Illinois Compiled Statutes
305 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Public Aid Code.
Article IX - Other Social Services

(305 ILCS 5/Art. IX heading)

(305 ILCS 5/9-1) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-1)
Sec. 9-1. Declaration of Purpose. It is the purpose
of this Article to aid applicants for and
recipients of public aid under Articles III, IV, V, and VI, to
increase their capacities for self-support, self-care, and responsible
citizenship, and to assist them in maintaining and strengthening family
life. If authorized pursuant to Section 9-8, this Article may be
extended to former and potential recipients and to persons whose income
does not exceed the standard established to determine eligibility for
aid as a medically indigent person under Article V. The Department, with
the written consent of the Governor, may also:
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-2) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-2)
Sec. 9-2.
Guidance and Counseling Services.
Guidance and counseling services shall be provided directly by the
staffs of the Illinois Department, the County Departments, and local
governmental units, or through cooperating governmental and private
agencies which will assist in preventing or overcoming financial
dependency or social maladjustment; in maintaining and strengthening family
life; in assisting parents who are unmarried, divorced or separated to share
in the support and maintenance of their children; in increasing the capacities of
parents or other adults for
attaining or maintaining a decent and healthful standard of living for
themselves and any children they may have under their care; and in
encouraging and aiding parents or other adults to provide children under
their care with maximum opportunities for realizing their full
potentialities for development.
In local governmental units receiving State funds, the establishment
of such services and the expenditure of funds therefor shall be subject
to the approval and supervision of the Illinois Department.

