Section 415.120  Payment Process

a)         Beginning July 1, 2025, relative homes providing care to a child placed by the Department that are not a certified relative caregiver home under Section 3.4 of the Child Care Act of 1969 or a licensed foster family home shall be eligible to receive payments from the Department in an amount no less than 90% of the payments made to licensed foster family homes and certified relative caregiver homes. [20 ILCS 505/5(u-5)]

b)         Relatives who care for youth in care may apply for licensure as a foster family home in accordance with the requirements of 89 Ill. Adm. Code 402 (Licensing Standards for Foster Family Homes).

c)         Notwithstanding the relative's decision regarding applying for licensure, when a relative has been certified as a relative caregiver under this Part, the relative will receive the full established foster care maintenance payment rate (see 89 Ill. Adm. Code 356.30) for licensed caregivers based on the number and ages of children placed in care.  The caregiver must have a social security number (SSN) or an individual taxpayer identification number (TIN) to receive the monthly stipend.