People, Work and Opportunity
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides significant financial assistance to workers and families hit hard by the economic crisis. In Illinois, a variety of human services programs stand to benefit from this additional funding, including:
Social Security's Economic Recovery One-Time Payments
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for the one-time payment of $250 to individuals who get Supplemental Security Income ( SSI) or Social Security benefits. Everyone who is entitled to a payment is expected to receive it by late May 2009. No action is required of beneficiaries. The US Social Security Administration is working on the details regarding how they will issue nearly 55 million one-time payments to beneficiaries.
Unemployment Compensation
The ARRA provides $40 billion nationwide for extended unemployment benefits through December 31, 2009. For more information on Illinois unemployment compensation, and to apply for unemployment, go to http://www.ides.state.il.us/
COBRA
The new law provides a subsidy that may reduce by 65% the cost of COBRA and other state group continuation coverage for workers who lose their jobs. For more information on the COBRA continuation coverage and to find out how to sign up for continued coverage visit COBRAFACTSHEET.pdf .
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
The federal stimulus package will allow Illinois to request an increased percentage of funds for its TANF program, which provides temporary cash assistance to help families achieve independence. For more information, to find out if you meet the eligibility requirements, and to apply, visit the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) website: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30358
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps)
Low-income Illinois families who are enrolled in SNAP will receive increased monthly assistance under the federal recovery bill. To find out more about SNAP and to apply in person or online visit the DHS website: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30357
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
The federal stimulus package will fund increased participation in WIC, which offers food assistance to pregnant women, new mothers and young children. To find out more about the WIC program and to apply for assistance, visit the DHS website: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30513
Child Support Enforcement
The ARRA repeals cuts to child support enforcement funding through September 30, 2010. Illinois' portion of the $1 billion restored will be based on the expenditure of performance incentive dollars after October 1, 2008. The federal Office of Child Support is reviewing the mechanism and procedures through which states may claim the restored match. The value of the restoration will be affected by the method and procedures determination. An estimate of the value will be provided by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services once the matching methodology has been defined.
Emergency Food
Due to the federal stimulus package, Illinois will receive additional Emergency Food assistance. For more information on the Emergency Food program and to find the food pantry, shelter, or soup kitchen nearest you, visit the DHS website: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30366
Child Care
Illinois will receive additional funding to expand and enhance Department of Human Services current program of providing qualified working families with access to quality, affordable childcare services. For more information on the Illinois Child Care program, visit the DHS website: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29720
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Illinois will receive funding to enhance and expand its Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, helping people with disabilities across Illinois find and keep jobs. To find out more about the VR program or to apply for services, visit the DHS website: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29737
Independent Living
Illinois will receive extra funding for its Independent Living Program that DHS administers in partnership with the Illinois Centers for Independent Living, providing information, referrals, and services to persons with disabilities that help them live and work in community settings.
Neighborhood Stabilization
Illinois will seek expanded funding for its Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which helps to mitigate the problems caused by foreclosures, high-risk mortgages, and high numbers of abandoned or vacant properties. For more information on the Illinois NSP and any state funding announcements, visit the DHS website: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/nsp
AmeriCorps
Additional funding from the stimulus package will allow for the expansion of the current AmeriCorps Program Portfolio, increasing the number of programs and members. To find out more about the Serve Illinois Commission and the AmeriCorps Program, visit: http://www.serve.illinois.gov , or http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31865
Small Business Loans
The Small Business Administration will receive $730 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. $636 million will fund the Business Loans Program for direct loans and fee reductions. The Microloan program will receive $6 million to provide small, direct loans to new businesses. The remaining $630 million will be used to implement fee reductions on the 7(a) Loan Guarantee program and the 504 Loan program and extend Small Business Administration’s loan guarantee authorities. For more information visit http://www2.illinoisbiz.biz/econ/Access2Capital/SBA2.htm
Education
$53 billion dollars of the ARRA is dedicated to education and training, including K-12, higher education, and job training programs. Additional information on education and training programs will be provided here as it becomes available.
Pell Grants
Illinois students and families can take advantage of the $15.6 billion in additional funding for the Federal Pell Grant Program by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). And the sooner the better -- the longer students wait to fill out their FAFSA, the smaller the pool of available funds becomes. There's no need to wait until tax forms are completed, apply today.
By completing the FAFSA students also apply for the State of Illinois MAP Grant - one of the largest need-based grant programs in the nation. This increased financial aid for college provides both traditional college aged students, and those adults already in the workforce, with the opportunity to access postsecondary training and education. Job and career skills are the best investment for Illinois in the current economy.
For more information or for help completing the FAFSA visit the Illinois Student Assistance Commission at collegezone.com .
