ILLINOIS

Illinois Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Starting July 1, 2026, CASH (Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households) will replace  the traditional TANF program, providing cash assistance to eligible families at 40% of the federal poverty level.

Illinois TANF is one of Illinois’ cash assistance programs that provides temporary financial assistance to help pay for food, shelter, utilities, and expenses other than medical.

The program is primarily designed for families with children under age 19 as well as pregnant women with limited income and assets.

Recipients are often required to participate in work-related activities, such as job search, training, or education, to receive benefits.

How much money do I get for TANF in Illinois?

TANF benefits in Illinois vary by household size, income, and available resources. A family of three with no income may receive up to $753 per month in cash assistance.

Cash benefits are issued monthly through the Illinois Link Card, which works like a debit card at authorized retailers and ATMs that accept EBT.

How do I apply for TANF in Illinois?

Applications for TANF can be done online through Application for Benefits Eligibility  (ABE) which is Illinois’ web-based portal for Medicaid, SNAP and cash assistance.

Illinois Department of Human Services
DHS Customer Helpline
(800) 843-6154

Illinois Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Illinois SNAP (formerly Illinois Food Stamps) helps low-income individuals and families afford a nutritionally adequate diet by providing monthly food assistance benefits.

The program serves families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and recipients of other public assistance.

As a condition of eligibility, work-eligible adults who aren’t exempt must actively seek employment or participate in an approved employment and training program. ¹

What is the income limit for SNAP benefits in Illinois?

In Illinois, you may qualify for SNAP benefits if your household’s gross monthly income is at or below 165% of the federal poverty guidelines.

How do I apply for food stamps in Illinois?

Use the Application for Benefits Eligibility  (ABE) to apply for SNAP online or use the pre-screening tool  to help you estimate what you may be eligible to receive before you apply.

Once your application is received, you will receive a phone call or written notice from the Department of Human Services (DHS) within 1 to 14 days for your “benefits interview”.

Illinois Department of Human Services
DHS Customer Helpline
(800) 843-6154

Help Illinois Families

Help Illinois Families  is a new initiative to help eligible Illinoisans seeking emergency assistance to cover costs of utility bills, rent, temporary shelter, food, and other household necessities.

This initiative remains available for all qualifying families with income up to 200% of the federal poverty level as shown in the chart below.

Filling out the online form  is the first step in a process that will be completed by local agencies throughout the state. All applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis and subject to funding availability.

If you need assistance with completing and submitting your information, contact the call center for assistance.

Help Illinois Families
(833) 711-0374

Illinois Medicaid

Illinois Medicaid provides comprehensive health coverage to eligible low-income residents, including children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Most enrollees are covered for comprehensive services, usually with $0 or minimal premiums, including but not limited to:

• doctor visits
• dental care
• well-child care
• immunizations for children
• mental health and substance abuse services
• hospital care
• emergency services
• prescription drug

Once enrolled, members must choose a health plan through HealthChoice Illinois , which coordinates care through a network of doctors, specialists, and hospitals.

What is the income limit for Medicaid in Illinois?

As Illinois is expanding Medicaid coverage, most non-elderly adults age between 19—64 with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL) are now eligible for Medicaid.

Children under the age of 18 are covered up to 318% FPL under All Kids (CHIP), regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

How do I apply for Medicaid in Illinois?

If you’re not already insured, you can apply

• online using the Application for Benefits Eligibility  (ABE) Portal,
• over the phone by calling the DHS Help Line at (800) 843-6154, or
• call Get Covered Illinois at (866) 311-1119 to schedule an in-person appointment.

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Medicaid Customer Service
(800) 843-6154

Illinois All Kids (CHIP)

Illinois’ All Kids offers health care coverage to Illinois children that includes doctors visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, vision & dental care and eyeglasses. ²

All Kids are available at no cost or at low cost. Depending on your income level , you may have to pay an affordable monthly premium for coverage, with most in the $15 to $40 range.

These costs are called co-payments. But no family ever has to pay a co-payment for their children’s regular check-ups and immunizations.

What is the income limit for Illinois All Kids?

All Kids covers children under the age of 18 in families with income up to 318% of the federal poverty level. For a family of three, that’s about $7,062 a month.

Families with income above the 318% FPL threshold may still qualify for All Kids Premium , which require small monthly premiums and co-pays for certain services.

How do I apply for CHIP in Illinois?

You can apply for your child using the Application for Benefits Eligibility  (ABE) Portal or by visiting a local IDHS office. There are also All Kids Application Agents ³ all over Illinois that can help you with the application.

