Illinois.gov - IL Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE)

We’re asking you to tell us a little bit about you and the people in your home so we can figure out what kinds of help each person might be able to get. By "you", we mean the person who is using this website. If you’re using this website for someone else, please fill out this page as if you were that person. First, please type your first name, nickname or initials in the first box. We don’t need to know your real name or your last name. Next, type your age in the second box. If you’re using this for someone else and don’t know their exact age, just make the best guess you can. Then, click the button to let us know whether you are male or female. Keep in mind that you must answer all three questions before you can go on to the next page.
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People in Your Home

How many people live in your home?
We ask this question to help us figure out what kinds of help each person might be able to get.

In general, please count everyone who lives in your home – and don’t forget to count yourself!
If someone is pregnant, just count her as one person. We’ll ask about her pregnancy later.
If someone in your family is in a nursing home or long-term care facility, you should only count them if you want to see if they can get help with paying for their nursing home care.
If you’re not sure whether to count someone as living in your home, think about whether or not you share food together. If you do share food, be sure to count them. If you don’t share food together, you don’t have to count them. There are some exceptions to this, but this is a good general rule.
If you don’t have a home right now, tell us the number of people you share food with.

Of these people, how many are under 19 years old?
We ask this question because people under 19 years old may be eligible for health care, even if their parents and other people living in the home are not. For most health-care programs, people under 19 years old are counted as children. To answer the question, type in the number of people in your home who are under 19.

If someone is 18 years old, then include him or her in this number.
If someone is 19 years old right now, then don’t include him or her in this number.

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Adults & Children

This page asks you to tell us who else besides you lives in your home and how they are related to you. Since you already told us about you, this page is just for those other people. The number of people on the page should equal the number of other people who live in your home. If you see the wrong total number of people on the page, then click the BACK button and change the number of people who live in your home. If you see the right number of people but we haven’t put them into the right section for children and adults, just go ahead and answer the questions. We’ll put those people in the right sections later on. To answer the questions:

Type the first name, nickname or initials in the first box for each person. We don’t need to know their real name or their last name. Keep in mind that each name or set of initials must be different from the others.
Then, type the age of each person in the second box. If you don’t know someone's exact age, just make the best guess you can. If there’s a baby living in your home who is less than one year old, just type in 0.
Then, click the button to let us know whether each person is male or female.
The last question asks you to select the words that best describe how you are related to the person. Click on the gray triangle to see the list of options, then choose one. Here are some examples to help you out:

If you are the…	Choose these words…
Legal husband or wife of the person	is legally married to
Unmarried partner, girlfriend or boyfriend of the person	is not related to
Mother or Stepmother of the person	is a Child/Step-child of
Father or Stepfather of the person	is a Child/Step-child of
Legally adoptive parent of the person	is a Child/Step-child of
Daughter or Stepdaughter of the person	is a Parent/Step-parent of
Son or Stepson of the person	is a Parent/Step-parent of
Legally adopted child of the person	is a Parent/Step-parent of
Grandmother or Grandfather of the person	is related in another way to
Aunt or Uncle of the person	is related in another way to
Sister, half-sister or stepsister of the person	is related in another way to
Brother, half-brother or stepbrother of the person	is related in another way to
Cousin or some other relative by blood or marriage	is related in another way to
Foster parent or foster child of the person	is not related to
Friend taking care of the person	is not related to
Friend living with the person	is not related to

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Parents & Children

This page asks a few more questions about the children and parents in your home. This will let us know how the people in your home are related to each other. To answer the questions, check the boxes to tell us which individuals in your home are parents of each child listed on this page. If you've already told us that someone is a parent, you'll see them listed here with a check mark next to them. If someone has a check mark next to them but they are not the child's parent, you won't be able to remove the check mark on this page. Instead, you'll need to click the Back button and change your answers on the previous page, called "Other People in Your Home". By parent, we mean biological parent, legally adoptive parent, or step-parent only. If someone is a grandparent, for example, don’t check the box. If a child doesn't have any parents who are living in the home, check "No one listed below." Keep in mind that you can’t check "No one listed below" AND one of the individuals listed. In addition, you can't check the box describing someone as the only parent AND the box for one of the individuals listed on the page.
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Marriage

This page asks a few more questions about the adults in your home. This will help us figure out how the people in your home are related to each other. By spouse, we mean a legally married husband or wife. To answer the questions, click the buttons next to each person’s legal husband or wife. If you are living together but not legally married, don’t click the button. You will need to choose a different husband or wife for each person.
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Pregnancy

