• Individuals with disabilities who are under age 60 at the time of application and who would otherwise require care in a nursing facility (NF).
  
  
• Individuals 60 years or older, who began services before age 60, may choose to remain in this waiver.

Eligibility Criteria:

• U.S. Citizen or legal alien
  
  
• Be a resident of the State of Illinois
  
  
• Under age 18, family non-exempt assets less than $35,000*
  
  
• Over age 18, individual non-exempt assets under $17,500*
  
  
• Be under age 60 at time of application
  
  
• Medical determination of a diagnosed, severe disability, which is expected to last for 12 months or for the duration of life
  
  
• Be at risk of nursing facility placement, as measured by the Determination of Need (DON) assessment, with a minimum score of 15 on functional impairment and a total of 29 points
  
  
• Ability to be maintained safely in the home at a service cost which does not exceed that of NF care as measured by the DON

• Personal Assistant (PA) – Services provided by individuals who are selected, employed and supervised by the customer. These individuals may assist with or perform household tasks, personal care and, with the permission of a physician, certain health care procedures.
  
  
• Homemaker (HM) – Personal care and household tasks provided by trained and professionally supervised staff employed by homemaker agencies for customers who are unable to direct the services of a PA.
  
  
  
• Adult Day Care (ADC) – ADC provides direct care and supervision in community-based setting for the purpose of providing personal attention, and promoting social, physical and emotional well being in a structured setting.
  
  
• Environmental/Accessibility Modifications - Services to physically modify the customer’s home to accommodate the customer’s loss of function in the completion of his/her ADLs.
  
  
• Assistive Equipment – Devices or equipment that increase an individual’s independence and ability to perform household or personal care tasks safely in the home or as necessary to promote safety of the customer/caregiver in the performance of activities of daily living.
  
  
• Home Delivered Meals – One or more ready-to-eat meals per day which are delivered to the home. This service is provided to individuals who can feed themselves but are unable to prepare a meal.
  
  
• Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) – A rented signaling device from a community service organization, which provides 24-hour emergency coverage permitting individuals to alert trained professionals at hospitals, fire and police departments. The client’s choice of providers is recorded and contacted prior to contacting emergency entities.
  
  
• Respite - Temporary care for adults and children with disabilities aimed at relieving the family’s stress. Respite may be provided for vacations, rest, errands, taking a break, a family crisis or an emergency. Services may include personal assistant, homemaker, home health, or adult day care. Services are available for a maximum of 240 hours per year.
  
  
• Individual and Agency-based Home Health Services (Extended State Plan Services) - Services may be provided under the waiver if the individual does not meet the approved eligibility requirements for the State Plan services.
  
  
  • Home health care (includes skilled nursing and home health aide)
    
  • Therapies: speech, hearing, and language (ST); physical (PT); and occupational (OT)

Service Exclusion:

The waiver does not cover items or services that are otherwise available under the State's approved Medical program.

Services Setting:

• In the home of the person with a disability; and
  
  
• Approved adult day care programs

How to Access Services:

• Point of Entry – Local DHS–DRS Offices or the DRS central office 217-782-2722
  
  
• Local offices can be found using Office Locator or call: 1-800-843-6154 (#4 on menu) or 1-800-447-6404 (TTY)
  
  
• Online referrals:http://drs.dhs.state.il.us/
  
  
• Divsion of Rehabilitation Services (DRS): http://www.dhs.state.il.us/ors/