K-12
The federal stimulus package or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 could provide up to $3 billion in education funding for Illinois schools. Preliminary numbers show the stimulus package will provide nearly $1 billion in additional funding for several existing operations and programs, including Title I grants for low-income populations, special education programs and educational technology. Illinois is also eligible to apply for up to $2 billion under the Stabilization Fund. For more information, please visit the Board of Education's ARRA website http://www.isbe.net/arra/default.htm .
Energy and Environment
$43 billion dollars of the ARRA is appropriated for investments in energy, including the Weatherization Assistance Program; repair of federal buildings to increase energy efficiency; fossil energy research and development; research in renewable energy; programs in alternative fuels, smart and energy efficient appliances; and modernization of the electric grid.
Weatherization
The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. IHWAP provides weatherization services such as sealing cracks, insulating attics and walls, repairing and replacing windows and doors, and repairing and cleaning heating systems. For more information on the IHWAP, please visit: http://www.weatherizationillinois.com/
Environment
The ARRA provides billions of dollars to states to clean up former weapon production and energy research sites; improve local water infrastructure and waste disposal facilities; and fund environmental cleanup programs such as Superfund. The funding for many of these projects will flow through existing programs administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
IEPA stimulus-related programs are explained at http://www.epa.state.il.us/economic-stimulus/index
DCEO stimulus-related programs are explained at http://www2.illinoisbiz.biz/econ/
Health Care
$59 billion dollars of the ARRA is dedicated to investments and improvements in health care, including funding for cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease and stem cell research; interoperable health information technology; prevention and wellness programs; and the improvement of National Institutes of Health (NIH) facilities.
The Medicaid federal match rate (FMAP - Federal Medical Assistance Percentage) is increased from its current 50.32% to 60.48% for nine federal fiscal quarters, dating back to October 1, 2008. State funds must first be used on qualifying Medicaid services to qualified individuals before the enhanced match may be drawn. The legislation requires that states meet federal prompt payment standards to be able to receive the enhanced FMAP monies. To maximize federal matching funds, the majority of the increased funding will likely need to be used to meet prompt payment requirements. To qualify for enhanced Medicaid match funds (FMAP), Illinois may not decrease Medicaid eligibility. Further, enhanced FMAP is not applicable for costs associated with eligibility expansions that may occur after July 1, 2008. States must report to Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on how enhanced matching funds are expended.
For more information on FMAP and other health care-related stimulus programs in Illinois, please visit http://hfs.illinois.gov/recovery/
Infrastructure
The ARRA provides appropriations for a variety of infrastructure improvements, including broadband access and usage; airport and border security; VA hospitals and medical facilities; Department of Defense facilities;and highway, air and rail transportation systems.
Transportation
$48 billion is available nationwide for transportation infrastructure covering all modes - highways and bridges, public transportation, passenger and freight rail and airports. To meet the ARRA's goal of stimulating the economy by putting people to work - the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has initiated a process that will allow work to begin in late May or early June of this year.
Detailed information on these programs and tracking of state transportation funds is available at http://www.dot.il.gov/stimulus/index.html
To search for IDOT stimulus projects by map or to directly search IDOT construction contracts and award amounts, visit: http://www.dot.il.gov/DashboardPublic/
Broadband
The ARRA includes $7.2 billion for competitive grant and loan opportunities aimed at expanding broadband (high-speed Internet/network) in underserved and unserved areas. $4.7 billion will go through the U.S. Department of Commerce and $2.5 billion will pass through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more details, visit www.broadband.illinois.gov/
Public Safety
The ARRA includes more than $4 billion nationally for state and local law enforcement and other criminal and juvenile justice activities. The U.S. Office of Justice Programs (OJP) which provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administering justice, and assisting victims, is the lead agency for this funding, and works directly with the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA, on the web at http://www.icjia.state.il.us ) to administer grants in Illinois. These grants will protect the most vulnerable and victimized of our society by funding law enforcement, prevention and education, drug treatment programs, and support services and advocacy groups for victims of crime and domestic violence.
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system. The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics, in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of funding. Sixty percent of the allocation is awarded to the state and 40 percent is set aside for units of local governments.
Byrne Competitive Grants are similar to JAG grants and are focused on ensuring job growth and job retention. However, instead of providing grants based on a formula, BJA administers these funds based on a competitive application process. These grants help state and local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and may be used for national efforts such as training and technical assistance.
ARRA provides for $100 million in funding for victim compensation and assistance. Of that $100 million, $47.5 million in formula funding will be directed to state agencies that administer Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funded crime victim compensation programs, and an additional $47.5 million in formula funding will be directed to state agencies that administer VOCA-funded crime victim assistance programs. Five million of the $100 million will be directed to discretionary grant projects.
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