We’re asking this question to find out if any of the women in your home are pregnant. In many cases, pregnant women are able to get free or low-cost health care, as well as other kinds of assistance. To answer the question, check the box next to anyone who is pregnant. If someone isn’t pregnant, just leave the box blank. If you think someone is pregnant but you’re not sure, go ahead and check the box. Keep in mind that when you apply for health care, you may need to provide proof of the pregnancy.
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Blind or Permanently Disabled

We’re asking this question to find out if anyone in your home is blind or permanently disabled. It can be hard to know if someone is "permanently disabled" or not. Someone in your home may have a serious illness or injury that isn’t a permanent disability. Below are some tips to help you figure out if someone in your home is permanently disabled. You should count a person in your home as permanently disabled if:

They receive disability or blindness benefits from the Social Security Administration or Medicaid, OR,
They have been certified as disabled by the Social Security Administration or the state’s Disability Determination Bureau, even if they do not get disability payments or benefits.

If someone is getting disability or blindness benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, or the Veteran’s Administration, they may be considered permanently disabled for some programs but not others. For purposes of Application for Benefits Eligibility(ABE), you may count these people as disabled, but keep in mind that they may not be able to get health care benefits for disabled people unless they take steps to become certified as disabled.

If someone has not been certified as permanently disabled, they can apply for certification as the first step in getting health care coverage and other benefits. You can find out more about this by contacting the Social Security Administration or the same local offices that handle FoodShare benefits and health care assistance.

In general, a person can be certified as permanently disabled if they have a physical or mental condition that has lasted or is expected to last for more than a year. This condition must also prevent them from earning more than $800 per month. You should not count a person in your home as permanently disabled if:

They have an injury or illness that will last less than a year (for example: a broken leg), OR,
Their request for benefits was turned down by the Social Security Administration or the state’s Disability Determination Bureau.

If someone is pregnant, you shouldn't count them as permanently disabled unless they have another condition that fits the rules listed above. It is possible for someone to be pregnant AND permanently disabled, but pregnancy alone is not a permanent disability.

Examples:

After applying last year for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Jane receives a monthly disability check. For these programs, she is permanently disabled.
Tim broke his leg last month and hasn’t been able to work. Even though he will not be able to work for several months, for these programs, he is not permanently disabled.

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Health Needs

We’re asking these two questions to find out if any of the elderly (65 or older), blind or permanently disabled people in your home need help with paying for nursing home care or in-home health care. Keep in mind that we’re only asking these questions about the people who are elderly (65 or older), blind or permanently disabled. Other people in your home will not be listed here. To answer the first question, check the box for anyone who is living in a nursing home. By nursing home, we mean a place where someone lives in order to get medical care. This can be a skilled nursing facility, an intermediate care facility, or a hospital. If someone in your home is living in an institution for mental disease, you should only check the box if they are younger than 21 or older than 64. Adults between the ages of 21 and 64 who are living in an institution for mental disease are not usually able to get help with the cost of this care. Keep in mind that Medicaid does not help with the cost of assisted living, so don’t check the box for anyone who is living in a place for assisted living. The difference between a nursing home and an assisted living facility is that a nursing home must be licensed by the state as a nursing home. To answer the second question, check the box for anyone who may need to move to a nursing home OR who needs in-home care in order to stay in their home or in the community. By in-home care, we mean health care in your home, as well as help with things like cleaning, shopping and cooking.
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Medicare

We’re asking this question to find out if anyone in your home could get help with paying for monthly Medicare fees. We will also look to see if you could get help with buying prescription drugs through Medicare Part D. Keep in mind that we’re only asking this question about the people who are elderly (65 or older), blind or permanently disabled. Other people in your home will not be listed here. To answer the question, check the box for anyone who has Medicare. By Medicare, we mean the federal health insurance program for elderly (65 or older), blind or disabled people. Medicare is not the same as Medicaid. Most people who have Medicare have a "Red, White and Blue" card. People who have Medicaid have a "Forward" card. The type of Medicare you have may be called "Part A", "Part B", "Part C" or "Part D". Another way to know whether it’s Medicare or Medicaid is to think about the type of income you have. Most people who get Social Security payments (meaning retirement payments and some disability payments) get Medicare. Everyone who gets Supplemental Security Income (SSI) gets Medicaid. SSI is not the same as Social Security: SSI is a monthly payment for people with very low incomes who are at least 65 or blind or disabled.
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What You Told Us About the People in Your Home

This page is a quick check to make sure we’ve gotten the right information about you and the people in your home. Please take a look at what you’ve told us. If anything is wrong, click the button on the right side of the screen to fix it. Keep in mind that if you change an answer, we may have to ask you another question or two.
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Job Income

