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Illinois Department of
Human Services
The Illinois Department of Human
Services offers several financial
and public assistance programs to
the low income and people faced
with an emergency.
State residents who need cash
assistance to help make it through
a difficult period may be able to get
assistance from one of several resources.
Get more information on Illinois
social services and public assistance
by county below, or call them at
1-800-843-6154.
Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF)
The Illinois Department of Human
Services runs the Temporary Assistance
or Needy Families (TANF) program,
which is focused on families with
one or more dependent children
and/or pregnant women.
Qualified individuals may be able
to get help with a temporary cash
assistance and other government
benefits.
Some of the expenses that
TANF in Illinois can help pay for
include utilities, food, shelter,
housing, and other emergencies
expenses other than medical bills.
The publicly funded Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families program
maybe able to offer cash grants
and temporary financial assistance
for either of the following categories
of families.
Resources can help either pregnant
women or assistance is offered for
families with one or more dependent
children.
Money from TANF can help pay for
basic needs and expenses that people
have every day, like food, utilities,
rent, and housing.
Read more on cash assistance in Illinois.
In addition, another key of the public
assistance program is paying for
transitional services and self-sufficiency
type programs.
The state of Illinois wants to ensure that
families become independent, so TANF
supports and can help with items such as
GED preparation
Job retention services
Vocational training
Postsecondary education
Classes in basic English
Help with childcare
Work stipends
Help people find work, etc.