(Source: P.A. 81-968.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-3)
Sec. 9-3.
Rehabilitative Services.
The Illinois Department, the County Departments, and local governmental
units shall encourage and assist applicants and recipients to make maximum
use of the facilities of public or private agencies providing
rehabilitative services for persons afflicted with physical, mental or
social disabilities requiring specialized care and treatment.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 122.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-4)
Sec. 9-4. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 86-1381. Repealed by P.A. 95-322, eff. 1-1-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-5) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-5)
Sec. 9-5.
Educational programs; vocational training and retraining.
The Illinois Department, the County Departments, and local governmental
units shall cooperate with all public or private education and
vocational training or retraining agencies or facilities operating
within this State, or making their services available to residents of
this State, to the end that there may be developed all necessary
education and vocational training or retraining services and facilities
required to improve the skills of persons receiving aid under Articles
III, V, and VI for whom jobs are not immediately available, or
which will provide education, training, and experience for persons who
lack the skills required for employment opportunities as are or may
become available. The education, training, or retraining services and
facilities shall assure that persons receiving this
assistance who are subject to participation shall become enrolled in, and
attend, programs that will lead to graduation from high school or the
equivalent when the Illinois Department determines these
programs will be beneficial to the person in obtaining employment.
Participants in any educational or vocational training
program shall be provided with an extra allowance towards the costs of
their participation.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6)
Sec. 9-6.
Job Search, Training and Work Programs.
The Illinois Department
and local governmental units shall initiate, promote and develop job search,
training and work programs which will provide employment for and contribute
to the training and experience of persons receiving aid under Articles III,
V, and VI.
The job search, training and work programs shall be designed to preserve and
improve the work habits and skills of recipients for whom jobs are not
otherwise immediately available and to provide training and experience for
recipients who lack the skills required for such employment opportunities as
are or may become available. The Illinois Department and local governmental
unit shall determine by rule those classes of recipients who shall be subject
to participation in such programs. If made subject to participation, every
applicant for or recipient of public aid who is determined to be "able to
engage in employment", as defined by the Department or local governmental unit
pursuant to rules and regulations, for whom unsubsidized jobs are not otherwise
immediately available shall be required to participate in any program
established under this Section.
The Illinois Department shall establish with the Director of Central
Management Services an outreach and training
program designed to encourage and assist recipients participating in job
search, training and work programs to participate in open competitive
examinations for trainee and other entry level positions to maximize
opportunities for placement on open competitive eligible listings and
referral to State agencies for employment consideration.
The Department shall provide payment for transportation, day-care and
Workers' Compensation costs which occur for recipients as a result of
participating in job search, training and work programs as described in
this Section. The Department may decline to initiate such programs in
areas where eligible recipients would be so few in number as to not
economically justify such programs; and in this event the Department shall
not require persons in such areas to participate in any job search,
training, or work programs whatsoever as a condition of their continued
receipt of, or application for, aid.
The programs may include, but shall not be limited to, service in child
care centers, in preschool programs as teacher aides and in public health
programs as home visitors and health aides; the
maintenance of or services required in connection with public offices,
buildings and grounds; state, county and municipal hospitals, forest
preserves, parks, playgrounds, streets and highways, and other
governmental maintenance or construction directed toward environmental
improvement; and similar facilities.
The Illinois Department or local governmental units may enter into agreements
with local taxing bodies and private not-for-profit organizations, agencies
and institutions to provide for the supervision and administration of job
search, work and training projects authorized by this Section. Such agreements
shall stipulate the requirements for utilization of recipients in such
projects. In addition to any other requirements dealing with the
administration of these programs, the Department shall assure, pursuant to
rules and regulations, that:
Local taxing bodies and private not-for-profit organizations, agencies
and institutions which utilize recipients in job search, work and training
projects authorized by this Section are urged to include such recipients in the
formulation of their employment policies.
Unless directly paid by an employing local taxing body or not-for-profit
agency, a recipient participating in a work project who meets all requirements
set forth by the Illinois Department shall receive credit towards his or
her monthly assistance benefits for work performed based upon the applicable
minimum wage rate. Where a recipient is paid directly by an employing agency,
the Illinois Department or local governmental unit shall provide for payment
to such employing entity the appropriate amount of assistance benefits to
which the recipient would otherwise be entitled under this Code.
The Illinois Department or its designee, including local governmental units,
may enter into agreements with the agencies or institutions providing work
under programs established hereunder for payment to each such employer
(hereinafter called "public service employer") of all or a portion of the
wages to be paid to persons for the work performed and other appropriate costs.
If the number of persons receiving aid under Article VI is insufficient
to justify the establishment of job search, training and work programs
on a local basis by a local governmental unit, or if for other good cause the
establishment of a local program is impractical or unwarranted, the local
governmental unit shall cooperate with other local governmental units, with
civic and non-profit community agencies, and with the Illinois Department in
developing a program or programs which will jointly serve the participating
governmental units and agencies.
A local governmental unit receiving State funds shall refer all
recipients able to engage in employment to such job search, training and work
programs as are established, whether within or without the governmental
unit, and as are accessible to persons receiving aid from the governmental
unit. The Illinois Department shall withhold allocation of state funds to
any governmental unit which fails or refuses to make such referrals.
Participants in job search, training and work programs shall be required
to maintain current registration for regular employment under Section 11-10
and to accept any bona fide offer of regular employment. They shall
likewise be required to accept education, work and training opportunities
available to them under other provisions of this Code or Federal law. The
Illinois Department or local governmental unit shall provide by rule for
periodic review of the circumstances of each participant to determine the
feasibility of his placement in regular employment or other work, education
and training opportunities.
Moneys made available for public aid purposes under Articles IV
and VI may be expended to pay public service employers all or a
portion of the wages of public service employees and other appropriate
costs, to provide necessary supervisory personnel and equipment, to
purchase Workers' Compensation Insurance or to pay Workers' Compensation
claims, and to provide transportation to and from work sites.
The Department shall provide through rules and regulations for sanctions
against applicants and recipients of aid under this Code who fail to cooperate
with the regulations and requirements established pursuant to this Section.
Such sanctions may include the loss of eligibility to receive aid under
Article VI of this Code for up to 3 months.
The Department, in cooperation with a local governmental unit, may maintain
a roster of persons who are required to participate in a local job search,
training and work program. In such cases, the roster shall be available
for inspection by employers for the selection of possible workers.
In addition to the programs authorized by this Section, the Illinois
Department is authorized to administer any job search, training or work
projects in conjunction with the Federal Food Stamp Program, either under
this Section or under other regulations required by the Federal government.
The Illinois Department may also administer pilot programs to provide job
search, training and work programs to unemployed parents of children
receiving child support enforcement services under Article X of this
Code.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02; 92-590, eff. 7-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.01) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.01)
Sec. 9-6.01.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 86-909. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.02) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.02)
Sec. 9-6.02.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 86-1028. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.03) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.03)
Sec. 9-6.03.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-1116. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.04)
Sec. 9-6.04.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-170. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.1)
Sec. 9-6.1. Housing Education Program.
The Illinois Department shall establish,
either directly or by contract, a pilot project for a housing education
program that will provide persons receiving aid under Articles III, IV, V,
and
VI with instructions in the care and maintenance of dwelling units,
in the essentials of adequate housekeeping, and the problems of urban
living. If in accord with Federal law and regulations governing grants to
this State for public aid purposes, the Department may require recipients
to attend a housing education program. Non-recipients to whom services have
been extended under the provisions of Section 9-8 may also attend and
participate in a housing education program established hereunder.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02; 93-632, eff. 2-1-04.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.2)
Sec. 9-6.2.
Township assistance to county convalescent homes.
In
counties under township organization, the several townships therein which
do not receive State funds for general assistance may provide, from moneys received
and collected for public aid to all persons eligible therefor under
Article VI of this Code, funds for the operation costs of any county
convalescent home in the county, in addition to payment of patient expenses
otherwise provided for under this Code. No township which receives State
funds for general assistance may use moneys received and collected for public aid for
such assistance to county convalescent homes. "County convalescent
home" shall refer to any facility that was established by a county
according to the provisions of Division 5-21 of the Counties Code or its
predecessor.

(Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.3)
Sec. 9-6.3.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 86-1028. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-6.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-6.4)
Sec. 9-6.4.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 85-1209. Repealed by P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-7) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-7)
Sec. 9-7.

Establishing Services Not Otherwise Available-State Supervision of
Services in Local Units Receiving State Funds.
Where the services or facilities authorized by Sections 9-3 or 9-5 are
not available or insufficient to meet needs, the Illinois Department or
local governmental unit may establish and provide such services and
facilities. If the local governmental unit receives State funds for such
services or facilities under Sections 9-3 or 9-5, or for any local or joint
programs under Section 9-6, the establishment of such services, facilities
or programs and the expenditure of funds therefor shall be subject to the
approval and supervision of the Illinois Department.

(Source: P.A. 77-1802.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-8) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-8)
Sec. 9-8. Extension of Coverage.) If appropriate and sufficient facilities
are not available through
other agencies, the Illinois
Department may extend those services provided in this Article which
relate to work adjustment, education, training, and counseling and
guidance on problems of child care, family relationships, home and money
management, transportation, and health, to one or both of the following:
The services may be continued for such time as may be necessary to
overcome the conditions which may result in dependency upon financial
aid but each case shall be reviewed at least quarterly to assure that
the services are not continued beyond a reasonable period of time.
Any extension of services under the foregoing provisions shall be
limited to a pilot county or counties, or other test area, until the
cost and effectiveness of the services provided are determined to be in
the public interest.
The Illinois Department may also extend the educational and
vocational training programs provided under Section 9-5 or Section 9-7
to persons whose income does not exceed the standard established to
determine eligibility for aid as a medically indigent person under
Article V, subject to the minimum quarterly review requirement
established in this Section for persons designated in subparagraphs (1)
and (2).

(Source: P.A. 93-632, eff. 2-1-04.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-9) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-9)
Sec. 9-9.
The Illinois Department shall make information
available in its local
offices informing clients about programs concerning substance use disorder and prevention programs.

(Source: P.A. 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-10) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-10)
Sec. 9-10.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 87-528. Repealed by P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-11) (from Ch. 23, par. 9-11)
Sec. 9-11.

The Illinois Department may make disbursements to any attorney,
or advocate working under the supervision of an attorney, who represents a
recipient of cash assistance under Article VI in a program administered by the
Illinois Department, in an appeal of any claim for federal veterans'
benefits before a hearing officer at a Veterans' Administration Regional
Office or upon an initial appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals which is
decided in favor of the recipient. The amount of the disbursement shall be
equal to the disbursement awarded under Section 3-13 of this Code. No
disbursement shall be made unless a petition and a copy of the favorable
decision is submitted by an attorney or advocate to the Illinois Department
within 60 days of the date of the favorable decision. The disbursement
shall be made within 30 days after the petition is received. The Illinois
Department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement
this Section.

(Source: P.A. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-12)
Sec. 9-12.
(Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-412; Repealed by P.A. 91-599, eff. 8-14-99.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-13)
Sec. 9-13. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07. Repealed by P.A. 95-322, eff. 1-1-08.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-14)
Sec. 9-14. Small business grant program. Subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may establish a small business grant program for public aid recipients who are interested in developing a new start-up business. Grant applicants must submit an initial business plan or proposal to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that clearly articulates the viability of the new start-up business and how the grant money will be used to develop the business. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall use such application materials to determine an applicant's eligibility under the program, the grant amount to be awarded, if applicable, and the number of grants an eligible applicant will receive under the program. If an applicant is determined by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to be eligible for a small business grant, the applicant must submit to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity every year that he or she participates in the program or applies for a new grant an updated business plan or proposal that demonstrates the continued viability or progress of the new start-up business. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this provision, including rules on the minimum and maximum grant amounts awarded under the program, the number of grants an applicant may apply for or receive during a specified period of time, and application requirements.

(Source: P.A. 100-347, eff. 1-1-18.)

(305 ILCS 5/9-15)
Sec. 9-15. Township food pantries. In a county under township organization, a township may provide, from moneys received and collected for public aid to all persons eligible therefor under Article VI of this Code, funds and administer programs for providing in-kind aid in meeting basic maintenance requirements, including, but not limited to, food, paper goods, toiletries, and clothing, to persons who are poor, indigent, homeless, or in need of immediate assistance, in addition to financial aid provided under this Code.

(Source: P.A. 101-309, eff. 1-1-20.)