Section 312.120  Scholarship and Fee Waiver Program Maintenance and School Expense Benefits

To supplement recipients' earnings and resources during the academic year, the Department shall provide recipients of a scholarship under Subpart B with maintenance and school expenses as follows:

a)         Monthly Grant 

1)         Prior to the beginning of their initial academic term, recipients must provide OETS and, if applicable, their caseworker with written verification of their enrollment in a college or university together with the address where they will be living during the academic year.  OETS will promptly forward payment information to the Department's Central Payment Unit (CPU).  Grant payments will be effective the first day the recipient starts classes and will continue throughout the academic year, provided the recipient continues to work toward graduation and completion of a certificate or degree.  Recipients will receive their first payments the following month.  The amount of the monthly grant shall be set forth in Department Procedures and will be available on the Department's website.  The amount will be prorated based on the day of the month the youth was first located at the school.

2)         To ensure timely receipt of grant payments and correspondence, recipients must report immediately any change of  address  to OETS and, if applicable, their caseworker. 

3)         After receiving their initial grant payment check by regular mail, recipients then may elect to have future grant payments directly deposited into their accounts. Youth who do not choose direct deposit will continue to receive their grant payments and correspondence by regular mail.

b)         Summer Grant Payments

OETS will continue grant payments through the summer months when the recipient is enrolled in at least six credit hours during the summer term, or is participating in an approved summer internship program.

1)         Recipients who continue a course of study through the summer months must submit an official class schedule or documentation verifying their participation in an internship program approved by the recipient's college or university.  Recipients must submit their verifying documents to OETS and, if applicable, to their caseworker no later than the first Monday in May.

2)         Recipients who do not enroll in at least six credit hours during the summer term, or who do not participate in an approved summer internship program, will continue to receive their monthly grant payments through the summer months provided that:

A)        The recipient is a youth for whom the Department is legally responsible, or the Department's guardianship of the recipient terminated at age 21 after the recipient entered the Scholarship and Fee Waiver Program; and

B)        The recipient maintains a grade point average of "C" or better and submits to OETS no later than June 30 their class schedule, current contact information, and verification of enrollment for the fall academic term.

c)         Start Up Grant

A one-time start-up grant will be issued to recipients upon entrance into the Scholarship and Fee Waiver Program.  The purpose of the grant is to assist recipients with their initial college living expenses.  The amount of the initial start-up grant shall be set forth in Department Procedures and be available on the Department's website.

d)         Medical and Dental Benefits

The Department shall assist recipients to access medical and dental services that may be available to the recipient through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), in accordance with the requirements of the Medical Assistance Program or other medical or dental benefit program.  Eligibility for services is determined by the administering agency or program.

e)         Mandatory Supplies and Book Payments

The Department may pay for required textbooks and supplies for youth that do not have sufficient resources to purchase the required items.

(Source:  Section 312.120 renumbered from Section 312.90 and amended at 50 Ill. Reg. 9789, effective July 6, 2026)