Eligibility criteria

Section 117 Section 117.300  Eligibility criteria a)         The number of eligible families chosen to participate in the Family Assistance Program shall be contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by the General Assembly for these purposes. b)         To be eligible, a family must meet all of the following criteria: 1)         Have a child 17 years old or younger who has a diagnosis of one of the conditions described in Section 117.200(b)(6) and who lives in the home.  The eligible child may be living in an out-of-home placement at the time of application but must live with the parent within 60 days after the date of being notified of acceptance. 2)         Reside in Illinois. 3)         Have a maximum household federal taxable income of less than $65,000 annually (natural or adoptive family) as verified by the family's federal income tax return.  Income eligibility shall be based on the year immediately preceding the date of application, unless the family can verify that its federal taxable income shall be less in the year the application is made.  Families who can verify that they did not file an income tax return because of limited income shall be considered eligible.  Such families shall be required to verify household income by listing all of their income from all sources from the previous year.  The family income limit shall not apply to children in foster care.  In such cases, the foster child's income shall be the determinant. 4)         Apply annually.