Section 114.400  Persons Who May Be Included In the Assistance Unit

a)         Family and Children Assistance cases

1)         General Assistance cases that include a child or a pregnant woman in the assistance unit are provided assistance through the Children and Family Assistance program.  Children and Family assistance cases must include at least one eligible child or a pregnant woman.  A child is defined as a person who is:

A)        under age 18

B)        Age 18, and is living with his/her natural or adoptive parent, and is a full time student in a secondary school, or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training and reasonably can be expected to graduate, or complete the program, before reaching age 19.

2)         In order for an assistance unit to be eligible, an application for a child must also include, if living in the same household and otherwise eligible for assistance:

A)        any legal parent of the dependent child; and

B)        any blood-related or adoptive brother or sister of the dependent child.

3)         All eligible children who are blood-related or adoptive siblings in a family unit shall be included in one case.

4)         Only the following adults may be included in a family case:

A)        A specified relative of the child and the spouse of the specified relative; or

B)        The legal guardian of the child and the spouse of the legal guardian; or

C)        The child's parents, regardless of age or marital status.

b)         Transitional Assistance cases

1)         General Assistance is provided through the Transitional Assistance program when assistance is being requested by or on behalf of an individual defined by the Department as an adult.  An adult is defined as a person who is:

A)        Age 18 or over; or

B)        Married and living with spouse, regardless of age, even if living in the residence of a natural or adoptive parent.

2)         In a Transitional Assistance case, only the eligible individual shall be included in the assistance unit.

c)         Any person under the age of 18 who does not reside with a parent, legal guardian or spouse is ineligible for Transitional or Children and Family Assistance.

(Source:  Amended at 25 Ill. Reg. 10325, effective August 3, 2001)