We’re asking this question about money to find out if you may be able to get help with food, health care, prescription drugs and other benefits. Because these programs are meant for people with lower incomes, we need to know how much money you and the people in your home get. Keep in mind that your answers will stay private and secure. It’s very important to tell us about all of the money you get. When you take the next step and apply for benefits, you may need to provide proof of your income. If you don’t know the exact answer to a money question, give the best answer you can. Keep in mind that by giving us more accurate information, we can give you a more accurate answer. To answer this question, check the box for each adult who has a job right now, or is self-employed. You may notice that we're only asking about jobs for people 18 and older. In most cases, the income that children under 18 have from a job won't count, so we're not asking about them here. Be sure to check the box if someone is self-employed. Self-employment is money you earn directly from your own business, rather than getting money by working for an employer. If no one in your home gets money from a job right now, check the box for "No one."
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Other Types of Income

We’re asking this question about money to find out if you may be able to get help with food, health care, prescription drugs and other benefits. Because these programs are meant for people with lower incomes, we need to know how much money you and the people in your home get each month. Keep in mind that your answers will stay private and secure. It’s very important to tell us about all of the money you get. When you take the next step and apply for benefits, you may need to provide proof of your income. If you don’t know the exact answer to a money question, give the best answer you can. Keep in mind that by giving us more accurate information, we can give you a more accurate answer. To answer the question, check the box for each person in your home (including children) who will receive money this month from some place other than a job. There are many ways you might receive money besides work. Click here to learn more about what kind of income you should include. You’ll see that we’ve included children on the list of people who may get income from other places. Check the box next to any children in your home who get income from a place other than a job, such as child support or Social Security payments. If no one in your home gets money from any of these places, check the box for "No one."
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More About Job Income

We’re asking this question to find out how much money the people in your home get from their jobs. If you don’t know the exact answer to these money questions, give the best answer you can. Keep in mind that by giving us more accurate information, we can give you a more accurate answer.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that we need to know the amount each person earns before any taxes or other deductions are taken out of their paycheck. This amount is called "gross pay". You can be sure to tell us the right gross amount by telling us their hourly wage, their annual salary, or by looking on their pay stub for the gross amount they earn each month or pay period.

We’ve given each person four lines in case they work at more than one job or more than one business. Just use as many as you need and leave the rest blank. To answer the questions:

1. First, choose the kind of wage or salary:

If you are paid by the hour, choose "hourly".
If you have an annual salary (even if you get paid more often), choose "yearly".
If you are paid by the week, choose "weekly".
If you don’t know your hourly rate and you get paid every two weeks, choose "every two weeks".
If you don't know your hourly rate and you get paid twice a month (which is not the same as every two weeks), you'll want to choose "monthly". To find your monthly amount, add the gross pay from your two paychecks together.
If you don’t know your hourly rate and you get paid monthly, choose "monthly".

2. Tell us the amount you get paid for the type of wage you chose:

If you are paid by the hour, tell us your hourly rate. For example: Jane earns $6.75 per hour, so she would type 6.75 into the box.
If you get paid weekly, every two weeks, or monthly, tell us the amount you earn in that time period – again, making sure you tell us the amount you earn before anything is taken out of your paycheck.
For example, Mark earns $1,500 per month but his take-home pay is only $1,200 per month. He should type 1500 into the box.
If you have a job or type of self-employment in which you don’t get paid on a regular basis, make your best guess at how much you will earn this month after you take out business expenses but before taxes or anything else is taken out of your paycheck. Choose "monthly" and enter that amount in the box.
If you chose yearly, tell us what your annual salary is. For example, Tim has an annual salary of $20,000/year, so he would type 20000 into the box.

3. If you chose hourly, tell us how many hours you work each week:

For example, Jane works 20 hours a week at $6.75 per hour, so she should type 20 into the box for number of hours.
If you chose something other than "hourly", you won’t be able to type in the number of hours you work each week.

A few notes for people who are self-employed:

If you have more than one kind of business, use different job lines to tell us about each business.
If you expect your income this year to be similar to the income you had last year, the best thing to do is choose "yearly" and enter the amount of income (after business expenses) that you reported on your federal tax return last year.
If you expect your income this year to be a lot different from last year’s income, choose "monthly" and estimate the amount you expect to earn this month.
No matter how you report your self-employment income, enter the amount of income you will earn after subtracting business expenses but before taking out taxes, social security or other deductions.

