Who is eligible?

You may qualify if:

• You are age 65 or older, or blind or have a permanent disability, AND
• You live in Illinois, AND
• Your income and assets are below the program’s income and asset limits, AND
• You are a U.S. citizen or you are an eligible qualified immigrant

Assets

When determining if you can receive help, the state needs to look at assets that you have. The state allows one person to have assets of $2,000; 2 persons - $3,000; and 3 or more persons - $3,000 for the first 2 people, plus $50 for each additional person.

The state does not count:

• Burial space, such as crypt, casket, vault, marker, lot, or opening/closing the grave
• Certain funds set aside for burial, cremation, or funeral expenses
• Some prearranged funeral and burial plans
• One car needed to take you to medical appointments
• The home where you live

Where to apply?

There are a number of ways that you can apply.

1. You can apply on-line with the Illinois Department of Human Services. If you do this on-line application, you can also apply for Food Stamps, and ask to see if you can receive cash help.  After you complete the on-line application, you will need to be interviewed, so the state office will mail you an appointment.
2. You can also apply for Medicaid only.  You can obtain print an application (en Espanol) and mail it to the local Illinois Department of Human Services Office.  Click here to find the office in your area. If you complete this application, you will not have to go into the office for an interview.  Make sure you put your phone number on the application in case the state worker needs to call you. Include copies of all the information that is listed on the application (this information is in the instructions). You will need to provide information about your income and assets. You can ask the state worker for help in obtaining this information.

Applications for Medicaid due to disability

If you need help because you say you are disabled, you will have to prove you are disabled. You can prove you are disabled a number of ways:

• You already receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income because you are disabled
• You receive Railroad Benefits due to a disability
• Or you provide medical records to help prove you are disabled.

If you are applying because of disability or blindness the state needs to obtain medical information that proves your disability in order to make a decision. If you are not able to get this from your existing medical providers the state can help pay for you to have a doctor examine you. If you provide medical reports, the state worker sends the reports you provide to medical review staff in Springfield. They will review the medical reports, and see if you are disabled. The state uses the same rules that are used by Social Security to determine you disabled. These rules are included in the Blue Book which is published by Social Security

What happens after you apply?

(ENGLISH/ESPANOL)

After you apply a letter is sent to you to explain if other information is needed. You may also be called to obtain information about your income and/or assets (checking, savings, retirement accounts, etc.). You will be given 10 days to provide any additional information. If you need more time, or you need help, be sure you tell the caseworker.

Once the application is received by the state, they have 45 days (if you are 65 and older or blind) or 60 days (if you are disabled) to make a decision on whether or not you are eligible for medical benefits.

Since the review process for disability is complex, it can often take more than 60 days to decide if you are disabled. If it takes longer than 60 days call the state caseworker to see if you are eligible to receive temporary medical coverage until the state makes a decision (the state can provide temporary coverage to some people who have waited due to state delays – this coverage does not start until you have waited 70 days).