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
All Kids Hotline
(866) 255-5437

Illinois FamilyCare

Illinois’ FamilyCare offers healthcare coverage to parents living with their children 18 years old or younger as well as relatives who are caring for children in place of their parents.

Like All Kids, FamilyCare covers doctor visits, specialty medical services, hospital care, emergency services, prescription drugs and more.

For most families with income below 138% , FamilyCare will be free but there may be small co-pays, from $2 to $3.90, for doctor visits and prescriptions.

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
FamilyCare Hotline
(866) 255-5437

Illinois Special Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

Illinois WIC provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care, at no cost, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5.

In order to qualify, you must be a resident of the state of Illinois who meet the WIC income eligibility guidelines and be individually determined by a health professional to be “at nutritional risk”.

How long can I get WIC in Illinois?

In Illinois, WIC benefits last for different lengths of time depending on who is receiving them:

• Pregnant women: through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth
• Breastfeeding women: up to 12 months after childbirth
• Non-breastfeeding postpartum women: up to 6 months after childbirth
• Infants: from birth until their first birthday
• Children: from age 1 until their 5th birthday

WIC is not automatic. Participants must recertify periodically to continue receiving benefits.

How do I apply for WIC in Illinois?

WIC services are provided in communities throughout the state. Use the DHS Office Locator  to find your local WIC office near you.

Illinois Department of Human Services
State WIC Office
(217) 782-2166

Illinois Head Start

Illinois Head Start promotes school readiness for children in low-income families between the ages of 3 and 5. It does this by providing comprehensive educational, health, nutritional, and family support services.

It offers Early Head Start (birth—3) and Head Start (3—5) in center-based, home-based, or family child care settings, serving nearly 30,000 children statewide.

What is the income limit for Head Start in Illinois?

A family is eligible for the Head Start program if its household income is at or below the federal poverty level. That’s about $2,221 per month for a family of three.

Children in foster care, homeless children, and children from families already receiving public assistance (TANF or SSI) are automatically eligible for Head Start regardless of income.

Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are primary providers of Head Start programs across Illinois. If you need help to find a Head Start program near your home, use the Head Start Center Locator  or call

Illinois Department of Human Services
Office of Head Start (OHS)
(866) 763-6481

Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

Administered by Department of Human Services, Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps pay for child care expenses for income-eligible families in Illinois.

It provides financial help to low-to-middle-income families to cover the cost of childcare while parents are working, looking for work, or attending school.

Families are required to cost-share on a sliding scale based on family size, income, and number of children in care. You may use the Eligibility Calculator  to see if you qualify and to determine your co-pay.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Illinois?

A family in Illinois is considered “income eligible ” when the total gross monthly income is at or below 225% of the federal poverty level at the time of initial application or up to 275% at the time of redetermination.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Illinois?

To apply for CCAP, you must complete and submit a Child Care Application (form 3455) to your local CCR&R  or child care agency along with other documentation. ⁴

Illinois Department of Human Services
Bureau of Child Care and Development
(800) 843-6154

Illinois SUN Bucks

Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, provides families with a monthly grocery benefit to feed their school-aged children for three summer months (June, July, August) when they are not receiving free or reduced-price meals at school.

SUN Bucks can be used to purchase the same foods approved for SNAP, including

• Breads and cereals
• Fruits and vegetables
• Meats, fish and poultry
• Dairy products
• Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat
• Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers and ice cream
• Seafood, steak and bakery cakes

Each eligible child (ages 6—18) will get one card with $120 to buy groceries. The benefits will be added to an existing EBT card or a newly issued Summer EBT card.

To check whether your child will receive automatic benefits or if an application is needed, click on Summer EBT Screener at abe.illinois.gov .

Illinois Department of Human Services
Summer EBT Hotline
(833) 621-0737

Illinois Summer Food Service

The aim of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is to serve nutritious meals to children in low-income areas during the months of June, July, and August when school is out.

There is no application necessary to receive a meal and you do not have to show proof of income. Kids and teens ages 18 and younger can just show up at a summer meal site for a free breakfast or lunch — no questions asked.

To find a Summer Meals Site near you, call (800) 359-2163, or text FOODIL to 877877. If you are in need of emergency or supplemental food, please visit Feeding Illinois .

Does Illinois have free lunch program?

Illinois have passed a new law  that will allow K-12 students to get free school lunches. Students across Illinois will soon get free breakfast and lunches at school, no matter their family’s income.

Illinois joins a list of other states working to fill the gaps left when the waivers that provided free meals to all kids during the COVID-19 pandemic expired.

