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The Illinois Home Services Program, explained

Help at home for adults under 60 living with a disability. Who qualifies and how to apply.

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At a glanceIllinois Department of Human Services
Reviewed Oct 2026
  • AgeUnder 60 when you apply
  • NeedA disability lasting 12+ months
  • Savings$17,500 or less
  • Cost shareNone
  • Apply(800) 843-6154
SourcesHow to start

Who it’s for

Adults with a serious disability who need help at home to stay out of a nursing home.

  • Under 60 when you apply. People with HIV or a brain injury can apply at any age.
  • A disability expected to last at least 12 months, or for life.
  • Enough need on the state’s assessment of daily tasks (a score of 29 or more).
  • $17,500 or less in savings. Your home, car and belongings don’t count.
  • An Illinois resident and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Willing to apply for Medicaid. You don’t have to qualify for it.

60 or older? The Department on Aging runs a separate program. See the Medicaid home care guide.

A caregiver with an older woman using crutches in her kitchen

How to start

From the first call to a written plan. The state doesn’t publish a timeline, so ask your counselor.

  1. Call or apply online

    Call (800) 843-6154 (TTY 866-324-5553), apply online, or visit a local Rehabilitation Services office. In a Medicaid health plan? Have your member ID ready.

    Day one

  2. Interview and assessment

    A counselor asks about your diagnosis, what you can and can’t do, and your income and savings. Bring proof of each.

    With a counselor

  3. Your service plan

    A counselor, or your health plan’s care coordinator, visits and writes the plan: what help, how many hours, and who provides it. Services start once it’s in place.

    Home visit

  4. Checked every year

    A new interview and assessment at least once a year.

    Yearly

Good to know

The questions families ask most.

Can a family member be paid?Usually, if you hire them yourself.

You can hire your own worker, called a personal assistant, and the state pays them. Adult children, other relatives and friends can be hired.

Spouses, and parents of a child under 18, can be paid only in limited cases for hands-on personal care. They must be hired directly, not through an agency.

Every route, side by side: Paid family caregiver guide.

What it pays forHelp at home, plus equipment and home changes.
  • A personal assistant you hire
  • Homemaker help from an agency
  • Home health aide and nursing
  • Home-delivered meals
  • An emergency response button
  • Adult day care
  • Respite for family, up to 240 hours a year
  • Equipment and changes to the home

It doesn’t cover rides. A personal assistant can’t drive you.

What it costs youNo monthly share of cost.

The program doesn’t charge you. If your income is over the Medicaid limit, you may have a spend-down, which works like a monthly deductible.

If you’re in a Medicaid health planYour care coordinator helps.

The state still decides if you qualify. Your plan’s care coordinator visits, writes the plan and helps find workers. Tell Rehabilitation Services which plan you’re in.

What happens at 60Most people stay in the program.

The age limit applies when you apply. At 60, people who only use homemaker help, adult day care or meals may move to the Department on Aging’s program, if they agree. Everyone else stays.

Where VitalTouch fits

We aren’t an approved provider for this program yet. We’ll still help you get started.

  • We help you applyWe’ll walk you through the call and what to have ready.
  • Care while you waitIf you need help now, start with another way to pay and switch later.
  • We point you the right wayIf an approved agency is the better fit, we’ll tell you how to find one.
What we can do todayVitalTouch, Oct 2026
Honest answer
  • Help you apply
  • Care while your application is pending
  • Long-term care insurance, VA benefits, or paying on your own
  • Bill the Home Services Program (not yet)
(708) 726-4536Free coverage check

Other ways to pay

Sources

General information, not legal or benefits advice. Rules change, and each program decides for itself. Last reviewed October 12, 2026.

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