URIDA lists 80 programs for people in Illinois: 73 from government agencies, 7 from nonprofits, foundations, utilities and other private groups. Each one was checked against its official page. Some serve only part of the state, and dates and rules change, so look on the official page before you apply.
URIDA is not a government agency. Each program's operator takes applications and decides eligibility.
Illinois residents of a participating county (Cook; listed southern/metro-east counties), 60 years of age or older, with household income not more than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (e.g. $23,940 a year for 1); not all Illinois counties participate.
Free and Reduced-Price School Meals (Illinois School Nutrition Program, ISBE household application)
Who it is for
Illinois school children in households at or below the 185% Federal Poverty Guideline chart; children in SNAP or TANF households, foster children, and homeless, runaway or migrant children qualify for free meals; U.S. citizenship is not required.
Chicago Housing Authority Public Housing and Project-Based Voucher waitlists
Who it is for
Chicago; households with income below CHA income limits for their household size, with at least one person a U.S. citizen or with legal immigration status; CHA also screens criminal background, rent history, and money owed to CHA.
DCFS Youth Housing Assistance and Housing Advocacy Programs (current and former youth in care)
Who it is for
Illinois current and former DCFS youth in care: advocacy for ages 17 1/2 to under 21 legally the responsibility of DCFS or aged out; cash assistance for ages 18 to under 21 ready for case closure or aged out (not those who moved to adoption or subsidized guardianship).
IHDAccess Home (IHDA Mortgage down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers)
Who it is for
Homes located anywhere in the State of Illinois; first-time homebuyers (no ownership interest in a principal residence in the last 3 years), qualified veterans, or buyers in targeted areas; credit score 640+, DTI 50% or lower, within income and purchase price limits.
Youth Care and Housing (Crisis Nursery, Homeless Youth Services)
Who it is for
Crisis Nursery Programs serve some of Illinois most fragile families; the Homeless Youth target population is 14-23 year olds who lack safe and stable housing.
Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP), DCEO
Who it is for
Illinois households whose combined income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (60% of State Median Income for State funds for larger households), plus categorical eligibility (LIHEAP in last 12 months, certain cash assistance, HUD/USDA means-tested programs).
CareLink (Cook County Health financial assistance program)
Who it is for
Anyone 19-64 years of age living in Cook County without insurance (age exceptions case-by-case), resident at least 30 days; immigration status will not stop qualifying; people who have or are eligible for Medicaid or have job-based insurance do not qualify.
Anyone in Illinois (13+) who wants to quit tobacco; free NRT needs enrollment, age over 18, medical eligibility, and being uninsured or with limited coverage (Medicaid-only or private NRT coverage excluded).
Extended Family Support Program (EFSP), DCFS (relative caregivers)
Who it is for
Illinois relative caregivers caring for a relative's children who are not part of the child welfare system (the suggested script mentions caring for the child more than 14 days, with the child not being abused or neglected).
Illinois infants and toddlers up to age 3 with a 30% developmental delay in at least one domain, a condition known to cause delay or disability, risk of substantial delays, or a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect.
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) - Illinois Department of Early Childhood
Who it is for
Agricultural workers with a child or children younger than 6 years old; at least one family member must receive more than 50% of their individual income from agricultural employment, regardless of the family's total income.
Dislocated Worker Program (Illinois workNet Center System, WIOA)
Who it is for
Services are available in Illinois workNet American Job Centers throughout Illinois. Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S., at least 18 years old, and registered in Selective Service, if male; plus the listed dislocated worker definitions.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP, Title V), Illinois Department on Aging
Who it is for
Anyone who is at least 55 years old, has a limited income (not more than 125% of the poverty level), and is capable of performing the tasks involved in the proposed community service assignment.
A voluntary program serving work eligible SNAP recipients on a first come first served basis and in some cases noncustodial parents of a TANF child(ren), when ordered by the court. Recipients receiving TANF cash are not eligible to participate.
Unemployment Insurance - File an Unemployment Claim (Illinois Department of Employment Security)
Run by Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)
Who it is for
Workers who meet the criteria: monetary (earnings) eligibility - enough earned in the past 18 months for Illinois to establish a weekly benefit amount; and an acceptable reason of separation (no-fault circumstance such as a layoff or discharge).
AIM HIGH Grant Program (Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education)
Who it is for
Illinois residents, U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens who attended an Illinois high school, file the FAFSA with household income no greater than 8 times the poverty guideline, are full-time undergraduates at a participating public university, and meet university GPA/test criteria.
DCFS Tuition and Fee Waiver Program (youth and former youth in care)
Who it is for
A youth or former youth in care enrolled in an Illinois community college or public university who makes satisfactory progress toward completing his or her degree.
Illinois residents named as Golden Apple Scholars, U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, high school graduates or GED holders enrolled at a participating four-year college in a course of study leading to initial teacher licensure; must agree to teach five years in an Illinois School of Need.
Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program (ISAC)
Who it is for
Illinois National Guard members (active, or as defined after federal active-duty call-up) who have completed one full year of service, are enlisted members or officers, and are enrolled at an Illinois public 2- or 4-year college.
Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant - Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Who it is for
U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, Illinois residents, with financial need, enrolled at least 3 hours per term at an approved Illinois college in a degree or certificate program; no bachelor's degree; under 135 MAP Paid Credit Hours; other listed rules.
Benefit Access Program (license plate discount and Ride Free transit), Illinois Department on Aging
Who it is for
People living in Illinois when they file, age 65+ (before Jan 1 or turning 65 this year) or 16+ and totally and permanently disabled, with last closed tax year gross income under $33,562 (1 person), $44,533 (2) or $55,500 (3).
Community Care Program (CCP), Illinois Department on Aging
Who it is for
Residents of Illinois 60 years old or older, U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, with non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less, an assessed need for long-term care (Determination of Need), who apply for and, if eligible, enroll in Medicaid.
Run by Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
Who it is for
Veterans meeting Illinois residency requirements who served at least one year of federal active duty (or in a foreign country in a time of hostilities, among other listed cases), honorably discharged and/or honorably serving, enrolled at an Illinois public 2- or 4-year college.
Veteran Service Officers (Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs)
Who it is for
Veterans and their dependents and survivors (Illinois); help covers Compensation and Pension, Health Care, Education & Training, Employment, Burial & Survivor, Housing, Permits, Military Records and more.
War Participation Bonus (Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs)
Who it is for
Veterans who were Illinois residents for 12 months immediately prior to entering service (WWII: resident at entry) and meet each bonus's service-period, medal and honorable discharge rules; GWOT: served on or after September 11, 2001 with listed medals.
New Americans Initiative (NAI) - citizenship and DACA application help (IDHS / ICIRR)
Who it is for
Eligible permanent residents (and DACA applicants) in Illinois; NAI partners target low-income, Limited English Proficient (LEP) immigrants/refugees, seniors, women and youth with special needs.
Refugee Program (IDHS refugee resettlement and social services)
Who it is for
Refugees; Asylees; SIV holders; Parolees; Cuban & Haitian Entrants; Survivors of Human Trafficking; Amerasians (in Illinois; 9 program sites, 6 in Chicago and 3 outside Chicago city limits).
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) - Get Legal Help and free legal tools
Who it is for
People in Illinois, especially those unable to find or afford lawyers; Get Legal Help asks about the legal problem, its location (zip code) and household income to give referrals.
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid - free civil legal aid (central and southern Illinois)
Who it is for
Eligible low-income and senior residents of central and southern Illinois ("Our mission is to provide eligible low-income and senior residents of central and southern Illinois with high quality civil legal services").
Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) - free civil legal help
Who it is for
People living in poverty across 36 counties in Northern and Central Illinois; offices in Bloomington, Galesburg, Joliet, Kankakee, McHenry, Moline, Ottawa, Peoria, Rockford, Waukegan, and West Suburban (West Chicago). All applicants are screened for eligibility.
Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) - Illinois Department of Revenue
Run by Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR)
Who it is for
Working people with low to moderate income who meet the requirements; under Public Act 102-0700, taxpayers who otherwise meet federal EITC income guidelines also qualify if filing with an ITIN, or without a qualifying child and at least age 18 (including over 65).
K-12 Education Expense Credit (Pub-112, Illinois Department of Revenue)
Run by Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR)
Who it is for
Parents or legal guardians of a full-time student under age 21 at the close of the school year, both Illinois residents when paying, whose student attended K-12 at an Illinois public or nonpublic school or a qualifying home school; AGI limits $500,000 joint / $250,000 others.
Cook County homeowners 65 years of age or older (born in 1960 or prior) who own the property (or have a lease or contract making them responsible for the real estate taxes) and occupy it as their principal place of residence in 2025.
Anyone living in a household in the NITA region (Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties) who qualifies for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) or IDHS' FRESH Program.
ADA Paratransit (Pace service; NITA ADA Paratransit Certification), Chicago region
Who it is for
Individuals in the NITA (Chicago) region who, because of their disability, are unable to use CTA or Pace fixed route service; service only operates within three-quarters of a mile of CTA or Pace fixed route bus routes or CTA 'L' stations.
Parking Program for Persons With Disabilities - placards and license plates (Illinois Secretary of State)
Who it is for
Persons with permanent or temporary disabilities certified by a medical professional; disability plates go to persons with a valid permanent disability placard who own the vehicle, a parent or legal guardian of a minor with a disability, or a household family member who owns the vehicle.
Run by Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), formerly the Regional Transportation Authority
Who it is for
Individuals 65 years old and over, and persons with a qualifying disability, who are ineligible for the NITA Ride Free Program; individuals with a valid Medicare card are also eligible. Service is on CTA, Metra and Pace in the Chicago region.
Individuals or families receiving SNAP, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension, or with household income at or below 135% of federal Poverty Guidelines; Tribal-lands rules listed separately.
Ready Illinois - Disaster Recovery and Disaster Assistance (IEMA-OHS)
Who it is for
Individuals, families, homeowners, renters and businesses in Illinois affected by a disaster; federal Individual Assistance is available only if included in a presidential disaster or emergency declaration.