305 ILCS 5/3-1.4
Residents of municipal, county, state or national institutions for persons with mental illness or persons with a developmental disability or for the tuberculous, or residents of a home or other institution maintained by such governmental bodies when not in need of institutional care because of sickness, convalescence, infirmity, or chronic illness, and inmates of penal or correctional institutions maintained by such governmental bodies, may qualify for aid under this Article only after they have ceased to be residents or inmates, but they may apply in advance of their discharge. Applications received from residents scheduled for discharge from such institutions shall be processed by the Department in an expeditious manner. For persons whose applications are approved, the date of eligibility shall be the date of release from the institution.
A person shall not be deemed a resident of a State institution for persons with mental illness or persons with a developmental disability within the meaning of this Section if he or she has been conditionally discharged by the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities or the Department of Human Services (acting as successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities) and is no longer residing in the institution.
Recipients of benefits under this Article who become residents of such institutions shall be permitted a period of up to 30 days in such institutions without suspension or termination of eligibility; if residency in an institution extends beyond 30 days the eligibility for all benefits except Aid to Families with Dependent Children shall be suspended. Benefits shall be restored, effective on the date of discharge or release, for persons who are residents of institutions. Within a reasonable time after the discharge of a person who was a resident of an institution, the Department shall redetermine the eligibility of such person.
The Department shall provide for procedures to expedite the determination of disability of persons scheduled to be discharged from facilities operated by the Department.
If federal law or regulations governing grants under this Article permit the inclusion of persons who are residents of institutions designated in this Section beyond the period authorized herein, the Illinois Department, upon a determination that the appropriations for public aid are sufficient for such purpose, and upon approval of the Governor, may provide by general and uniform rule for the waiver of the provisions of this Section which would otherwise disqualify such person for aid under this Article.
305 ILCS 5/3-1.4