DeKalb Township
General Assistance Programs

Assistance Information

GENERAL ASSISTANCE
Cash and medical assistance geared toward (but not limited to) the single adult with no children. Any request for an application will not be refused. Eligibility for assistance is determined by income, assets and cooperation with the program. However, if you are currently receiving General Assistance (from another township) or Categorical Assistance (TANF, SSI, REFUGEE AND REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE) you may not receive General Assistance. Those determined eligible for GA are assigned to work at a non-profit organization in return for their assistance. (30 hours in a month) Medical assistance only pays for necessary and essential medical services. It is only available if the applicant qualifies for General Assistance and has no other source of medical coverage. Preventive care is not considered essential. Prior approval is required on all medical and dental (extractions only) care unless an emergency exists. If an individual has filed for medical assistance based on a disability with the Il. Department of Human Services and has been denied medical assistance by them, they should appeal the decision. They should file with the Township for interim (cash) assistance.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Emergency assistance provides financial aid to alleviate a life-threatening circumstance or to assist in attaining self-sufficiency. An individual / family may receive EA only once in any twelve month consecutive period. You may not receive GA and EA at the same time. You must be ineligible for GA in order to be potentially eligible for EA. However, if you are currently receiving Categorical Assistance (TANF, SSI, REFUGEE AND REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE) you may not receive Emergency Assistance. Assistance is paid direct to the vendor. An individual / family may receive EA even though they have applied for and have been approved to receive Categorical Assistance as long as they have not yet received any Categorical Assistance payment. An individual / family may not be pending for GA. Income, assets and cooperation with the program determine eligibility. This is an optional program. Not all townships administer this program. (see below)

TRANSIENT ASSISTANCE
Transient Assistance is assistance for individuals who wish travel assistance to a job out of DeKalb County, or to family out of County. The assistance is in the form of a one-way bus ticket to the desired location or as close as the nearest bus station. They can receive Transient Assistance only one time in twelve months but must provide the Township with a photo ID and must be cleared by the police department.

Click Here for General FAQ

DeKalb Township processes for the following townships:
Afton, Clinton, Cortland, Franklin, Kingston, Malta, Mayfield, Pierce, Sandwich, Shabbona, Somonauk, South Grove, Squaw Grove, Sycamore.
The following townships do not administer an emergency assistance program: Kingston, South Grove and Sycamore.