Grants for Disabled People in Illinois
Disability affects 2,320,119 individuals in Illinois. This equates to 23% or one percent of adults. There are several programs and services offered throughout the state to support disabled people in Illinois. Some of these services come in the form of grants that help these people and their families pay their bills, buy food, and have access to medical assistance. Apart from the state grants, there are charities and organizations dedicated to serving Illinoisans with disabilities. Read this article to find out more about grants for disabled people in Illinois.
State Assistance For People with Disabilities
The Persons with Disabilities (P.D.) waiver
The percentage of individuals in Illinois who have one of these specific functional impairment classes is equal to 23%. Individualized assistance and support are offered to people with disabilities who reside in their homes under the Persons with Disabilities (P.D.) waiver. These services are made available to those who ordinarily need care in a nursing home. The Home Services Provision includes a program called the Persons with Disabilities waiver. Read more at https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalclients/hcbs/disablities.html.
Healthcare Assistance for Disabled People
Medicaid and Medicare Services
The Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (ICF-I/DD) waiver is available to adults (18 years of age and older) with a developmental impairment and who are at risk of being placed there. This Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver is administered and supervised by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), which is the state Medicaid Agency (M.A.). https://www.cms.gov/medicaid-chip/medicare-coordination/financial-alignment/il.
Social Security Assistance for Disabled Persons
The Illinois Department of Human Services determines Illinois residents’ eligibility for payments under the Social Security disability programs. These benefits include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is available to qualified disabled people with limited income and resources. Another is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), available to qualified disabled people who have worked and paid into the Social Security fund through payroll deductions. For more information, visit https://www.illinoisworknet.com/ILDS/About/Pages/IDHS.aspx.
Financial Assistance for Disabled People
Aid to the Aged Blind or Disabled (AABD)
The program is designed for those who are disabled, old, or blind and require financial assistance and medical treatment to take care of themselves. It is possible to access the AABD Cash program through the Illinois Department of Human Services. Read more at https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/aid-aged-blind-disabled-aabd.
Housing and Rent Assistance
Supportive Housing
Supportive housing is low-cost rental homes for those with impairments (or many barriers to community life) PLUS the social/health services (including behavioral and physical health) they need and require to succeed in the community.
Development’s Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance Program provides supportive housing for people with disabilities. The initiative offers cheap housing coupled with voluntary services and supports to help the lowest-income persons with disabilities live freely in the community.
Utility Bill Assistance
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The program assists low-income households in paying for home energy services. Energy prices may put a significant and ongoing strain on a family’s finances. In other cases, households are forced to make difficult decisions about which expenses to pay and which requirements to forego. Read more at https://dceo.illinois.gov/communityservices/utilitybillassistance.html.
Transportation Assistance
Illinois Department for Human Services
Home-Based Services – Transportation, Non-Medical
Services provided by the DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Adult Home-Based Services (HBS) program fall under the category of non-medical transportation. Children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have been given the go-ahead to receive D.D. Medicaid waiver services have the Home-Based Service (HBS) program as one of their options. The HBS program gives participants a monthly budget that they may use to pay for the services and supports that are required to maintain family living arrangements or to live independently in the community. Transport services may be obtained from the monthly budget for the individual to have access to personal and community activities, programs, and resources as indicated by the personal plan. Read more at https://shoreservices.org/home-based-services-2/
Food Assistance for Disabled Persons
In-Home Service (Homemaker)
In-Home services are given by a qualified homecare aide that includes general household tasks (preparation of meals and regular domestic care) and personal care when a disabled person cannot manage the house and take care of themselves. Aides who need home care must adhere to the State’s criteria for education and training. https://homehelpershomecare.com/services/care-and-companionship/homemaker-services/.
Dental Assistance Program
The Dental Grant Program of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) aims to improve access to dental care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) that are not covered by Medicaid or exceed the benefit cap permitted by Medicaid. Accessing dental treatment that is attentive to and accessible for their particular support requirements is difficult for people with I/DD. Read more at https://dddfoundation.org/.
Assistance for Disabled Veterans
For Medicare recipients and their caregivers, SHIP offers a free, statewide health insurance counseling service. Visitors may discover resources and information about applying for Medicare in this section, as well as links to local resources where they can obtain help with the process. They can also access tools that SHIP locations around the State can use to assist Medicare enrollees. Read more at https://www.wiu.edu/student_success/veterans/resourceGuide/IL_DeptOfVeteransAffairs.php.
. Clothing Allowance
Disabled Veterans who wear or utilize an orthopedic or prosthetic device that tends to wear or tear clothes get a Clothing Allowance annually due to a service-connected disability. They also take medicine recommended by a doctor for a skin condition brought on by a service-connected disability that permanently damages the Veteran’s outer clothing. Read more at https://militarypay.defense.gov/PAY/Allowances/clothing.aspx.
Assistance for Disabled Seniors
The Community Care Program
CCP is a 1915(c) waiver for home and community-based- based care programs under the Medicaid Program. Any individual who applies for the program and is eligible according to the existing eligibility conditions will receive services under the Community Care Program.
Senior Health Insurance Program
For Medicare recipients and their caregivers, SHIP offers a free, statewide health insurance counseling service. Visitors may discover resources and information about applying for Medicare in this section, as well as links to local resources where they can obtain help with the process. They can also access tools that SHIP locations around the State can use to assist Medicare enrollees. Read at https://ilaging.illinois.gov/.
Ride Lake County
This paratransit service offers disabled seniors transportation to any location in Lake County for employment, shopping, medical appointments, and other purposes. The service is reservation-based. Thus the trucks follow a different itinerary than every day. The cars provide curb-to-curb service from the riders’ preferred pick-up and drop-off locations when excursions are scheduled in advance. As a shared-ride service, in Ride Lake County, cars may stop for more passengers.
Assistance for Disabled Individuals from Charities
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet-Emergency Services-Homeless Prevention
Catholic Charities helps people in need with housing, food, transportation, prescriptions, and clothes. Their services include; Housing-Based Coordinated Entry, Medication Expense Assistance, Rent Security Deposit Help, Rent Payment Aid, Transport Passes, Clothing Vouchers, Food Vouchers, and Basic Commodities Vouchers. Read more at https://211dupage.gov/index.php?option=com_cpx&task=search.query&code=BM-6500.
The Arc of Illinois
The Arc of Illinois campaigns for people with mental and progressive disabilities, public groups, and families to ensure that people with disabilities may live, play, learn, and work in communities throughout the state.
The Arc offers information and resources, aids families in their particular advocacy plans, and teaches and instructs disabled people, their family members, and professionals, among other things. Here is a list of additional services https://thearc.org/chapter/the-arc-of-illinois/.