Illinois Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

LIHEAP will begin accepting applications on October 1, 2025, through August 15, 2026, or until funding is exhausted.

Illinois’ Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is designed to assist eligible households pay for their energy bills.

There are two kinds of LIHEAP assistance available:

1. Direct Vendor Payment (DVP) is a one-time payment applicable to all income eligible households.
2. Crisis Assistance offers Reconnection Assistance within 48 hours, or 18 hours if the temperature is below 32°F.

How much does LIHEAP pay in Illinois?

The maximum benefit amount varies based on the program year and household circumstances. For example, a “crisis” benefit could be up to $2,075.

What is the monthly income limit for LIHEAP in Illinois?

Households may qualify if their income does not exceed 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). For a family of three, the current income limit in a 30-day period is $5,382.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Illinois?

Households struggling to pay their utility bills are encouraged to contact their local Community Action Agency  to apply for LIHEAP. ⁵

Applications will be accepted until August 15, 2026, or until available funds are depleted.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
(877) 411-9276

Illinois Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR)

Low-income discount rates for electric customers of ComEd and Ameren Illinois (electric) are scheduled to launch in February 2026 and June 2026, respectively.

In Illinois, households with incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) can receive a discount on their natural gas bills through the Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) program.

The program is currently in effect for customers of gas utilities like Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas, and Peoples Gas, as well as private water companies Aqua Illinois and Illinois American Water.

The LIDR program is a multi-tiered system in which the discounts range from 5 percent to 83 percent for the lowest-income bracket.

The discount percentage depends on the utility provider and the customer’s income tier. If a customer has received LIHEAP in the past year, the discount may be automatically applied to their utility bill.

Illinois Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

NOTICE: Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households may not receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.

Illinois LIHWAP provides low-income households in Illinois with up to $1,500 for water and wastewater services based on poverty level.

Households facing the threat of disconnection, or those that have already been disconnected, may be eligible for LIHWAP.

Applications for LIHWAP are open through September 30, 2023, pending funding availability. The application process and requirements are the same as for LIHEAP.

How do I get help paying my water bill in Illinois?

If you need help with the application, please call (833) 711-0374 or visit any one of 34 Community Action Agencies located statewide.

Illinois Unemployment Insurance

Illinois Unemployment Insurance (UI) is a state-operated insurance program designed to partially replace lost wages when you are out of work through no fault of your own.

If you meet the eligibility requirements of the law, you’re entitled to UI benefits while you are looking for a new job, up to a maximum of 26 weeks

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits in Illinois, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period’ and must have:

1. earned at least $1,600 in a recent 12-month ‘base period’ before filing a claim, and
2. at least $440 of those wages must come from a quarter outside your highest-paid quarter.

For example, if you earned $1,600 total but all of it was in a single quarter, you would not qualify since at least $440 must come from another quarter.

How much do I get for unemployment in Illinois?

In Illinois, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit amount is $628 with no dependents, $748 with a dependent spouse, or $859 with one or more dependent children. ⁶

The exact amount depends on your past earnings and the date your claim is filed, as benefit calculations are based on your recent wage history.

How do I file for unemployment in Illinois?

Claims for UI benefits can be filed online  through Illinois Benefits Information System (IBIS) system or if you wish to file in person, find an IDES office nearest you.

As a condition of eligibility, you are required to register with IllinoisJobLink.com  (IJL) to be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Illinois Department of Employment Security
Claimant Services Center
(800) 244-5631

Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant

Illinois MAP Grant is available from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need.

The maximum annual award for Illinois MAP is $8,064, covering only tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduates and may vary on each academic year.

How to apply for Illinois MAP grant?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the application for the MAP Grant. Illinois residents who complete the FAFSA by March 1 are automatically considered for MAP.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
Student Services Call Center
(800) 899-4722

Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit

Illinois EITC piggybacks on the federal credit by using federal eligibility rules to determine whether a family is eligible for the state EITC. In most cases, all Illinois taxpayers with earned income under $68,675 who qualify for the federal credit are eligible automatically.

For tax years beginning on 2023, the state’s EITC is expanded to 20% and eligibility has been expanded to childless workers aged 18–24 and 65 and older, as well as ITIN filers.

Because it’s a refundable credit, families who qualify and claim the credit could pay less federal tax, pay no tax or even get a tax refund when the credit amount exceeds their tax liability.

How much is Illinois Earned Income Credit?

Can I get a refund if I owe no tax in Illinois?

If your Illinois EITC is $1,609 and you owe $0 in state income tax, and you receive the full $1,609 as a refund as illustrated in the table below: