General Assistance (also known as "GA") is a type of public assistance. It is often considered the public assistance "of last resort." It is administered throughout Illinois by township supervisors (with the exception of Chicago, where the Department of Human Services – formerly called the Department of Public Aid – is responsible for providing General Assistance). Although not all states require the provision of GA, it is an Illinois state law that townships must provide General Assistance.

The purpose of GA is to provide benefits to a particular subset of low-income persons. Specifically, GA is for low-income persons who do not qualify for either of the two well-known public assistance programs: 1) TANF (formerly referred to as AFDC) administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services and 2) SSI administered by the Social Security Administration.

TANF is for eligible families containing children 17 years or younger (although the child can be 18 under some circumstances). SSI serves persons who are "disabled" as defined by the Social Security Administration. An SSI or TANF recipient does NOT qualify for GA.

The eligibility rules for General Assistance may vary from township to township. In some townships, an individual may be eligible only if he or she is able-bodied and meets other financial requirements. In other townships, an individual may be eligible only if he or she is deemed unemployable. Each township is required to have a written set of guidelines that comply with Illinois state law.

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Cunningham Township Supervisor's Office
205 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois   61801
Phone:   (217) 384-4144     Fax:   (217) 367-7063
E-mail:   ctso@prairienet.org
URL: http://www.prairienet.org/cunningham-township