What would the Illinois waiver amendment change?

It would put into effect rate increases required by Public Act 104-0466 for the Adults with Developmental Disabilities waiver. The DSP hourly wage used in the rate would rise from $21.30 to $21.90 statewide and from $24.50 to $25.19 in Chicago, Cook and the collar counties. The average daily 24-hour CILA rate would rise from $375.11 to $401.63.

Is $21.90 a minimum wage for Illinois DSPs?

No. It is the wage built into the state's rate model, not a guaranteed paycheck, but it shapes what agencies can afford to pay.

When would the new rates take effect, and how can I comment?

If CMS approves, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, or whenever approval comes. Comments can be emailed to HFS.HCBSWaiver@illinois.gov through Oct. 8, 2026.

Illinois proposes $21.90 DSP rate wage; comments due Oct. 8

Illinois proposed a DD waiver amendment, posted Sept. 10, 2026, that would raise the DSP wage in its rate model to $21.90 statewide from Jan. 1, 2027, with public comments due Oct. 8, 2026.

Policy · Rates · DSP wages · Illinois · Waivers · Public comment

Meagan Davis, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Direct Support News desk · September 26, 2026 · Updated September 26, 2026 · 1 min read

Illinois would raise the direct support professional wage built into its developmental disability waiver rates from $21.30 to $21.90 an hour statewide, and from $24.50 to $25.19 in Chicago, Cook and the collar counties, under a proposed waiver amendment. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services posted the public notice on Sept. 10, 2026, and is taking comments through Oct. 8.

What the amendment would change

The amendment to the Home and Community-Based Services waiver for Adults with Developmental Disabilities mostly puts into effect rate increases required by state legislation, Public Act 104-0466. If CMS approves, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, or whenever approval comes.

The job coach wage would go from $22.94 to $23.58 statewide. The average daily rate for 24-hour CILA residential habilitation would rise from $375.11 to $401.63. Community day services, intermittent CILA, supported employment, adult day, nursing and mileage rates would also go up.

Separately, the amendment would let people living at home who self-direct their budgets use community day services for up to eight hours a day instead of five. It also fixes several errors in rates listed in an earlier amendment.

How to comment

Comments can be emailed to HFS.HCBSWaiver@illinois.gov through Oct. 8, 2026.

Why this matters for providers and DSPs

The DSP figure is the wage built into the state's rate model, not a guaranteed minimum paycheck, but it shapes what agencies can afford to pay. Illinois providers and DSPs can comment now, before the amendment goes to CMS. Leaders in other states may also find these line-item numbers useful for comparison.

Common questions

What would the Illinois waiver amendment change?: It would put into effect rate increases required by Public Act 104-0466 for the Adults with Developmental Disabilities waiver. The DSP hourly wage used in the rate would rise from $21.30 to $21.90 statewide and from $24.50 to $25.19 in Chicago, Cook and the collar counties. The average daily 24-hour CILA rate would rise from $375.11 to $401.63.
Is $21.90 a minimum wage for Illinois DSPs?: No. It is the wage built into the state's rate model, not a guaranteed paycheck, but it shapes what agencies can afford to pay.
When would the new rates take effect, and how can I comment?: If CMS approves, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, or whenever approval comes. Comments can be emailed to HFS.HCBSWaiver@illinois.gov through Oct. 8, 2026.