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 While there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus
among IDHS employees, out of an abundance of caution, starting
today, IDHS is taking action regarding 45 DRS’ offices and 75 FCRCs.
DRS’ offices are expected to reopen in early April, and FCRCs will
have a reduced workforce of 30-50% staff working from the
public-facing offices. Many of the staff who are not working at the
public-facing offices will be working remotely and still able to
process important benefits.
DRS’ customers can reach their local offices through the regular
office phone numbers that can be found on the IDHS Website Office
Locator at http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12 or online
at www.DRS.illinois.gov.
While FCRCs remain open, IDHS highly encourages customers who can
apply for and manage their benefits online to do so at
ABE.illinois.gov or by calling the ABE Call Center at
1-800-843-6154. This is an important message to help keep IDHS staff
and customers safe during this time of social distancing.
“Please, take this unprecedented situation seriously. As we work in
coordination with our sister agency, the Illinois Department of
Public Health, we learn new information daily,” said IDHS Secretary
Grace B. Hou. “We remain dedicated to finding the safest, most
responsible way to keep life-giving and life-changing programs and
services available throughout this crisis, but we need your help. If
you can, I urge you to use our online resources or call by phone.”
The department announces these changes in strong partnership with
AFSCME Council 31, other bargaining units, and many advocacy
organizations across the state.
“We appreciate the steps DHS has taken to ensure that people with
disabilities will continue to receive the support they need during
its office closure since a majority of our consumers rely on
emergency food relief (SNAP), cash assistance (TANF) and Medicaid
among other critical human services. We are committed to working
with DHS during this unprecedented time to take the precautionary
measures necessary to promote health and safety of those most in
need,” said Karen Tamley, President and CEO of Access Living
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“The coronavirus crisis calls upon DHS and all of us
to address difficult and unprecedented questions. There are strong
competing priorities. It is essential to try to balance the safety
of people needing assistance, the workers who serve them, and the
general public in the effort to control the spread of the virus. It
is also essential to get vital services to people with heightened
needs in this difficult time. DHS’s plan for how to address all
these factors appears to strike the right balance. We will, of
course, continue to monitor the situation closely and contribute to
any needed improvements. We commend DHS for this decisive, but also
careful and balanced approach,” said John Bouman, President of the
Shriver Center
IDHS will continue to monitor the COVID-19 crisis, and to
communicate with staff and customers about service availability.
Today's actions represent the latest step in a comprehensive
response to this public health emergency.
Earlier this week, IDHS Secretary Grace Hou committed to protecting
community-based providers of social services in Illinois, if their
"operations are diminished or temporarily suspended during this
national and state emergency."
IDHS continues preparing to broaden and strengthen all of its remote
options for consumers - and will use every available resource to
ensure residents of Illinois are not harmed by this temporary
reorganization.
More information about COVID-19 is available at
www.CoronaVirus.
Illinois.Gov and through the COVID-19 Hotline, at
1-800-889-3931.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |
