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TANF cash grants in Cook County, a Group I location, are listed below. Group I cash grants are the highest in the state. The size of the cash grant is dependent on geographic location within the state (Groups I, II, and III) and the number of eligible family members.
| Group |
Family Size |
Monthly Grant |
| I |
1 |
$212 |
| 2 |
$278 |
| 3 |
$377 |
| 4 |
$414 |
| 5 |
$485 |
| 6 |
$545 |
| 7 |
$574 |
| 8+ |
$604 |
The average cash grant statewide is $314. Approximately 200,000 families receive a monthly TANF grant. Approximately 580,000 persons receive a monthly TANF grant, with 70 percent (406,000) of those being children.
More than 37 percent of TANF families (74,000) have just one child; 30 percent (60,000) have two children; and 17 percent (34,000) have three children. Families with four or more children represent about 16 percent (32,000) of TANF families.
More than 63 percent of the TANF cases (365,400 cases) include a child under age six. The average family stays on TANF about 2.5 years.
Child Care Assistance
In July 1997, Illinois implemented a new, income-based childcare system for working families. The program combines parent co-payments and available state and federal dollars to serve all working families whose income is below 50 percent of the state's median income. This program is available to TANF clients, as long as they are working or in an education or training program.
Medical Assistance
Medical assistance (Medicaid) was not impacted by the federal welfare-reform legislation, and income eligible persons, whether enrolled in the TANF program or not, are able to access health care services.
However, failure to cooperate or comply with TANF rules and regulations and conditions in the client-specific Responsibility and Services Plan can result in a denial of medical services. TANF rules require mothers to cooperate with Child Support Enforcement.
Housing Assistance
Housing assistance is not affected by the federal welfare reform legislation. Housing subsidies are available to eligible persons on a first come/first serve basis.
Food Stamps
Food stamp assistance is linked to personal responsibility and work requirements of the federal welfare reform legislation. The level of food stamp assistance is tied to: a) household income and expenses; b) number of persons in the household living and eating together; and c) amount of available liquid assets.
In order to receive food stamp assistance, a person who is age 18 to 49 must meet the work requirement unless he/she is physically, medically, or mentally unable to work. The work requirement is a minimum of 80 hours per month or earned gross wages of $412.
If the work requirement is not met, an individual can only receive food stamp assistance for three months in a 36-month period.
Exemptions
People who are not able to work for physical, medical, or mental reasons are eligible for General Assistance. General Assistance is administered by the Department of Human Services and consists of two programs:
- Transitional Assistance -- for adults with no dependent children. The monthly grant is $100 with limited medical coverage.
- Family and Children Assistance -- for families with children who need financial assistance but who are not eligible for TANF. Both adult family members and children under age 18 are eligible for Medicaid services. The Family and Children cash grant is determined by the number of eligible household members and the area of the state in which the family lives. Maximum grant levels are listed below and are the same as the TANF grant amounts identified above.
| Family Size |
Monthly Grant |
| 1 |
$165 |
| 2 |
$278 |
| 3 |
$377 |
| 4 |
$414 |
| 5 |
$485 |
| 6 |
$545 |
Sanctions and Penalties
The TANF program allows for sanctions and penalties. Clients will be sanctioned if they do not follow their Responsibility and Services Plan. The first time a client is sanctioned, the cash grant will be cut in half. The grant will be restored to its full level based on immediate cooperation and agreement to comply with conditions in the Plan.
Failure to cooperate within three months after the cash grant has been cut in half will result in elimination of all cash assistance until the client complies with the conditions set forth in the plan.
If the agreement is broken again, the cash grant will be withheld for three months. The client will be eligible for the fourth month if he or she cooperates with conditions in the plan.
Three areas of cooperation are key to remaining eligible for TANF assistance: 1) participate in the minimum required work, education, or training program; 2) ensure that dependent children (grades 1 through 8) attend school regularly; and 3) identify and help locate absent parents, establish paternity, and obtain support payments. Failure to cooperate with the Child Support Enforcement program will result in a denial of medical assistance.
Eligibility and Residency Requirements
A family receiving TANF or AFDC assistance from another State who has moved to Illinois within the preceding 12 months, will have assistance capped at the previous state rate during the first 12 months of Illinois residence.
To be eligible for TANF one must be an Illinois state resident. Convicted felons, parole violators, and those who refuse to work or avoid child support obligations are not eligible for TANF assistance.
Benefits for Legal Non-Citizens
Legal non-citizens are eligible for TANF and General Assistance, except for those who fall under the following eligibility restrictions:
- Refugees, asylees, an alien whose deportation is being withheld, an alien granted conditional entry prior to April 1980.
- Cuban and Haitian entrants.
- Legal permanent residents who entered the country on or after August 22, 1996 are not eligible for the first five years of residence. Aliens who are paroled into the country are not eligible for at least one year.
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