Faraci advances measure to expand financial freedom for individuals with disabilities

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Paul Faraci advanced a measure that would modify how individuals with developmental disabilities are made aware of critical money-saving resources through the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program.

"This program allows individuals with disabilities to save and invest money in tax-advantaged accounts to pay for disability-related expenses without losing eligibility for benefits like SSI or Medicaid," said Faraci (D-Champaign). "We have obligations to empower residents with disabilities, to commit ourselves to inclusion and to support those most in need, and improving how we advertise this service would help us fulfill those obligations."

Under Faraci's measure, the Illinois Department of Human Services would be required to provide informational materials about the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program to all individuals receiving or applying for IDHS-funded disability services. This would include individuals who are placed in a facility licensed under specific Illinois statutes, such as the ID/DD Community Care Act - which governs immediate care facilities for people with developmental disabilities.

Additional recipients of the materials would include:

• Individuals who receive certain community-based services
• Individuals who receive home-based services under the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act
• Individuals who apply for inclusion on the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services list
• Individuals who receive services at a Center for Independent Living

Senate Bill 3008 passed the Senate State Government Committee Wednesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.