Illinois release candidate · Official sources checked July 26, 2026Sources · Report a correction
Beyond ChildhoodIllinois human help

A parent-first guide to Illinois adult services

Turn Illinois’s DD system into the next action you can complete.

Choose the situation that fits. Every action shows where to start, what to prepare, what happens next, what proof to save, and who to contact when progress stops.

No accountNo answers transmitted or savedOfficial sources firstNot an eligibility decision
Immediate danger? Call 911. For behavioral-health crisis, call or text 988. After immediate safety is addressed, contact the person’s ISC to ask whether the DDD crisis process applies.

Human help at any point

Illinois starts DDD access through Independent Service Coordination

Use the official ISC map to find the agency serving the person’s area. The current PUNS guide also publishes 1-888-DD-PLANS for help reaching the correct route.

Find the local ISC agency

Build a Illinois action plan

Which situation is closest?

This is used only to label the plan on your device. Use the official ISC map to confirm the agency serving the person’s area. Nothing is sent or saved.

Browse without the form

All six Illinois starting situations

JNY-IL-01

Approaching school exit; adult services not started

Illinois uses an Independent Service Coordination agency to connect a person to DDD eligibility and PUNS; Medicaid and DRS are separate.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use the ISC map to contact the agency serving the person’s area and request DDD intake and PUNS enrollment.
  2. Complete the PUNS interview and keep the category and annual update current.
  3. Put DDD, PUNS, Medicaid, and DRS status into the final school transition plan before exit.

JNY-IL-02

DDD or PUNS status exists; Medicaid or funding status is unresolved

PUNS, DDD eligibility, Medicaid eligibility, waiver eligibility, selection, and service authorization are distinct statuses.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use Illinois ABE to apply, check status, renew, report changes, upload documents, or reach the appeal portal.
  2. Ask the ISC to distinguish every current status and the next decision.
  3. Tell the ISC when need, urgency, living situation, or caregiver capacity changes.

JNY-IL-03

Selected or entering waiver planning

Selection begins a sequence of eligibility confirmation, planning, provider choice, and authorization; it is not a completed service.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use the individual selection packet and current ISC guidance to close every eligibility and enrollment item.
  2. Complete discovery with the ISC and make the plan state the person’s outcomes, preferences, supports, and risks.
  3. Confirm the chosen service, provider, authorization, start date, and backup route in writing.

JNY-IL-04

Enrolled; choosing services, providers, or self-direction

Illinois offers different service models and publishes provider and rate information, but listings and rates do not establish an opening, quality, fit, or an individual budget.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use the Personal Plan and official waiver information to compare service models before choosing.
  2. Build a candidate list, then verify every provider fact directly.
  3. Use the current rate page only as a reference and obtain the case-specific approval.

JNY-IL-05

Eligibility, funding, or service decision is uncertain or denied

DDD waiver appeals, Medicaid appeals, and parallel employment or decision-support routes have different owners and procedures.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use the current notice and official waiver appeal instructions immediately.
  2. Use ABE Manage My Case and the appeal portal linked by HFS, while following the controlling notice.
  3. Use DRS and supported decision-making as separate routes while DDD or Medicaid remains unresolved.

JNY-IL-06

Urgent need, crisis, abuse concern, or service breakdown

Emergency response, DDD crisis review, abuse reporting, service correction, and reassessment have different purposes.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use 911 or 988 for immediate response, then involve the ISC and DDD crisis process when applicable.
  2. Use the reporting route that matches the setting and document the service correction separately.
  3. Give the ISC a dated changed-needs summary and ask for the appropriate DDD response.

Provider evidence

Listing is not availability

These examples demonstrate the evidence standard. They are not recommendations. Directly verify service, geography, license when applicable, current capacity, safeguards, staffing, quality, and individual fit.

Official listing example

CILA provider-list candidate

Listed service: Community Integrated Living Arrangement listing

Area: Verify service, geography, inquiry status, actual opening, safeguards, staffing, quality, and fit directly

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Official listing example

Home-Based Services provider-list candidate

Listed service: Home-Based Services or self-direction listing

Area: Verify exact service, geography, inquiry status, actual opening, safeguards, staffing, quality, and fit directly

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Official listing example

Additional ISC-identified candidate

Listed service: Must also appear in the relevant official source or be independently verified

Area: Do not treat a referral as an endorsement or capacity confirmation

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Transparency

Illinois official-source register

SourceOwnerStatusCheckedReview
DDD Services and Independent Service Coordination Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Understanding PUNS Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
PUNS Frequently Asked Questions Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
PUNS Category and Annual Update Clarification Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Independent Service Coordination Agency Map Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Adult Developmental Disabilities Waiver Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Servicescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Approved Adult DD Waiver Effective January 1, 2026 Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Servicescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Apply for Illinois Medicaid Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Servicescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Manage My Illinois Medicaid Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Servicescurrent2026-08-27monthly
ISC Manual Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Illinois Personal Plan Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Home-Based Services and Self-Direction Assistance Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
CILA Provider List Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Home-Based Services and Self-Direction Provider List Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
DDD Rates Effective January 1, 2026 Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Appeal of Medicaid Waiver Service Decisions Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Apply Online for Rehabilitation Services Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Servicescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Supported Decision-Making Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commissioncurrent2026-08-27quarterly
DDD Crisis Process Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
DDD Crisis Criteria Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Support Services Teams Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilitiescurrent2026-08-27monthly
Report Abuse or Neglect to DHS OIG Illinois Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector Generalcurrent2026-08-27monthly
Report Abuse to Adult Protective Services Illinois Department on Agingcurrent2026-08-27monthly