At what age do my foster care benefits end?

In Illinois, your foster care benefits end about when you turn 21 years old. However, Illinois offers a wide range of benefits for former foster children. 

Healthcare

Former Foster Care Medical Benefits
If you exit foster care, at the age of 18, you will receive up to 12 months of continuing eligibility until you turn 19 years old. If you exit foster care at the age of 19 or later, you qualify for Former Foster Care medical benefits until you turn 26 years old. 

The Former Foster Care program covers individuals who received foster care services provided by Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). There are certain requirements you need to meet:

• Must be 19 to 25 years old
• Cannot qualify for medical benefits under Family Health Plans or Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD)
• Must have received foster care assistance through DCFS until you aged out (exited) at the age of 18 or older
• Must be an Illinois resident
• Must have a Social Security Number or proof of application for a Social Security Number
• Must meet U.S. citizenship or immigration requirements

Learn more about the Former Foster Care program.

Mental Health Resources

A Home Within provides open-ended, individual psychotherapy, free of charge, to current and former foster youth. You can apply today to speak to a provider.

You can also reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Crisis Text Line: 741741 or call (800) 950-NAMI (6264)

Substance Abuse and Addiction

SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Also visit the online treatment locator.

Housing

The Illinois Housing Handbook provides a wealth of information to help make obtaining and maintaining housing easier and less confusing, especially for first-time renters. Illinois DCFS also has helpful tools and information on finding a place to live, starting a bank account, applying for credit cards, and budgeting. 

​Youth Housing Assistance Program

You may be eligible for the Youth Housing Assistance Program cash assistance if you are a current or former foster child if you meet the following requirements:

• You are at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old
• You are under the responsibility of DCFS and are ready to have your case closed or you have aged out of DCFS care
• You have not moved to adoption or subsidized guardianship
• You have completed a budget statement form
• You need cash assistance in order to have or maintain stable housing.

You can receive cash assistance for the following reasons:

• Housing security deposit
• Rent (under certain circumstances)
• Beds 
• Current utility bills or utility deposits
• Appliances
• Partial housing subsidy
• Other items required to avoid or manage a crisis.

This program also provides housing advocacy that can help you locate and maintain housing. Learn more about Youth Housing Assistance. 

DCFS Housing Advocacy

If you’re looking for help securing affordable housing and finding community-based resources, try using DCFS Housing Advocacy. Housing Advocacy does not include any money, only help finding resources.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be at least 17 ½ and less than 21 years of age, and
• Be legally the responsibility of DCFS within six months of case closure, or have aged out of DCFS care, and
• Have enough income to meet rent and utility costs or be working on obtaining that income. Housing Advocacy can help you find a job.

Homeless youth

If you lack safe and stable housing, and are between the ages of 14 and 23 years old, you can contact a homeless youth provider. By contacting a homeless youth provider, you will get access to emergency shelter, transitional living programs, and more. See the list of homeless youth providers to find one near you. 

If you are over 23 years old, you can reach out to your county homeless care resource. See the list of county providers to find one near you. 

Family Unification Program (FUP)

Family Unification Program is a program that provides a pool of housing choice vouchers and supportive services to youth ages 18 – 21 who have aged out of foster care. A Public Child Welfare Agencies (PCWA) must first determine that you meet the FUP eligibility requirements and then they can make a referral to place you on the waitlist for the program.

Besides providing rental assistance, this program also includes information on money management skills, job preparation, educational counseling, and proper nutrition and meal preparation. If you’re interested in applying for this, you will need to reach out to a PCWA near you to set up an appointment. Learn more about the Family Unification Program. 

Public Housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program

If you don’t have access to FUP vouchers, you may be able to benefit from the Public Housing Program. Public housing residents live in projects that are typically owned by a local public housing agency. Units are subsidized, meaning that you would have to pay rent equal to only 30% of your adjusted gross income. If you move, the subsidy goes to the next resident.

Another program allows Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) recipients to rent housing from landlords or property managers in the private housing market, and their subsidy is paid directly to the landlord or property manager. Like public housing residents, HCV recipients usually pay 30% of their adjusted gross income in rent. However, unlike public housing residents, they may live in any housing that meets minimum health and safety standards. 

Keep in mind that some waiting lists for these options are long or even closed. Although young people who receive housing assistance from one of these programs rather than through FUP do not lose eligibility after 18 months, they also do not have direct access to the supportive services that former youth in foster care may need.

Education

The Department of Education has developed a Foster Care Transition Toolkit that includes information on accessing educational opportunities, finding a job and more. Foster Progress is another resource that offers information about financial aid for former foster youth.

Filling out the FAFSA
All students in Illinois must fill out either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. Learn more about the FAFSA.

The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) must make sure all foster care youth have filled out the FAFSA by November 1st of the student’s graduating year. DCFS has caseworkers through its Post-secondary Program that will help you with any questions you may have. 

You can receive money for college if you meet the eligibility requirements for federal student aid. There is only one question on the FAFSA that relates to being in foster care. The FAFSA form asks, “At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?” You should answer “Yes” to this question if at any time since age 13:

• You had no living parent, even if you’ve since been adopted,
• You were in foster care, even if you’re not in it now, or
• You were a dependent or ward of the court, even if you aren’t now.

If you answer “Yes,” you are considered independent for the purposes of Federal Student Aid and do not need to report parents’ financial and other information on the FAFSA. Learn more about this question on studentaid.gov. 

Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program helps with post-secondary (post-high school) education expenses. These expenses must not be covered by financial aid grants. To be eligible, you must have either:

• Aged out of foster care at the age of 18 or older, or
• Achieved permanency at age 16 or older through either subsidized guardianship or adoption

If you are eligible, you can receive payments of up to $5,000 every year of education for related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, uniforms, equipment and/or transportation not covered by other grants or scholarships. You remain eligible for this program until you are 26 years old but you cannot participate in the program for more than 5 years total. Fill out the application for the Education and Training Voucher if you are eligible. 

For questions related to ETV, the best way of communication is via [email protected].
 

DCFS Scholarship Program

The application becomes available on January 1 each year and is due by March 31. The DCFS Scholarship Tuition Waiver covers tuition and mandatory fees at any of the 12 public universities or community colleges in the state plus some additional benefits, such as a $1,506 monthly stipend and medical insurance until age 26. It also offers a book voucher or reimbursement for books not covered by financial aid and Medical coverage.

This scholarship is good for 5 consecutive years and is available for any youth in foster care, or for anyone who has been adopted or in a guardianship from Illinois. Check out the Scholarship Program Tip Sheet and find DCFS Form CFS 438 for the current year to apply. 

(Note: Medical insurance varies. If the youth was adopted/has guardianship, Medical coverage is only provided until age of 24, per DHS. Since 2021, a youth who attends out of state or resides out of state will not get Medicaid approved via I-DHS).

DCFS Youth In College Placement

The Youth in College program provides a $1,506 per month stipend. It offers a monthly board payment of $1,506. It also offers a book voucher or reimbursement for books not covered by financial aid.

To qualify for the Youth In College Placement Program, DCFS must have court ordered legal responsibility for the foster youth. 

Tuition and fee waivers

On January 1, 2019 a new law was implemented which says that youth from foster care in Illinois can receive a tuition and fee waiver if they go to a public, in-state college or university. You must be either still in foster care, or have an adoption or guardianship subsidy. 

Tuition and mandatory fees waiver is available to Illinois public universities or in-district community college. If the student is awarded the Illinois MAP grant and/or federal Pell grant, these funds may be applied first. Please note that this is applied differently than the DCFS Scholarship waiver. 

Keep in mind that room and board are not included! Be sure to fill out DCFS’s form 438A to receive the waiver. See the Tuition and Fee Waiver Tip Sheet for more information.

Community College Payment Program

The Community College Payment Program allows youth under DCFS Guardianship enrolling in an Illinois community college the opportunity to have their in-district tuition, fees, required books, supplies, uniforms and equipment, paid by DCFS if they are not paid by financial aid grants. Payment requests can be submitted for career and technical education programs that are part of the community college curriculum.

To be eligible, you:

• Must be a youth that DCFS is legally responsible
• Must be accepted for enrollment by an in-district community college
• Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Must apply for financial aid through FAFSA within the required deadline set by the college, designate community college to receive funds, and provide all documentation requested by the school. FAFSA funding is to be used before requesting payment from DCFS.

Employment

DCFS's Employment/Job Training/Apprenticeship Incentive Program (EJTAIP) provides a monthly stipend while in care that can extend beyond age 21 for certain apprenticeship programs.

The Employment/Job Training/Apprenticeship Incentive Program (EJTAIP) is designed to provide financial and supplemental services to help youth gain marketable skills through on-the-job work experience, job training programs, or approved apprenticeships.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a youth that DCFS is legally responsible for, between the ages of 17 and 21. Youths that are 16 and participating in a Job Corps program are also eligible.
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate
• Complete Casey Life Skills Assessment
• Be involved in job training through a certified job skills training program (e.g., Job Corps, internship), be employed for at least one month prior to applying for the EJTAIP and working a minimum of 20 hours per week or 80 hours a month, or be participating in an apprenticeship training program approved or recognized by the Illinois Department of Employment Security or by the United States Department of Labor.

Youth enrolled in an approved apprenticeship are eligible if in care of the Department, aged out of care of the Department at age 18 or older, or achieved adoption or guardianship directly from the Department’s care. Youth must be under the age of 26 before enrolling in a qualified apprenticeship program and must document active participation. Learn more about DCFS's Employment/Job Training/Apprenticeship Incentive Program. 
 

LGBTQIA+ resources

Lambda Legal’s Youth in Out-of Home Care Project raises awareness and advances reform on behalf of LGBTQ youth in child welfare, juvenile justice and homeless systems of care. You can visit their page about law in Illinois to learn more about your rights work, healthcare, school, and more. They also have a compiled resources sheet by state that you can check out. 

Financial literacy

Every child and adult in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in foster care has the right to have an emancipation bank account and manage their personal income. Learn about how to open a bank account.

If you are unsure where to start when it comes to saving and handling your money, it may be a good idea to take a financial literacy course. Hands on Banking has a free financial literacy course that you can take for free and complete at your own pace. They also have a helpful glossary with terms that you make need help understanding. Youth for Youth also has a financial literacy course that you can take for free. 

If you find yourself having more questions, it may be worth checking out some other resources, like Money Under 30, a website that provides easy-to-understand information on getting a credit card,  investing, paying off debt, buying a car and more. Additionally, for information on earning, spending, tracking and more, you can visit The Mint.