Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
The Department will operate the electronic finger imaging
system on a statewide basis. The system will be used in the administration of
the Food Stamp Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
program. In addition, in the City of Chicago, the system will be used in the
administration of the two General Assistance (GA) programs (the Family and
Children Assistance program and the Transitional Assistance program).
a) Unless exempt, the Department will require
the following persons to undergo electronic finger imaging:
1) All adult applicants for food stamps, TANF
cash assistance, and City of Chicago General Assistance.
2) All adult recipients of food stamps, TANF
cash assistance, and City of Chicago General Assistance, including:
A) second parents; in 2-parent cases
and
B) minor grantees for TANF cash
cases in which the minor parent is considered an adult; and
C) all payees for food stamps, TANF cash
assistance, and City of Chicago General Assistance who do not receive cash
and/or food stamp benefits in the case (this does not apply to protective payee
cases for any category of assistance or representative payee for teens (RPT)
TANF cash cases).
b) Exemptions From Finger Imaging
1) The Department will grant a person with
both index fingers broken or bandaged a temporary exemption. To be granted the
exemption, the person must provide documentation from a physician that verifies
the medical condition. The documentation must state when the person can
participate. The length of the exemption shall be based on the physician's
statement. When the person's condition improves to the point where he or she
can be finger imaged, the Department shall contact the person so that he or she
can complete the process.
2) A
person who is missing both hands or both index fingers will be granted a
permanent exemption.
c)
Cooperation With Finger Imaging Requirements
1) The failure or refusal of a person who is
not medically exempt to comply with finger imaging requirements will result in
ineligibility for cash assistance and/or food stamps for the entire Food Stamp,
TANF or General Assistance unit.
2)
In the event of a system failure or prolonged downtime, a person who agrees to
be finger imaged shall be considered as having cooperated. The person shall be
required to return to the local office, within a specified period of time, to
complete the finger imaging process when the system is operational. If the
individual does not return, within the specified period of time, he or she will
be considered as not cooperating.
3) In no instance shall the issuance of
benefits be delayed beyond the application time limits as specified in 89 Ill.
Adm. Code
110.20 or 89 Ill.
Adm. Code
121.2.
4) The Department shall provide material to
all applicants and recipients that will explain the following information:
A) the finger imaging process;
B) the reason for the process;
C) the confidentiality of the information;
and
D) the fact that cooperation
with the finger imaging process is a condition of eligibility.
d) Intake
The local office will finger image a person when he or she
applies for assistance. If the applicant fails or refuses to be finger imaged,
the Department shall deny the cash assistance and/or the food stamp portion of
his or her application.
e)
Active Cases
The local office will finger image clients as listed in
subsections (e)(1) through (4). If the client fails or refuses to be finger
imaged, the Department shall discontinue cash and/or food stamp
assistance.
1) The local office shall
send a notice to adults in Food Stamp, TANF, and City of Chicago GA cases
scheduled for a face-to-face redetermination advising them of the finger
imaging requirement. The notice shall also advise the adult or adults that they
will be scheduled for a finger imaging appointment at the completion of their
redetermination interview.
2) The
local office shall make every effort to accommodate clients when they must
reschedule their finger imaging appointments. When a mandated client fails to
appear for his or her scheduled appointment and does not call to reschedule,
the local office shall send a notice to discontinue cash and/or food stamp
assistance to the client for failure to comply with finger imaging
requirements.
3) The Department's
investigators shall advise the local office to take appropriate action to
cancel cash assistance and Food Stamps if their investigation validates a match
and finds no satisfactory reason for its concerns. Upon receipt of the
information from the Department's investigators, the local office shall cancel
cash assistance and food stamps.
4)
Whenever a new adult is added to an active case, or there is a change in the
payee, the local office shall inform the person of the finger imaging
requirements. The local office shall schedule an appointment for the person to
come into the office for finger imaging.
