Program Overview

The Illinois Department of Human Services’ (IDHS) Welcoming Center COVID Recovery Financial Assistance provides financial assistance to households that were not eligible to receive one or more Economic Impact Payments (EIP) from the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) due to immigration status.

Financial Assistance 

AT LRII, we are happy to help you with the COVID Recovery Financial Assistance by:

• Filling the application and enrollment assistance
• Submit applications for payment
• Ensuring payments are received by you (the applicant)
• Providing case management related to the financial assistance program

What is the eligibility criteria?

To qualify, applicant needs to meet the following criteria:

• Have been economically affected by the COVID pandemic.
• Be a resident of Illinois
• Make below 200% of the federal poverty level
• Must NOT be ELIGIBLE for ANY public assistance programs,
  including:

1. Federal Economic Impact Payments established to alleviate the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic
2. Unemployment insurance
3. Social Security
4. Supplemental Security Income
5. TANF/WIC/SNAP, or any other public assistance
6. Cash and Food Assistance for Non-Citizen Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or Other Serious Crimes (VTTC)

Frequent asked questions

• WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I CALL THE CASE MANAGER?

​We will ask you for your full name, contact information, zip code, preferred language, and other questions regarding your situation. We will then give your contact information to a partner organization who will follow up with you to help you apply.
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• WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED?

We ask for proof of identity, proof of residence, and proof of income. If you don't have one of these there may be exceptions.
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• IS MY INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL?

Yes. The information you provide on the application will not be shared outside of ICIRR and the community-based organization that assisted you in applying.

• WILL APPLYING FOR THIS PROGRAM AFFECT MY STATUS?

IFSP is considered emergency assistance. Applying and receiving these services is usually not part of Public Charge. If you are nervous about it you can talk to the partner organization you are referred to in order to seek more information.

• I AM MISSING ONE OR MORE OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, CAN I STILL APPLY?

You may qualify for funds if you are missing required documents, so call our Case Manager

• ARE DACA RECIPIENTS ELIGIBLE?

No, DACA recipients are eligible for the Economic Impact Payment as well as unemployment benefits, so they are not eligible for IFSP.

• MY SPOUSE APPLIED LAST YEAR, CAN I STILL APPLY?

Yes, you can apply. Your spouse might be eligible for funds as well.

• I RECEIVED FUNDS ONCE, CAN I APPLY AGAIN?

You may qualify for funds again, so call our FSN Hotline.

• I JUST ARRIVED TO ILLINOIS, CAN I APPLY?

If you just arrived from another country, you may qualify for funds, so call our FSN Hotline. Asylees & Refugees receive other forms of public assistance and therefore do not qualify for IFSP.

• HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY FUNDS IF I AM APPROVED?

Funds will be distributed to you by the organization that submitted your application. You will receive a prepaid card and will need to activate it.

• WHERE CAN I USE MY CARD?

You can use the card anywhere that accepts credit and debit cards. You can withdraw cash from automatic ATMs, and you can use it online to pay bills or make purchases.

• I GOT A CARD, I'M HAVING TROUBLE USING IT.

You should go back to the organization you got help from or send an email to [email protected] for help
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• I HAVE APPLIED BEFORE, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A CARD

It depends on why you did not receive a card. If you were not eligible before you probably are not eligible now. But if you applied when we ran out of funds you can apply again this year. Call our Case Manager to find out if you qualify for funds.

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Let us assist you

​For more information or getting assistance through this program, please reach to:

Joel Janampa, Bilingual Case Manager
Ph: (773) 372 - 4490