IL HR0009

Suspension of indigent burial fund expenditures from the Department of Human Services budget was announced April 3, 2015, retroactive to January 15, 2015, and eliminated entirely in the FY 2016 budget proposal.

Illinois Public Aid Code requires the State to pay reasonable amounts for funeral, burial space, and cemetery charges for eligible individuals.

The program provided burial and funeral assistance to 8,649 Illinoisans in FY 2014 whose estates were insufficient to cover expenses and who had no responsible relatives.

Requests immediate reinstatement of the indigent burial program and release of suspended funds.

Directs notification of medical service providers about the reinstatement and alerts statewide media outlets to report the restatement and provide application instructions for families needing assistance.