Once you have seen a doctor, filling needed prescriptions is the next challenge. There are many resources available to help you:

Information regarding Earned Income Credit (EIC); Child Tax Credit (CTC); Circuit Breaker; Education Tax Credit; Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit; Illinois Property Tax Relief

You can receive help with transportation costs to go to a doctor or receive medical care, if you are already enrolled in the All Kids, Family Care or Medicaid program.

Because of a crisis you may be able to be interviewed and receive TANF cash help sooner as well as possibly receive a one time additional benefit.  This is also available to you if you already receive TANF and have one of the crisis listed below.  

Ask about TANF Crisis Assistance if

1. you are a parent or related caregiver of children 18 or younger, AND
2. you are eligible for TANF AND
3. you are:

•  
  • homeless due to a fire, flood or natural disaster;
  • left your home due to domestic violence;
  • your abuser left the home and as a result you have no income or means of support, or
  • you have been evicted for any reason,

If you are newly applying for TANF, you have to apply for both TANF cash and the Crisis Assistance at the same time.   It is best to actually bring in the application for TANF and ask for Crisis Assistance. You can also complete a Cash, Medical, Food assistance request and also a Crisis assistance application and bring both to the office. 

See below to print a copy of the Crisis Assistance application.

Illinois Work Net

Illinois Work Net sites are comprehensive, workforce development centers, providing essential employment and training services. The Work Net is a partnership between the public sector agencies and private businesses within a community.

Programs offered through and funded by the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) are available at a Work Net center specializing in job search services, vocational assessment, and career counseling, and training vouchers.

Individuals and families with a food need and income is within income limits. Eligibility rules vary by the location, so you will need to contact the group where you plan to apply to find out it’s rules.

If you need to find some other type of shelter separate from your home, it is important to understand that many shelters have different entry rules. Since there are so many different programs that provide housing of some type, only programs funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are covered. You can contact the shelter you want or you can access services through one of many hotlines available. If you are homeless you can call 1-800-654-8595.

Paratransit and Elder Van Service: Special curb-to-curb van services are available for persons with disabilities who cannot take the bus because of their disability. Access to paratransit services are limited to Illinois areas that operate public transportation routes, but if your area has public transportation it is required by law to provide paratransit services as well as accessible services. Check out Illinois Department of Transportation to see if your area has public transportation available. You will need to call your public transportation agency and ask about paratransit services.

Social Security provides benefits to dependents of a deceased wage earner who paid sufficient Social Security taxes while working.  If you are not sure if you qualify you can call 1-800-772-1234 and talk with a Social Security representative.

Employment opportunities can be limited if you are an ex-offender, or even someone who has been investigated for any type of crime, whether or not you have been incarcerated, had a favorable disposition, or been falsely convicted.

Meals on Wheels and Other Senior Nutrition Programs

Local Areas on Aging are often the easiest place to begin your search for many nutrition programs and other services targeted to seniors.  You can begin the process by contacting your Area on Aging agency or you can look for help by the program. The Meals on Wheels program is probably the most recognized name of the many programs available to seniors, but there are many other options to explore including dining at a local Senior Center or getting help from the Senior Farmers Market Program.

The Comprehensive Health Insurance Program provides health care coverage for people with conditions that render them uninsurable in the private market and for whom no other health insurance option is available. The Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) is a program established and maintained by the State of Illinois to provide health insurance coverage for residents of Illinois who, due to the existence or history of a medical condition, are unable to acquire coverage through private insurance, an HMO or an employer sponsored group health plan. CHIP is not an insurance company. It is subject to its own enabling Act, and is neither an entitlement nor a welfare program. Based on the amount of state money that is available to subsidize this insurance program, the Board of Directors of CHIP is required to close or limit enrollment in the Traditional CHIP pool in order to ensure there are sufficient resources to meet obligations to existing participants.

Illinois has a number of different Transit Authorities to provide public bus transportation along fixed routes in cities and towns.