United States Code; or
(2) the applicant, or a representative of the
applicant if the applicant is not competent, has provided
to the Department:
(A) a sworn statement that he or she is a
foreign-born victim of trafficking, torture, or other
serious crimes; and
(B) at least one item of additional credible
evidence, including, but not limited to, any of the
following:
(i) police, government agency, or court

HB2694 - 134 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
records or files;
(ii) news articles;
(iii) documentation from a social services,
trafficking, domestic violence program or rape
crisis center, or a legal, clinical, medical, or
other professional from whom the applicant or
recipient has sought assistance in dealing with
the crime;
(iv) a statement from any other individual
with knowledge of the circumstances that provided
the basis for the claim;
(v) physical evidence;
(vi) a copy of a completed visa application;
or
(vii) written notice from the federal agency
of receipt of the visa application.
(b) The Department may, in its discretion, provide cash
assistance or SNAP benefits pursuant to this Article to an
applicant who cannot provide additional evidence as set forth
in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) if:
(1) the applicant, or a representative of the
applicant if the applicant is not competent, has provided
a sworn statement that he or she is a foreign-born victim
of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes; and
(2) the Department determines that the applicant is
credible.

HB2694 - 135 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)
(305 ILCS 5/16-4)
Sec. 16-4. Work requirements and exemptions.
(a) Persons who are foreign-born victims of trafficking,
torture, or other serious crimes and who are receiving cash
assistance or SNAP benefits under this Article shall be
subject to the same work requirements and work requirement
exemptions as other recipients of cash assistance or SNAP
benefits, provided that compliance with these requirements is
authorized by law.
(b) A person who is a foreign-born victim of trafficking,
torture, or other serious crimes shall be exempted from any
work requirements if physical or psychological trauma related
to or arising from the trafficking, torture, or other serious
crimes impedes his or her ability to comply.
(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16.)
(305 ILCS 5/16-5)
Sec. 16-5. Termination of benefits.
(a) Any cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under
this Article to a person who is a foreign-born victim of
trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and his or her
derivative family members shall be terminated if there is a
final denial of that person's visa or asylum application under
Section 1101(a)(15)(T), 1101(a)(15)(U), or 1158 of Title 8 of

HB2694 - 136 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
the United States Code.
(b) A person who is a foreign-born victim of trafficking,
torture, or other serious crimes and his or her derivative
family members shall be ineligible for continued State-funded
cash assistance or SNAP benefits provided under this Article
if that person has not filed a formal application for status
pursuant to Section 1101(a)(15)(T), 1101(a)(15)(U), or 1158 of
Title 8 of the United States Code within one year after the
date of his or her application for cash assistance or SNAP
benefits provided under this Article. The Department of Human
Services may extend the person's and his or her derivative
family members' eligibility for medical assistance, cash
assistance, or SNAP benefits beyond one year if the Department
determines that the person, during the year of initial
eligibility (i) experienced a health crisis, (ii) has been
unable, after reasonable attempts, to obtain necessary
information from a third party, or (iii) has other extenuating
circumstances that prevented the person from completing his or
her application for status.
(Source: P.A. 99-870, eff. 8-22-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-0.5 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.2c rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.7 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.8 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-1.9 rep.)

HB2694 - 137 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
(305 ILCS 5/4-7 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-8 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/4-21 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-1 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-5 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-7 rep.)
(305 ILCS 5/9A-16 rep.)
Section 15. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
repealing Sections 4-0.5, 4-1.2c, 4-1.7, 4-1.8, 4-1.9, 4-7,
4-8, 4-21, 9A-1, 9A-5, 9A-7, and 9A-16.
Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2026.
HB2694 - 138 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
INDEX
Statutes amended in order of appearance
305 ILCS 5/1-7 from Ch. 23, par. 1-7
305 ILCS 5/1-11
305 ILCS 5/Art. IV heading
305 ILCS 5/4-0.5.1 new
305 ILCS 5/4-0.6.1 new
305 ILCS 5/4-1 from Ch. 23, par. 4-1
305 ILCS 5/4-1.1 from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.1
305 ILCS 5/4-1.2 from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2
305 ILCS 5/4-1.2a from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2a
305 ILCS 5/4-1.6 from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.6
305 ILCS 5/4-1.6b
305 ILCS 5/4-1.6c new
305 ILCS 5/4-1.13 new
305 ILCS 5/4-2 from Ch. 23, par. 4-2
305 ILCS 5/4-2.1 new
305 ILCS 5/4-2.2 new
305 ILCS 5/4-2.3 new
305 ILCS 5/4-4 from Ch. 23, par. 4-4
305 ILCS 5/4-9 from Ch. 23, par. 4-9
305 ILCS 5/4-12 from Ch. 23, par. 4-12
305 ILCS 5/4-22
305 ILCS 5/4-23
305 ILCS 5/4-24 new
HB2694 - 139 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b
305 ILCS 5/4-25 new
305 ILCS 5/6-1.3 from Ch. 23, par. 6-1.3
305 ILCS 5/8A-18
305 ILCS 5/9A-3 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-3
305 ILCS 5/9A-4 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-4
305 ILCS 5/9A-8 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-8
305 ILCS 5/9A-8.1
305 ILCS 5/9A-9 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9
305 ILCS 5/9A-10 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-10
305 ILCS 5/9A-11 from Ch. 23, par. 9A-11
305 ILCS 5/9A-13
305 ILCS 5/9A-15
305 ILCS 5/10-1 from Ch. 23, par. 10-1
305 ILCS 5/10-2 from Ch. 23, par. 10-2
305 ILCS 5/10-3 from Ch. 23, par. 10-3
305 ILCS 5/10-4 from Ch. 23, par. 10-4
305 ILCS 5/10-7 from Ch. 23, par. 10-7
305 ILCS 5/10-8 from Ch. 23, par. 10-8
305 ILCS 5/10-10 from Ch. 23, par. 10-10
305 ILCS 5/10-11.1 from Ch. 23, par. 10-11.1
305 ILCS 5/10-15 from Ch. 23, par. 10-15
305 ILCS 5/11-6 from Ch. 23, par. 11-6
305 ILCS 5/11-17 from Ch. 23, par. 11-17
305 ILCS 5/11-18 from Ch. 23, par. 11-18
305 ILCS 5/11-19 from Ch. 23, par. 11-19
305 ILCS 5/11-20.1 from Ch. 23, par. 11-20.1
HB2694 - 140 - LRB104 10136 KTG 20208 b