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More About Other Types of Income

We’re asking this question to find out how much money the people in your home get from places other than a job. If you don’t know the exact answer to these money questions, give the best answer you can. Keep in mind that by giving us more accurate information, we can give you a more accurate answer. To answer the question, please type in the amounts each person in your home receives from any of these sources: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - SSI is a monthly payment for people with very low incomes who are at least 65 or blind or disabled. SSI is not a retirement benefit and it is not the same as Social Security. Social Security - By Social Security, we mean retirement payments and some disability payments. Don’t include SSI income in this box. Child Support - Child support is the money that you or your children receive from a parent who is not living in your home. Unemployment payments - Unemployment payments are payments you may receive from the state if you have recently lost your job. Other sources - Some examples are worker’s compensation, veteran’s benefits, pensions, tribal per capita payments. Some sources of money don’t count at all. If someone receives income from one of these sources, you don’t have to tell us about it: Income from a loan. One-time payments such as an income tax refund, a one-time insurance settlement, a security deposit refund, or an emergency assistance payment. Heating assistance payments. Keep in mind that there are many other kinds of income that may not count. If you receive a type of income that isn’t listed here, it’s a good idea to ask your caseworker about it when you apply for benefits.
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Child Care

We’re asking this question to help figure out how many FoodShare benefits you may be able to get. Child care is money you pay to someone else to take care of your children while you work or look for work. If a county or state agency or someone who lives outside your home pays child care costs for children in your home, please don’t count their part of the payment. If no one pays for child care, just leave the amount at zero.
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Child Support

We’re asking this question because the child support paid by adults in your home may affect your benefits. Child support is money that a court has ordered you to pay to children who don’t live with you. If your child support payments are taken out of your paycheck, tell us how much is taken out of your check each month. If you give money to your children but it’s not ordered by a court, please don’t include it. Keep in mind that we’re asking about child support that the adults in your home pay, NOT child support that you or your children receive from someone outside of your home.
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Medical Bills

We’re asking this question to find out whether anyone in your home who is elderly (age 60 and older), or blind or permanently disabled has any medical bills. These bills may affect how many FoodShare benefits you may be able to get. They may also affect whether someone in your home can get help with paying for nursing home care. Keep in mind that we can only count medical bills of people in your home who are blind or permanently disabled or 60 and older. In addition, we can only count medical costs that people in your home actually pay for. Don't count any expenses that will be paid by an insurance company or government program like Medicare or Medicaid. You should count all of the bills you’re responsible for, even if you haven’t been able to pay them. Here is a list of all the things you may count as medical expenses, as long as they are out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance or a government program: Medical and dental care, including psychotherapy and rehabilitation services, provided by a state licensed practitioner or other qualified health professionals, including chiropractors and acupuncturists. Hospitalization or outpatient treatment. Keep in mind that if someone is living in a nursing home, you should not include the cost of their nursing home care when you answer this question. The next question will ask about the cost of nursing home care. Prescription drugs, including the cost of postage for mail-order prescription drugs. Over-the-counter medication (including insulin) when approved by a licensed practitioner or other qualified health professional. Sickroom equipment (including rental), or other prescribed equipment, and medical supplies. Premiums you pay for health and hospitalization insurance, including: Medicare premiums Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) premiums Any co-payment, cost-sharing or deductible expense for Medicaid Dentures, hearing aids, and prosthetics. Purchase and maintenance costs of any animal specifically trained to serve the needs of disabled people, including the cost of food and veterinarian care. Eye glasses and contact lenses prescribed by an eye doctor. Reasonable cost of transportation and lodging to obtain medical care. Costs for an attendant, homemaker, home health aide, or housekeeper necessary due to age, infirmity or illness. Payments made on a loan's principal if the loan was used to pay a one-time medical expense. Lifeline or MedicAlert devices used to contact medical help in emergencies, if ordered by a licensed practitioner or other qualified health professional.
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Nursing Home Care

We’re asking this question to see if the people who live in a nursing home can get help with paying for their nursing home care. If you know the monthly cost of each person’s nursing home care, type it into the box. If you don’t know the amount, leave the amount at zero. When we compare your income to the cost of nursing home care to see if you can get help, we’ll use the average rate that people in Illinois pay for private nursing home care.
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Housing

Housing We’re asking this question to help figure out how many FoodShare benefits you may be able to get. If you are renting your home, answer the question by typing in the amount you and other adults in your home pay each month in rent. If you live in a trailer, you should include lot rent as well as any rent or mortgage payment you make on your trailer. If you own your home, answer the question by typing in the total amount you and other adults in your home pay each month for mortgage, property taxes, and home insurance. If you only pay property taxes and/or insurance, just include that amount. Be sure to only count the amount that you actually pay for housing. For example, if your rent amount is $600 but you get $400 in rental assistance, you should type in $200. Heating Answer the second question by telling us whether you also pay a heating bill. You should answer "yes" only if you pay for heat separately from your rent or house payment. This can include: A bill you receive from the gas & electric company for heat. An amount your landlord charges you for your portion of heating costs for your building. The cost of a propane heater. The cost of wood to heat your home. You should also answer "yes" if you receive heating assistance through the Illinois Home Energy Assistance Program. If your heat is included in your rent or housing payment, you should answer "no" to this question.
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Assets

