A new diagnosis or disability
What to do first
- Make sure you have health coverage. Apply for Medicaid if money is tight.
- If you cannot work, apply for Social Security disability benefits soon. A decision can take months.
- Ask your job about leave and changes that help you keep working.
- Ask your state's vocational rehabilitation office about help getting back to work.
Talk it through
Tell us more about what happened. We answer first, then show the programs that fit, then ask a few questions to narrow it down.
Dates that matter
These windows are set by federal rules. Your state may have its own dates too, so ask the agency.
5 full months
Social Security disability (SSDI)
SSDI payments start after you have been disabled for five full months, so apply as soon as you can. People with ALS do not have to wait.
Source: SSA.gov24 months
Medicare with SSDI
People who get SSDI get Medicare on their own after 24 months of disability benefits. People with ALS get it as soon as their benefits start.
Source: SSA.gov
Help from Illinois
Illinois programs that fit what happened. Each agency decides who qualifies.
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Medical Assistance Program
Illinois Medicaid pays for health care for eligible residents.
Ways to apply:OnlinePhonePaperIn person
Illinois Department of Insurance
Get Covered Illinois
In Illinois, the health insurance marketplace is called Get Covered Illinois.
Get Covered Illinois lets residents compare and enroll in ACA health insurance plans.
Ways to apply:OnlinePhoneIn person
Illinois Department of Human Services
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Vocational rehabilitation helps people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job.
Ways to apply:PhoneIn person
Illinois Department of Human Services
Developmental Disabilities Services
IDHS offers services and supports for people with developmental disabilities.
Ways to apply:PhoneIn person
Illinois Department of Human Services
Behavioral Health Services
IDHS connects residents with mental health and substance use services.
Ways to apply:PhoneIn person
Illinois Department of Labor
Paid Leave for All Workers Act
The law gives most Illinois workers up to 40 hours of paid leave each year for any reason.
Ways to apply:PhonePaperIn person
Illinois Department of Human Services
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
SNAP helps eligible households pay for food using an Illinois Link card.
Ways to apply:OnlinePhonePaperIn person
Checked on October 8, 2026
Federal help
These work the same in every state. Each agency decides who qualifies.
DOL.gov
Unpaid leave that protects your job
The Family and Medical Leave Act lets many workers take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a year and keep their job. Reasons include a new baby, your own serious health condition, and caring for a spouse, child or parent who is seriously ill.
Social Security Administration
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Monthly payments for people who worked and paid Social Security taxes and now cannot work because of a disability that will last a long time.
Apply online at SSA.gov or call Social Security. Have your medical records and work history ready.
Social Security Administration
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Monthly payments for people with little income and few resources who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, including children.
Apply online at SSA.gov or call Social Security to make an appointment. Bring proof of age, income and any medical records.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare
Health insurance for people 65 or older and for some younger people with a disability or kidney failure.
Most people sign up through Social Security, online at SSA.gov or by phone. Medicare.gov compares plans.
Checked on October 9, 2026
Help near you
Find county and state offices near you, or call 211 to talk to someone about help in your area.
Talk to a person
- 211 Illinois
Free help finding food, housing, bills and more near you.
Call 211 - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 if you are in crisis or worried about someone. Any time.
Call 988Text 988