1) Youth must provide their caseworkers with
written verification of their acceptance/enrollment in a college or university
and their school address prior to the beginning of their initial semester or
quarter. Caseworkers will verify the information and forward it to the OETS
Business Office. Youth that no longer have a legal relationship with the
Department must forward the information directly to the OETS Business Office.
The OETS Business Office will forward payment information to the Central
Payment Unit (CPU). Grant payments will be effective the first day the youth is
at school and continue throughout the school year. Youth will receive their
first payments the following month. The amount will be prorated based on the
day of the month the youth was first located at the school.
2) Caseworkers must provide youth with an
explanation of the financial and security benefits of having their grant checks
directly deposited and assist the youth with completing the C-95, Authorization
for Deposit of Recurring Payments. Youth who do not choose direct deposit will
have their grant checks mailed directly to them. Youth are required to report
their address change immediately to the OETS Scholarship Administrator at
217/557-2689 and their caseworker to ensure timely receipt of correspondence
and their grant payments.
A) Summer Grant
Payments
i) The OETS will continue grant
payments through the summer when the youth is enrolled in summer school and
taking a minimum of six college credit hours, or participating in an approved
internship program. Youth that choose to continue their education through the
summer months must submit an official class schedule or documentation of
participation in an approved internship program to the OETS Business Office and
their caseworker no later than the first Monday in May.
ii) Youth that choose not to attend summer
school or participate in an approved internship program will continue to
receive their grant payments through the summer months if the Department has
guardianship of the youth or the Department's guardianship of the youth was
terminated at age 21 after the youth entered the scholarship program and the
youth has a grade point average of "C" or better, submits requested class
schedules, has current contact information on file with OETS, and submits
documentation of college or university enrollment for the fall semester to the
OETS Business Office no later than June 1.
B) Terminating Payment
i) When a youth no longer meets the
requirements to remain in the DCFS Scholarship Program, the youth's caseworker
will notify the OETS Business Office immediately. Youth who are no longer the
legal responsibility of the Department shall notify the OETS Business Office
when they no longer meet the requirements of the program. The OETS Business
Office will notify the CPU of the effective payment termination date for the
youth.
ii) The OETS Business Office
will notify the youth in writing 30 days prior to stopping grant payments for
any reason other than summer breaks. If the youth has a legal relationship with
the Department and resides in Cook County, the Cook County Public Guardian will
also receive a copy of the termination notification. Youth may request a review
of the decision to suspend or discharge them from the Scholarship Program in
accordance with 89 Ill. Adm. Code 337 (Service Appeal Process). If the youth's
grant does not continue during the appeals process, it will be issued
retroactively if the youth's appeal is successful.
C) Marriage or Termination of Guardianship
Marriage or termination of guardianship does not terminate a
Department scholarship. The Department will continue to make monthly grant
payments to the youth, and the youth's medical needs will continue to be met
under the Medicaid program.