By assets, we mean bank accounts and other things that have value. For example, any stocks you have are assets. We’re asking about assets because they may affect whether you can get low- or no-cost health care. Keep in mind that there are many assets that do not count in Medicaid, such as your most expensive car, the home or homestead where you live, personal items, and any burial assets you may have. If you live on a farm, your farm does not count as an asset. You may notice that we are only asking about assets for the elderly (65 or older), blind or disabled people in your home, as well as for their spouses who live with them. This is because the value of assets only counts in health programs for people who are elderly, blind or disabled. If someone is getting income from the Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI), we won’t ask about their assets. Because they are already getting Medicaid, we don’t need to know about their assets. Keep in mind that assets do not affect whether anyone can get food benefits through the FoodShare program. If an elderly (65 or older), blind or disabled person has any of these assets, they should check the box: Savings, checking or other bank accounts Cash they are saving at home Stocks, bonds or certificates of deposit (CDs) Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and annuities Property other than the home or homestead where they live Other investments Other vehicles, including recreational vehicles Keep in mind that there are many special rules about owning cars. For the most part, the elderly (65 or older), blind or disabled people in your home can own one car and still get Medicaid. If they have more than one car, they should not count the car with the greatest value. They should count the value of any other car as an asset.
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Life Insurance

We’re asking this question because some kinds of life insurance may affect whether the elderly (65 or older), blind or disabled people in your home can get low- or no-cost health care. If your life insurance is "term" insurance, it does not have a cash value. It will not affect whether you can get low- or no-cost health care. If your life insurance does NOT have a cash value, you don’t need to check the box. If your life insurance is "whole life" insurance, it does have a cash value. This may affect whether you can get low- or no-cost health care. Keep in mind that there are many special rules about life insurance with a cash value. Even if you do have life insurance with a cash value, you may still be able to get Medicaid.
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More About Assets

To answer this question, please tell us the cash value of the assets each person owns. If you have more than one of each type of asset, you’ll need to add them together. For example, if you have $100 in a checking account and $200 in a savings account, you’ll need to type $300 into the box for savings and checking accounts. If you own an asset with other people, you should only tell us your share. For example, if you and your spouse own a checking account with $400 together, please type $200 for your checking account and $200 for your spouse's checking account. If you don’t have one of the assets on the list, you don’t have to type anything into that box. Keep in mind that there are many assets you should not count, including your most expensive car, the home or homestead where you live, personal items, and any burial assets you may have. If you live on a farm, your farm does not count as an asset. If you own more than one car or other vehicle, you should count any extra vehicles as assets. The cash value of the vehicle is the amount of money you would get if you sold it. If you owe money on the vehicle, you should only count any profit you would make from selling the vehicle.
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Where You Live

We ask these questions so we can tell you where to apply for benefits. Keep in mind that your answers will stay private and secure, and we won’t keep or share any identifying information. Your County To answer the first question, choose from the list of counties. If you don’t know your county, it’s a good idea to ask someone. If you can’t find out which county you live in, choose "I don’t know." If you live in Illinois during some parts of the year, you will only be able to get benefits in Illinois while you’re living here. To find out how to apply in Illinois, choose the Illinois county where you will be living. Tribal Lands To answer the question, choose the tribal lands on which you live. If you don’t live on tribal lands, please leave the question blank. We ask this question because some tribes have offices where tribal members can apply for benefits. These offices are also available to non-tribal members who live on tribal lands. Some tribes do not have a tribal office, so everyone who lives on the tribal lands must apply through the local county office. No matter where you live, you always have the right to apply through your local county office, even if you are a member of a tribe.
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What You Told Us About Your Money and Bills

This page is another quick check to make sure we’ve got the right information about money and bills for the people in your home. Please take a look at what you’ve told us. If anything is wrong, click the button on the right side of the screen to fix it. If you change an answer, we may have to ask you another question or two. Please keep in mind that we’ve taken all of the income you told us about, then added it up for each person and changed it into a monthly total. As a result, the income amount might look slightly different than what you told us.
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Your Results: The Programs You May Be Able To Get

This page shows you which programs you might be able to get help from, based on what you told us today. To make the website easy to use, we didn’t ask everything we need to know to be sure that you qualify for the programs listed here. This means there’s a small chance that even if this website says it looks like you can get help from a program, you may not be able to. This website is a quick check to see if you might be able to get: FoodShare benefits Low- or no-cost health care Help with paying for nursing home care or in-home health care, if someone in your home needs these services Help with buying prescription drugs Nutrition information and counseling, referrals, and checks to buy food through WIC Free or reduced priced meals at school and during the summer, if you have school-aged children at home Food at no cost through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Help with paying for heat and electricity from the Illinois Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) Special tax credits for people with lower incomes For most of these programs, you’ll need to take a couple of steps to apply - and we’ll let you know how to do that on the next page. Keep in mind that only some of the people in your home may be able to get help with low- or no-cost health care. If there are people who look like they may not be able to get help with health care, you'll see a Details button on this page. Click the Details button to find out why some of the people in your home may not be able to get help with health care.
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Your Results: The Programs You May Not Be Able To Get

