Affording Aging

Develop and roll-out a cross-sector awareness campaign to inform Illinoisans of existing state, federal, and local programs and services. 

• Ensure EngAge Central includes existing state, federal, and local programs and services with website links, contact information, and brochures (as applicable) that help with affording aging and include these resources in an awareness campaign. (Short-term)

• Compile and analyze call and website data to determine trends in frequently requested resources and areas of unmet need, paying particular attention to inequities across groups (race/LGBTQIA+/disability) and geographic zones (urban/suburban/rural). (Short-term)

• Identify resources that have exclusions for people with criminal histories and explore opportunities to change exclusions in policy where practical. (Short-term) 

• Coordinate with the Illinois Department of Corrections to explore pathways from incarceration to community-based services and public benefit programs, including methods to assess and enroll individuals pre-release and at Parole Offices and Adult Transition Centers, so resources are in place upon release. (Mid-term)

• Develop and conduct an annual cross-agency training on aging programs, services, and resources available to the public through each state agency including IDoA partners, Illinois Municipal League, rural partners, Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, and University of Illinois Extension. (Mid-term) 

• Develop and disseminate a statewide financial education plan to increase financial literacy, retirement planning education, and financial exploitation and scam awareness across generations. 

• Explore establishment of a statewide coalition to develop a coordinated effort for financial literacy. (Short-term)

• Work to identify or develop financial education tools that are targeted for different generations, geographies, and incomes, inclusive of disabilities and learning styles, to increase financial literacy. Topics should include basic banking tools, retirement planning education and tools, investing, estate and advanced care planning, insurance products including Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance, as well as scam and financial exploitation awareness and where to go for help. (Short-term)

• Explore pursuing legislation to require mandated reporting by all staff at financial institutions and provide the authority to implement holds on suspicious transactions and increase accountability and prosecution of persons who perpetrate scams and financial exploitation against older adults. (Short-term) 

• Promote increased participation in the Illinois Secure Choice Program and the Illinois Savings Plan. (Mid-term)

• Promote increased participation in Long Term Care (LTC) insurance plans. Consider incentives for companies that offer LTC insurance as a benefit for employees to purchase, as they do short-term or long-term disability insurance. (Long-term)

• Explore the possibility of establishing a Roth Individual Retirement Account for graduating high school seniors. (Long-term) 

Ensure older worker and disability protections and remove barriers to workforce participation.

• Work to identify and eliminate/reduce barriers or disincentives to older adults and people with disabilities who want and/or need to work, using current peer reviewed literature and public comments from town halls or a survey of employers. (Short-term)

• Explore the development of an Older Worker Campaign to encourage employers to hire older workers and people with disabilities and establish anti-ageist, anti-ableist policies in the workplace. Develop a “Know Your Rights” campaign for older workers and family caregivers. (Mid-term)

• Explore the development of a state paid benefit program for all workers working in Illinois (since FMLA is unpaid leave and this would allow workers on FMLA to also receive a paid benefit). (Long-term)  

• Identify other state paid leave benefits programs and consider which options for paid leave benefit models could work for Illinois. 

Reduce hidden poverty (i.e., situations in which people earn above the official poverty line but still struggle to afford necessities, or where the experience of poverty is masked by other factors like social isolation) by increasing affordability and access to basic necessities – food, healthcare, home care, and transportation. 

• Promote increased utilization of Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help. (Short-term)

• Promote increased awareness of food bank delivery programs. (Short-term)

• Promote increased awareness of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Illinois Grocery Initiative, which helps local governments address inadequate access to fresh foods, especially in food deserts. (Short-term) 

• Promote participation in DCEO’s forthcoming Pharmacy Support Program. In partnership with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, this program will provide financial support to retail pharmacies and help ensure Illinois residents have equitable access to prescription drugs. (Short-term) 
  Work to ensure older adults exiting the Illinois Department of Corrections are connected to benefit, entitlement, and other programs. (Short-term)

• Promote increased awareness and usage of public transportation ride free programs and license plate renewal discount programs (Benefit Access Program). (Short-term)

• Explore the development of a streamlined or universal application for Illinois benefit programs to maximize enrollment in Medicaid, SNAP, property tax relief, Benefits Access Program, and other programs with eligibility determined at the state level. Expand education and support with enrollment and paperwork on all relevant programs. (Mid-term)

• Work to increase the number of participating hospitals and the number of participants, specifically older people, eligible for the Medical Debt Pilot Program. (Mid-term)  

Explore policies that address structural drivers of economic insecurity and inequities across racial groups. 

• Consider policies and programs such as baby bonds, guaranteed basic income, and other forms of support to reduce racial wealth gaps in order to ensure that all Illinoisans have economic security and financial health as they age. (Longterm)