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General Assistance - Questions & Answers

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These questions and answers are not intended to be considered as legal advice. If you desire a legal opinion, we encourage you to contact your township attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is General Assistance?

Answer:  Monthly assistance to meet basic maintenance needs

Question:  How do I get started?

Answer:

1. Make sure you have the current General Assistance Handbook 2004 (Flat grant or Needs Allow.

2. Review it, especially Sections 6 and 9 to become familiar with the income and payment levels.

3. Have a supply of applications on hand

4. Have a locked file to put confidential files in

5. Become familiar with the local food pantries and any social service agencies in your area.  Know who to contact if you need to make a referral.

6. Let your local law enforcement agency know how to contact you if there is an emergency need.

Question:  What if someone calls me for assistance?

Answer:

1. Ask them to fill out an application.  Everyone must be allowed to fill out an application!

2. Once the application is returned to you, look through it.  Use the eligibility checklist found in the Appendix of the General Assistance Handbook.

3. Set up an appointment to meet with the applicant so you can ask them for information you couldn’t get just from the application.

4. Let them know what information you may need to help you determine eligibility

5. Determine if there are any income or assets

6. Tell them you have 30 days to make a decision (but you MUST make a decision by the 30th day).

7. Document what is said and what action was taken.

8. Make copies of the information for your file.

Question:  What should I ask for?

Answer:

1. Identification

2. Proof of residency

3. Birth certificates for children

4. Social Security cards

5. Proof of any income and/or assets

Question:  Then what?

Answer:

1. Interview the applicant.  Ask them any questions you had after looking over their application.

2. If they aren’t working, send them to the unemployment office to check on their status.  If the applicant says he can’t work, ask for verification from the doctor who is treating the applicant.  Ask if they have applied for Social Security Disability.  Has the applicant been fired or quit a job in the last 30 days?  Is the applicant on parole/probation and in compliance?

3. Send them to the Illinois Department of Human Services to apply for:  Cash assistance (TANF if they have children under the age of 18),  food stamps and a medical card and have them return verification that they did that.

4. If there is income, do a budget sheet found in the TSI General Assistance Handbook Appendix.

5. Determine eligibility and the grant amount.

6. Give them written notice of your decision.  Form is in the TSI General Assistance Handbook Appendix.

Question:  How do I give them the grant?

Answer:

1. Check your handbook to see what your township has adopted.

2. It can be by voucher to a vendor.

3. It can be by check to the recipient.

Question:  Do I need to do anything else?

Answer:

1. Set up an appointment for the client to return within the next 30 days

2. Determine any work/training requirements like job searches, worksite assignments.

3. Keep the application and documentation in a secured file drawer.

Question:  What if they want help again next week?  In 2 weeks?

Answer:

1. Let them know the grant is for a month’s assistance

2. Make referrals to social agencies in your area

Question:  What if the grant is not enough to pay all the rent or all the utilities and their other expenses?

Answer:

Your township has established a payment level and that is all they can receive for a month.

Question:  What if someone just wants help with a medical bill or prescription?

Answer:

General Assistance Medical Assistance is ONLY available to a RECIPIENT of General Assistance.  Medical Assistance requires PRIOR approval by the township supervisor.  A township is not responsible for any medical expenses incurred prior to application and/or approval of General Assistance.  Payment of medical assistance is based on the Illinois Department of Public Aid pricing.  Medical Assistance is in ADDITION to the monthly grant.

The General Assistance Handbook gives you directions on how to handle pricing through the Illinois Department of Public Aid. 

Establish a relationship with your local pharmacy so you can call them if you need a price on a prescription at Public Aid pricing for a RECIPIENT.

Question:  Do the trustees have a right to see who I helped or set the amount of assistance?

Answer:

The trustees have authority to see information that they may need to fulfill their function as an auditor of the General Assistance funds.  They are bound by confidentiality.  They cannot tell you who to help or how much to pay a recipient.  The supervisor has sole authority on General Assistance.

Question:  My township doesn’t do General Assistance.  We just help people once a year.

Answer:

1. By statute you must administer General Assistance.  It is not an optional program.  It is one of the three main functions of a township.

2. Emergency Assistance is an optional program your township can provide.  By statute you can only provide assistance to a recipient once in a 12 month period.  You must establish guidelines, income levels, income disregards, payment levels, and determine what assistance you will provide.  Emergency assistance cannot replace General Assistance.

Question:  Where can I get training to do all this?

Be sure to register for the General Assistance Training Institute in the fall.   Click here for details

Keep a list of questions you may have as you go along.  Call your Zone Director or call a General Assistance Training Institute (GATI) trainer or call a supervisor in your area who you know has experience.

These questions and answers are not intended to be considered as legal advice. If you desire a legal opinion, we encourage you to contact your township attorney.

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Rights of Applicants and Recipients

What are the rights of every applicant and recipient?

1. Every person has the right to apply for General Assistance.

2. Every person has the right to request assistance in completing the application.

3. No applicant or recipient shall be discriminated against.

4. Every applicant and recipient is entitled to confidentiality of their case.

5. Every applicant is entitled to a written notification of benefits available.

6. Every applicant is entitled to a written notification of his/her rights and responsibilities under the GA program.

7. Every applicant or recipient is entitled to be treated in a courteous, considerate and respectful manner.

8. Every applicant or recipient is entitled to freedom of choice as to living arrangements with exceptions.

9. Every applicant or recipient is entitled to freedom of choice as to vendors with regard to basic maintenance needs with exceptions.

10. Every applicant or recipient has a right to inspect the contents of his/her case file.

11. Every applicant or recipient is entitled to be referred for other services or programs for which the applicant or recipient may be eligible.

12. Every applicant has a right to a written Notice of Decision.

13. Every recipient has a right to a written Notice of Change.

14. Every applicant or recipient has a right to a Budget Computation Worksheet.

15. Every applicant or recipient has a right to appeal any action, inaction or decision of the GA office.

16. Recipients or former recipients have a right to voluntarily repay all or any portion of General Assistance provided.

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Responsibilities of Applicants and Recipients

What are the responsibilities of applicants and recipients?

1. Every applicant and recipient has a responsibility to provide information necessary to determine initial and continuing eligibility for GA.

2. Every applicant and recipient has a responsibility to assist the GA office in securing information necessary to determine eligibility.

3. Every applicant and recipient has a responsibility to keep all scheduled appointments.

4. Every applicant and recipient has a responsibility to consent to the release of information to the GA office necessary to determine eligibility.

5. Every applicant and recipient has a responsibility to report within 5 days any changes in circumstances that may affect eligibility. (a)       Change of address (b) Household composition (c) Income and assets

6. Every applicant and recipient has a responsibility to apply for all benefits for which the applicant or recipient may be eligible and avail themselves of all potential benefits at the earliest possible opportunity.

7. Every applicant and recipient has a responsibility to utilize all available resources at their disposal.

8. Every applicant and recipient has a responsibility to accept and follow up in good faith all referrals made by the GA office.

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The materials on this page are not intended to be considered as legal advice. If you desire a legal opinion, we encourage you to contact your township attorney.

© Copyright; 2005