This page shows you which programs it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to get. Keep in mind that these answers are just based on what you told us today. If your situation changes, you may be able to get help from some of these programs. To make the website easy to use, we didn’t ask everything we need to know in order to figure out if you qualify for these programs. This means there’s always a chance that you could get help from a program, even if this website says it doesn’t look like you can. No matter what this website says, you always have the right to apply for programs.
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Help with Buying Food

There are two ways you might be able to get help with buying food: one is the FoodShare Program, and the other is the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC). FoodShare The FoodShare Program helps people with little or no income to buy food. FoodShare is Illinoi’s version of the federal Food Stamp Program. In Illinois, FoodShare benefits come on a plastic card, called the Illinois QUEST Card, that you use just like a bank card. Most food stores accept the Illinois QUEST Card. If it looks like the people in your home may be able to get FoodShare benefits, this page will list the steps you will need to take to apply. There are two ways you can apply for FoodShare: you can apply online, or you can call your local office to set up an appointment. If you click the Apply Online button, you will go to the Application for Benefits Eligibility(ABE) Apply For Benefits page. Apply For Benefits is an online application form for FoodShare and/or health care benefits, including Medicaid and Family Planning Services. It will take most people 30 to 40 minutes to complete the full application. After you finish the application and sign it electronically, it will be sent to the local agency in the county or tribe where you live. In most cases, people who apply online for FoodShare will need to have an in-person interview with a worker. If it's hard for you to get to the local office for an interview, you may be able to have a phone interview instead. If you have any questions about how to apply, call the local agency listed on the page. They will be able to help you make an appointment with a worker, as well as give you more information about how to apply. They can also let you know which local office is closest to you. This page also includes a link to a short registration form for the FoodShare Program. When you give, fax or mail this form to your local agency, it gets the application process started. In most cases, you will still need to visit the local agency to meet with a worker and finish the full application. Keep in mind that you don’t have to fill this form out and bring it with you when you visit the agency to apply. In order to see and print this short form, as well as the "What to Bring" document, you will need a computer program called Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most computers have this program, which will start automatically when you click the "Registration" button. If your computer doesn’t have this program, you can install it for free by clicking on the link that says "Adobe Acrobat Reader." Once you click this link, follow the steps it gives you to download and install the software. If you’re not sure which county you live in, or if you have more general questions about the FoodShare Program, try calling the recipient services hotline at 800-362-3002. WIC The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) provides food and nutrition information to pregnant women and breastfeeding women, infants and children under five years of age. People who are eligible for WIC receive checks to buy foods that will help keep them healthy and strong. If it looks like any of the people in your home may be able to get WIC, this page will list the steps you will need to take to apply. In most counties, we will list the local WIC clinic for you to call and make an appointment. In counties where there is more than one WIC clinic, you’ll need to call the Maternal and Child Health Hotline at 800-722-2295 to find out which one is closest to you. The first step in applying for WIC is to call the local WIC clinic to make an appointment. They can give you more information about where to go and what to bring with you. At your appointment, a WIC nutritionist will review your or your child’s health history. You will also discuss what you and your children eat. Keep in mind that fathers, guardians and foster parents may apply for WIC for their children. If you have general questions about WIC, call the Maternal and Child Health Hotline at 800-722-2295.
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Low- or No-Cost Health Care

Illinois has three basic programs that help people with lower incomes get health care coverage: Medicaid (for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled) Family Planning Services (for women ages 15 to 44) This page lists the steps you need to take to apply for these health care benefits. If you have any questions about how to apply, call the local agency listed on the page. They will be able to help you decide whether to apply online, by mail or in person. They can also let you know which local office is closest to you. Because you can apply for health care benefits online, by mail OR in person, this page includes links to the Application for Benefits Eligibility(ABE) online application, as well as to paper application forms that you can download, fill out, and mail in. If you click the Apply Online button, you will go to the Application for Benefits Eligibility(ABE) Apply For Benefits page. Apply For Benefits is an online application form for FoodShare and/or health care benefits, including Medicaid and Family Planning Services. It will take most people 30 to 40 minutes to complete the full application. After you finish the application and sign it electronically, it will be sent to the local agency in the county or tribe where you live. If you choose to apply by mail, there is a paper application form for Family Planning Services. For people who are elderly (65 or older), blind, or disabled, there is a paper application form for Medicaid. If someone is looking for help with paying for a nursing home or in-home health care, they should use the form for Medicaid. In order to see and print an application, you will need a computer program called Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most computers have this program, which will start automatically when you click the "Application" button. If your computer doesn't have this program, you can install it for free by clicking on the link that says "Adobe Acrobat Reader." Once you click this link, follow the steps it gives you to download and install the software. If you're not sure which county you live in, or if you have more general questions about Medicaid and Family Planning Services, try calling the recipient services hotline at 800-362-3002.
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Help with Buying Prescription Drugs

There is program that can help you with the cost of buying prescription drugs: Medicare Part D. Medicare Part D People who get Medicare may enroll in a private prescription drug plan through Medicare Part D. As with other types of insurance, you will pay a monthly premium and a deductible. You will also pay part of the cost of your prescriptions. The exact cost will depend on the drug plan you choose. People who have lower incomes may be able to get help with paying these prescription drug plan costs through a program called “Extra Help.” Some people will get “Extra Help” automatically, while others will need to fill out an application. Medicare will mail you more information about prescription drug plans, including how to choose and join a drug plan that best meets your needs. You will also get information in the mail about getting "Extra Help." People who get both Medicaid and Medicare will get "Extra Help" without having to fill out an application. This includes people who get Medicare Premium Assistance (also known as QMB, SLMB, SLMB+ and QI-1) and people who get Medicaid because they have met a deductible. People who have lower incomes but aren’t getting both Medicare and Medicaid will get an application for "Extra Help" in the mail. To apply for "Extra Help", fill out this application and return it to Social Security. Keep in mind that applying for "Extra Help" and choosing a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan are two different steps. For help with choosing a prescription drug plan or applying for "Extra Help", click on the Benefit Specialist link to get contact information for the Benefit Specialist in your county. Or, you can call a Medicare prescription drug hotline for Illinois residents. People who are 60 or older should call 1-866-456-8211, while people who get Medicare because of a disability should call 1-800-926-4862.
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Free or Reduced-Price Meals for Your Children

Most schools in Illinois provide free or reduced-price meals for children, such as breakfast and lunch. Schools may also provide free milk and after-school snacks. During the summer and other school breaks, your children may be able to get free meals if there is a program in your area. Most schools send home an application for free or reduced-price meals at the beginning of the school year. You can get an application anytime by calling your child’s school and asking for one. Depending on your exact income, your children may be able to get meals for free or for a very low cost. Keep in mind that all children who attend school can buy nutritious, low-priced meals at school, no matter how much income their family has. During the summer and other school breaks, your child may be able to attend a program that provides free meals. In Milwaukee County, the best way to find out about these summer food sites is to dial 211 on your phone. In other counties, click on the link to see a list of where to call.
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The Emergency Food Assistance Program

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a program that provides food at no cost to people with lower incomes who are in need of food. The amount of food will depend on the number of people in your household. This food is available through food pantries and other human service agencies. The place where you get the food will depend on the county where you live. In Dane and Milwaukee counties, the best way to find out where to get TEFAP is to dial 211 on your phone. 211 can help you find the closest place to get emergency food, as well as housing, basic life needs and help with personal issues. In other counties, the best way to find out about emergency food is to call the TEFAP agency for your county at the phone number listed on the screen. Even if it looks like you have too much income to get food from TEFAP, this agency may be able to provide you with other types of emergency food.
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Illinois Home Energy Assistance Program

The Illinois Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) helps people in Illinois pay their heat and electricity bills during the heating season. Your local WHEAP agency may also be able to help you with services like keeping your heat from being turned off or fixing a broken furnace. WHEAP provides a one-time payment between October 1 and May 15. This payment will help with part of your heating costs, not your whole bill. The amount of the benefit is based on the number of people in your home, your total household income, and how much you pay for heat and electricity. In most cases, the total heating benefit is $394 to $802. You may also be able to get a total electricity benefit of $135 to $285. In most cases, the WHEAP payment will be sent directly to your heat and electric company. You will get a letter from the Division of Energy letting you know how much has been credited to your account. You can apply for WHEAP at your local WHEAP agency. The best way to reach this local office is to call the phone number listed on the screen, or click the link to find the office in your county or tribe.
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Tax Credits

