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Eligibility

The CILA program is a Medicaid Waiver program and receiving services from CILA program, is based on eligibility.

Am I Eligible for Medicaid Waiver Services including CILA?

The first and most important step you and your family can take to access services is to register with the Waiting List/Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) database, the waiting list. To register, you must meet with an Independent Service Coordination Agency (ISC) for pre-admission screening to see if you are eligible for services.

To find the ISC agency for you and your family, search the DHS Office Locator for the PAS/ISC agency closest to you. Next to "County," select your county. If you are in Cook County, you must select "Cook" and then use your zip code. The agency that shows can help you learn more about the service system. If you still have questions or do not have access to a computer, please call 1-888-337-5267 or 1-866-376-8446 (TTY).

What to Expect once you connect with an ISC agency:

• A staff member from your ISC agency will meet with you to explain all of the details and ask questions about your family member's medical history and development since birth.

• They will explain Illinois' definition of Developmental Disability. It generally applies to people who have been identified as having a long-term disability (needs help in three or more specific areas of daily life, along with other limitations) that was present prior to their 22nd birthday. This is true for any condition your doctor may have already diagnosed. Just having a diagnosis does not mean your family member is automatically eligible for services.

• You and your family member will be asked to provide permission (consent) to seek records from other agencies such as schools and/or doctors.

• How long it takes for the decision to be made will depend on how long it takes for the records to come from schools, doctors, and/or other agencies you have already seen, and whether or not those records are complete. In most situations, your family member will need to have had a psychological evaluation in the past or one will need to be scheduled.

• Records needed include school records such as Individual Education Plans (IEP) or annual evaluations, doctor's reports, or reports from a psychologist.

• Once found eligible, your family member will have their eligibility re-determined each year.

• If you are not found to be eligible, the ISC will help you get connected to another agency that will best fit your family member's needs.

Click here for further information from THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

IDHS: Understanding PUNS (DHS 4313) 

ESTABLISHING ROOTS, ENCOURAGING GROWTH, SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE

4102 Belmont Point, Champaign, Illinois, 61822

(217) 398-0105