Illinois financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Illinois
If household costs are hard to manage, Illinois has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the local application route when a program is administered through a Family Community Resource Center, Community Action Agency, housing authority, or other local provider.
Money Fit serves Illinois residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
The best starting point depends on whether the need involves a state benefit, local housing or utility help, or another community service. Eligibility, funding, waiting lists, and application methods can vary.
Apply for food, cash, or Medicaid
ABE is Illinois' main state portal for SNAP, cash assistance, Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and related benefit applications and case management.
Find nearby help statewide
211 Illinois now serves all 102 counties with 24-hour phone, text, and online referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, employment, family services, and other needs.
Housing or utility assistance
Community Action Agencies can help route households to LIHEAP, weatherization, rent, food, shelter, and other local programs. LIHEAP reopens October 1, 2026 for priority households.
Illinois combines statewide applications with local administration. ABE handles core food, cash, and medical benefits, while LIHEAP, weatherization, housing assistance, child care, and some homelessness services depend on the local agency serving your county or community. For ABE and DHS benefit help, call 800-843-6154.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with Illinois SNAP or WIC when it fits the household. For food needed sooner, Feeding Illinois can help locate the food bank and pantry network serving your area.
Illinois SNAP
SNAP provides monthly food benefits to eligible Illinois households through the Illinois Link card. ABE can be used to apply, check an application, upload documents, manage a case, and complete redeterminations.
DHS Help Line: 800-843-6154
Illinois WIC
WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local agencies determine eligibility and provide benefits.
WIC office locator: 800-323-4769
Feeding Illinois food-bank network
Feeding Illinois is the statewide association of Feeding America food banks. Its food locator can identify nearby pantries, free meal programs, SNAP and WIC locations, and the regional food bank serving your community.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Illinois housing and utility assistance is divided among Community Action Agencies, IHDA, public housing authorities, 211, and legal-aid organizations. Funding and waiting lists can change quickly.
Illinois LIHEAP
LIHEAP helps eligible households with heating gas, propane, and electricity costs. The 2026-2027 application period opens October 1, 2026 for priority households and November 1 for other income-eligible households, and continues through August 13, 2027 or until funding is exhausted.
Help Illinois Families: 833-711-0374
Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program
IHWAP helps eligible households reduce energy use and improve home health and safety through approved measures such as air sealing, insulation, HVAC repairs or replacement, and other qualifying improvements. Applications are available through local agencies and an online pre-application.
Help Illinois Families: 833-711-0374
Community Action Agencies and CSBG
Community Action Agencies across Illinois may offer locally designed help with rent, food, temporary shelter, employment, medicine, financial management, and other household needs through CSBG and related programs. Available services differ by community and funding.
ILHousingSearch.org
IHDA's statewide housing locator searches affordable, subsidized, and market-rate rentals by location, budget, accessibility, and other needs. Contact the property directly to confirm current availability and eligibility.
Housing search assistance: 877-428-8844
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered primarily by local housing authorities. Waiting-list status differs by agency, so households should contact the public housing authority serving their community.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
Eviction Help Illinois and Cook County legal aid
Eviction Help Illinois provides free housing legal services and referrals for lower-income residents outside Cook County. Cook County residents can use Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt for eviction, foreclosure, and consumer-debt help.
Eviction Help Illinois: 855-621-0811
Cook County: 855-956-5763
Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance is currently closed to new applications. Some older pages and third-party references may still describe CBRAP as open. IHDA's current program page says it is no longer accepting new applications. If an eviction is pending, contact legal aid, 211, a local Community Action Agency, or a HUD-approved housing counselor instead.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Illinois Medicaid, All Kids, and Get Covered Illinois serve different coverage needs. ABE is the main application route for Medicaid and related public benefits, while Get Covered Illinois is the state's official private health insurance marketplace.
Illinois Medicaid
Illinois Medicaid includes coverage groups for children, adults, parents and caretakers, pregnant people, former foster youth, older adults, and people with disabilities. ABE can be used to apply for Medicaid, SNAP, cash assistance, and Medicare Savings Programs.
DHS Help Line: 800-843-6154
All Kids
All Kids provides comprehensive health coverage to eligible Illinois children through age 18. Coverage can include doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, dental, vision, preventive care, and other Medicaid benefits.
All Kids Hotline: 866-255-5437
Get Covered Illinois
Get Covered Illinois is now the state's official health insurance marketplace and the only place to receive marketplace financial help for Illinois coverage. Enrollment outside the regular Open Enrollment period may be available after a qualifying life event.
Get Covered Illinois: 866-311-1119
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, substance-use, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Illinois uses a separate child care system for CCAP, while ABE handles TANF and other cash assistance applications. Local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies can also help families navigate child care.
Child Care Assistance Program
CCAP helps eligible families pay for child care while parents or caregivers work or attend school. Illinois now offers a digital first-time CCAP application, and regional Child Care Resource and Referral agencies can provide application help.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TANF provides temporary cash assistance and employment-related support to eligible pregnant applicants and families with dependent children. ABE is the current state application system for cash assistance.
DHS Help Line: 800-843-6154
Community Action and 211 Illinois
Local Community Action Agencies and 211 can connect families with emergency food, rent and utility help, temporary shelter, employment services, transportation, health resources, and other locally available assistance.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the ability to apply for other assistance.
Illinois unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose work through no fault of their own may be able to receive temporary unemployment benefits. Claims are filed through the Illinois Department of Employment Security. As of July 8, 2026, benefit payments are no longer issued by paper check.
Claimant Services: 800-244-5631
IllinoisJobLink and American Job Centers
IllinoisJobLink is the state's free online job board, while American Job Centers provide in-person job-search, résumé, training, veteran, and workforce services. Illinois workNet provides additional career and training tools.
IllinoisJobLink help: 877-342-7533
Illinois Legal Aid Online
Illinois Legal Aid Online helps residents find free or reduced-cost civil legal services and self-help resources for housing, debt, public benefits, family matters, employment, healthcare, and other legal problems.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on income or participation in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or Federal Public Housing Assistance.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Illinois' aging and disability network can help residents locate meals, transportation, caregiver support, in-home services, benefits counseling, long-term-care information, and adult-safety services.
Senior HelpLine and Area Agencies on Aging
Illinois has 13 Area Agencies on Aging serving every county. The Senior HelpLine can connect older adults and caregivers with local nutrition, transportation, legal, care coordination, in-home, caregiver, and benefits resources.
Senior HelpLine: 800-252-8966 | Illinois Relay: 711
Illinois Adult Protective Services
APS investigates suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect involving adults age 60 or older and adults ages 18 through 59 with disabilities who live in the community. The statewide reporting hotline operates 24 hours a day.
Adult Protective Services Hotline: 866-800-1409
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
988 and Illinois crisis services
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour crisis support involving emotional distress, mental health, suicide, or substance use concerns. Illinois Medicaid customers can also use the CARES line for crisis screening and possible mobile response.
Call or text: 988
CARES: 800-345-9049
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline
The Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline provides free, confidential, 24-hour support, information, safety planning, and referrals. A caller does not have to leave home or a relationship to request help.
Illinois hotline: 877-863-6338
211 Illinois
As of April 2026, 211 serves all 102 Illinois counties. Help is available 24 hours a day by phone, text, and online search for housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation, and other community resources.
Call: 211
Text: ZIP code to 898211
Illinois and federal disaster assistance
Illinois Emergency Management coordinates state disaster response and recovery. The state has active 2026 disaster proclamations, but household assistance depends on the specific event, affected location, and whether state or federal Individual Assistance becomes available.
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, or payday loans continue taking money from the rest of the budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Illinois residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