Tax credits can be a big boost to your paycheck. They can lower the amount of tax you pay - and in some cases, some or all of the credit may be refunded to you. You’ll need to claim the credits whenever you file your taxes this year. Even if you don’t owe any tax, you could still claim some or all of these credits and get a refund. Keep in mind that the amount of money that may be refunded to you will depend on your exact income and how much tax you owe. Keep in mind that you can get help with filing your taxes from many places, including free tax assistance sites in your community, as well as the Illinois Department of Revenue. We’ve provided a link to a list of free tax assistance sites in Illinois. The people at these sites are familiar with the tax credits you may be able to get, and they will have the correct forms on hand. Most of these tax assistance sites are only open during tax season. If you need help during another time of the year, it’s a good idea to call the Department of Revenue. Here are some basic instructions about how to claim the tax credits it looked like you would be able to get: Federal earned income credit. This is a special tax credit for working people who earn low or moderate incomes. If you don’t have children, you can claim the earned income credit on your regular federal tax form. If you have children, you may also need to fill out a Schedule EIC form in addition to your regular federal tax form. State earned income credit. Illinois provides an additional credit for working people who have children and who qualify for the federal earned income credit. To claim this credit on your state tax form, look for the section that asks about the federal earned income credit. You may need to attach a copy of your federal Schedule EIC or your federal tax return in order to get the state credit. Child tax credit. This is a federal tax credit worth up to $1,000 for each child under 17 who is claimed as a dependent. To claim this credit, you’ll need to look for the child tax credit section when filing your federal taxes. Homestead tax credit. Illinois offers a state Homestead tax credit to people with lower incomes. Keep in mind that you can claim the Homestead credit for a house, an apartment, a rented room, a mobile home, a farm, or a nursing home room. To claim this credit, you will need to complete a Schedule H form when you file your state taxes.
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Local Offices

This section lists the local offices where you can apply for benefits in your county. If the offices aren’t the right ones for you, click Back to make sure you told us the right county. The most important thing to keep in mind is to call ahead before you visit an office. If you call ahead, you can be sure to visit when the office is open. You may also be able to make an appointment so you don’t have to wait to talk with someone.
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Tribal Agency

This section lists the tribal agency where you may be able to apply for benefits if you are a tribal member or live on tribal lands. If the tribal offices aren’t the right ones for you, click Back to make sure you told us the right tribal land. We’ve included this section because some tribes have offices where all tribal members can apply for benefits. These offices are also available to non-tribal members who live on tribal lands. Some tribes do not have a tribal office, so everyone who lives on the tribal lands must apply at the local county office. No matter where you live, you always have the right to apply at your local county office, even if you are a member of a tribe. The most important thing to keep in mind is to call ahead before you visit an office. If you call ahead, you can be sure to visit when the office is open. You may also be able to make an appointment so you don’t have to wait to talk with someone.
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WIC Offices

This section lists the clinic in your area where you can apply for WIC. If the location isn’t the right one for you, click Back to make sure you told us the right county or tribe. Keep in mind that some counties share a WIC clinic. The most important thing to keep in mind is to call ahead before you visit the clinic. If you call ahead, you can be sure to visit when the office is open. You will also be able to make an appointment.
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Print My Information

On this page, you can click the "Print My Information" button to get a print-out of what you told us, what your results are, and all of your next steps. It may be a good idea to take the print-out with you if you go to your local office to apply. In order to see and use the print-out, you will need a computer program called Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most computers have this program, which will start automatically when you click the "Print My Information" button. If your computer doesn’t have this program, you can install it for free by clicking on the link that says "Adobe Acrobat Reader." Once you click this link, follow the steps it gives you to download and install the software. Keep in mind that some web browsers are not updated enough to view the Print My Information document. If you're using Internet Explorer version 4.0 or older, or Netscape Communicator 4.7 or older, you won't be able to open the Print My Information document. If this is the case, you can use the Back button at the bottom of the page to go back to the Results and Next Steps screens. You can print these screens directly from your web browser if you'd like to keep a copy of your information. If you don’t have a printer, you should write down the main phone number for your local office and the names of any programs you may qualify for. In order to keep what you told us private, we will erase everything you typed in after you leave this website. Be sure you make a print-out now or write down anything you need before you leave the website. If you weren’t sure about some of your answers, you can always come back and answer the questions again. If you have friends, family, or neighbors who might be interested in some of these programs, please tell them about this website.
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Send Comments

This page is a chance to tell us what you think about the website. If the website was helpful to you, we’d like to know. If you found parts of it hard to fill out, or if our "help" sections weren’t helpful, we’d like to know so we can make it better. When you make a comment, please explain very clearly and give plenty of details so we know what it is you like or don’t like. In order to keep your comments private, we never ask for your real name or your email address. This also means we can’t reply to you. But, we will be sure to read what you say and we’ll do our best to fix any problems you might have had with the website. Thank you again for visiting this website!
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Exit

When you’re done using this website and you’ve printed out or written down the things you need, click "Exit" to erase all of your answers and return to the first page. Once you click on "Exit", your answers will be gone – so be sure you’re really finished before you click "Exit".
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