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Social Security disability

Disability benefits in Illinois

Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in Illinois: who decides your claim, state money added to SSI, Medicaid, hearings and free help.

You have 60 days to appeal each decision, plus 5 days for mail.

How to appeal a denialAppeal deadline calculator

Who decides your claim in Illinois?

Disability Determination Services (DDS)

This state office decides the medical part of your Social Security disability claim. Social Security checks the other rules, like work credits and income. After you apply, Social Security sends your claim to DDS for the medical decision.

Part of
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)

DDS can pay for medical exams, x-rays and lab tests to add to the records from your own doctors.

Find a Social Security office

Does Illinois add money to SSI?

Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (AABD) cash assistance

AABD is state cash help for people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability and need money. You may be able to get AABD if you get SSI, or if you cannot get SSI because your income is too high, or because of a federal time limit for some immigrants. You must live in Illinois and be a U.S. citizen or meet rules for noncitizens.

Paid by: the state

How to apply
AABD is a separate application from SSI. Apply with the Illinois Department of Human Services online through ABE (Application for Benefits Eligibility), or at an IDHS office. People who get AABD also get medical help.
Contact
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
1-800-843-6154 (IDHS Help Line; TTY 1-866-324-5553)
https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30370

Medicaid in Illinois

Illinois uses its own rules for Medicaid. Getting SSI does not sign you up for Medicaid on its own. You need to apply for medical help with the state, online through ABE or at an IDHS office.

Program
Illinois Medicaid (medical assistance for the aged, blind and disabled)
Medicaid agency
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS); applications through IDHS
https://abe.illinois.gov/
1-800-843-6154 (IDHS Help Line; TTY 1-866-324-5553)

Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD)

HBWD gives full Medicaid coverage to people with disabilities ages 16 to 64 who work. Your countable income can be up to $4,393 a month for one person or $5,962 a month for a couple. You can have up to $25,000 in assets. Depending on your income, you pay a monthly premium. Call 1-800-226-0768 (TTY 1-866-675-8440) for an application.

https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalprograms/hbwd.html

State disability and paid leave in Illinois

Illinois has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.

Hearing offices and federal court in Illinois

5 hearing offices serve Illinois. Hearing office locator (Social Security)

Oak Brook, IL Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
Suite 201, 2301 West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Fax
(833) 789-0411

Orland Park, IL Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
15401 South 94th Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60462
Fax
(833) 619-0564

Evanston, IL Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
Northwestern University Research Park, 1033 University Place, Suite 200, Evanston, IL 60201
Fax
(833) 619-0758

Chicago, IL Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
Citadel Building, 19th Floor, 131 S. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603
Fax
(833) 619-0566

Peoria, IL Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
3328 W. Willow Knolls Drive, Peoria, IL 61614
Fax
(833) 559-0774

Federal district court

If you appeal to federal court, you file in the district court that covers your county.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Court help for people without a lawyer

Counties covered (18)
  • Cook
  • DuPage
  • Grundy
  • Kane
  • Kendall
  • Lake
  • LaSalle
  • Will
  • Boone
  • Carroll
  • DeKalb
  • Jo Daviess
  • Lee
  • McHenry
  • Ogle
  • Stephenson
  • Whiteside
  • Winnebago

U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

Counties covered (46)
  • Adams
  • Brown
  • Bureau
  • Cass
  • Champaign
  • Christian
  • Coles
  • De Witt
  • Douglas
  • Edgar
  • Ford
  • Fulton
  • Greene
  • Hancock
  • Henderson
  • Henry
  • Iroquois
  • Kankakee
  • Knox
  • Livingston
  • Logan
  • McDonough
  • McLean
  • Macoupin
  • Macon
  • Marshall
  • Mason
  • Menard
  • Mercer
  • Montgomery
  • Morgan
  • Moultrie
  • Peoria
  • Piatt
  • Pike
  • Putnam
  • Rock Island
  • Sangamon
  • Schuyler
  • Scott
  • Shelby
  • Stark
  • Tazewell
  • Vermilion
  • Warren
  • Woodford

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Court help for people without a lawyer

Counties covered (38)
  • Alexander
  • Bond
  • Calhoun
  • Clark
  • Clay
  • Clinton
  • Crawford
  • Cumberland
  • Edwards
  • Effingham
  • Fayette
  • Franklin
  • Gallatin
  • Hamilton
  • Hardin
  • Jackson
  • Jasper
  • Jefferson
  • Jersey
  • Johnson
  • Lawrence
  • Madison
  • Marion
  • Massac
  • Monroe
  • Perry
  • Pope
  • Pulaski
  • Randolph
  • Richland
  • St. Clair
  • Saline
  • Union
  • Wabash
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • White
  • Williamson

Free help in Illinois

Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)

Equip for Equality

Phone
312-341-0022 (toll-free 800-537-2632, TTY 800-610-2779)

Legal aid

Benefits counseling and work (WIPA)

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

IDHS Division of Rehabilitation Services - Vocational Rehabilitation

ABLE savings account

IL ABLE

More free help across the country →

Good to know in Illinois

  • Illinois is a 209(b) state. SSI does not bring Medicaid automatically, so you apply with the state. (POMS SI 01715.010)
  • Illinois's state cash help for SSI recipients, AABD, is run by the state, not Social Security. You apply for it separately. (IDHS)
  • Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities lets working people with disabilities have up to $25,000 in assets and still get Medicaid. (HFS)

More RobinClaim guides for Illinois → · All states

Sources

Last checked: November 2026