Section 200.20  Determination of Eligibility for Family Need Based Grants

a)         The grant applicant must show proof of the following:

1)         He or she is, at the time of entry on mobilization, a member of the Illinois National Guard or an Illinois resident who is a member of another U.S. Armed Forces Reserve component applying on behalf of his or her family, or is a family member of the service member.  Proof of residency for military members will consist of information obtained from the supporting documents provided; Department of Defense Form 214 (DD 214) (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), item 7b; or orders and military pay statement, along with the individual's certification on the application.  Proof of a familial relationship will consist of information obtained from Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

2)         The Illinois National Guard or Reserve component member was on active military duty for at least 60 consecutive days (effective December 9, 2009; previously 30 days) in support of an emergency as defined in Section 200.10 (effective July 3, 2014).  Proof of active duty will consist of a DD 214, Department of Defense Form 220 (Report of Active Duty), or copy of the orders issued by an authorized headquarters ordering the member to that duty and a military pay statement reflecting duty performance.  Payment for the first 6 months of active duty service will not occur before day 60 of the first 6 month period.  Payment for the second consecutive 6 month period may be on day one of the second consecutive 6 month period.

3)         A copy of a payroll record from the member's civilian employer that indicates member's monthly salary, a copy of a recent Inactive Duty Training (IDT) Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) within 90 days prior to mobilization reflecting four IDT periods of pay, plus a copy of a military payroll record that indicates the member's monthly military salary.  W2s and completed income tax returns may serve as supporting documentation.

4)         Proof that the military salary (including Basic Allowance for Housing) of the member has decreased by 30% or greater from his or her civilian salary and part time (Inactive Duty Training) military pay.  With the implementation of the Department of Defense (DOD) Reserve Income Replacement Program, applicants requesting the Family Needs Based Grant must report if they have applied for, or are receiving, payments under this program and that amount will be included in total military income.

5)         The Illinois National Guard or Reserve component member holds a pay grade no higher than O-3, if an officer, or W-3, if a warrant officer, or E8 (effective December 9, 2009; previously E9s were eligible) if an enlisted member.  Individuals or families will be eligible for the grant based upon rank at the time the period of service for which applying begins.  Proof of pay grades will consist of information obtained from supporting documents, DEERS or Re-Enlistment Eligibility Data Display (REDD) from the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Database.

6)         If a custodial parent or guardian is applying for a grant on behalf of a service member's dependent, then the custodial parent or guardian must provide proof of guardianship of a member's dependent currently enrolled in DEERS or a Power of Attorney that authorizes those transactions.

b)         The following members are ineligible to receive grants:

1)         All officers, warrant officers, and enlisted members with pay grades of O‑4, W-4 or higher and E9 (effective December 9, 2009; previously E9s were eligible);

2)         Personnel serving in Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) or similar full-time unit support programs unless called to Title 10 service for duty as prescribed in subsection (a)(2);

3)         Members who have no dependent family members enrolled in DEERS;

4)         Members who, at any time prior to the approval of a grant application under this Section, receive a punitive discharge, or an administrative discharge with service characterized as Under Other Than Honorable Conditions or a lower characterized discharge;

5)         Service members who were unemployed upon entry into current mobilization.

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 8822, effective June 15, 2015)