Here when you need us
General Assistance.
Under Illinois state statute, Township Supervisors are mandated to provide financial assistance to the needy residents of their township. General Assistance funding comes entirely from local real estate taxes.
Two types of assistance
There are two basic types of assistance we can provide:
- A monthly grant to supplement the recipient's income.
- Emergency assistance for such things as utility shut-off notices, eviction notices, and gas or food.
The rules governing who is qualified and the type and amount of assistance are generally set by the Illinois Department of Public Aid. The criteria for eligibility are quite specific and start with the completion of the application below.
Confidentiality is a key element of all General Assistance. Only the Township Supervisor and the caseworker are aware of the recipient's name, and no checks are written directly to a recipient.
There are many social services available in the county. The Township is only one, and if we can't help, we try to guide people to the other services that can.
Application forms
-
Possible Sources of Financial Aid & Assistance
Other county and state programs that may help.
- Consent Form
-
Documents Needed with Application
Checklist of documents to bring.
-
General Assistance Application
Start here — the GA application form.
Free legal help — Prairie State Legal Services
Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. is a not-for-profit legal aid office that helps low-income families and individuals solve many civil legal problems — most commonly landlord/tenant and mortgage foreclosure matters; disability and healthcare issues such as Medicaid, Medicare, and S.S.I.; public benefits such as food stamps and general assistance; domestic violence issues; and senior citizen matters.
Every conversation is confidential.
Call (815) 459-4011 or stop by during office hours — we'll help you figure out what's available.