OUR MISSION: OUR VISION:

We serve people A Society For All,

with disabilities FOR PEOPLE Equal Opportunity,
through support with developmental disabilities Equal Access,
and advocacy Empowerment
PUNS
What is it? And why do we
need to know about it?

May 2008
What is PUNS?
PUNS stands for Prioritization of
Urgency of Need for Services.
Statewide database that records
information about individuals with
developmental disabilities who are in
need of services now or within the next
five-years
Often referred to as the waiting list
How does the State use the
data on the PUNS?
To select individuals for services as
funding becomes available

To develop proposals and materials for

the States annual budgeting process

To plan for future needs

What assistance is
available from the State?
In-home supports
Respite care
Training programs
Job Coaches
Adaptive Equipment
Residential Living Arrangements
 Registering with
the PUNS
database is the
first and most important
step you and your family
can take to receive
assistance now or within
the next five years.
www.dd.illinois.gov/SignUp.cfm
First Step
Contact your PAS/ISC Agency
PAS stands for Pre-Admission Screening
ISC stands for Individual Service
Coordination
Access Services of Northern Illinois is the
PAS/ISC agency for this area
Ask for the Service Coordinator of
the Day and tell that person you
would like to complete the PUNS
Be ready to discuss service needs
Access Services of
Northern Illinois
7399 Forest Hills Road Loves Park, IL
61111
815-282-8824 (phone)
815-282-8835 (fax)
www.accessni.com
What does the PAS/ISC
agency do?
Under contract with the State to:
Enroll individuals in the PUNS database
Complete assessments
to determine eligibility
for services
Assist individuals in
linking to needed
services and providers
Next Steps
After the first phone call

Meet for a face to face conversation with

the PAS Service Coordinator to complete
the PUNS registration form
Who?: PAS Service Coordinator, person
with the disability, family member or
guardian, any others the person with the
disability wants to include
What will the PAS Service
Coordinator ask about?
Developmental disability
Medical condition
Need for new services and supports
Need for different services and supports
General demographic information
Living arrangement
Then what?

Who gets chosen for services?

How are people chosen for

services?
*Full size chart attached with handout
The Point System
(as of April 16, 2008)

The State will authorize services based

on a point system
40 points per month will be authorized
Different services are equal to different
points
CILA (Group Home) = 1 point
HBS (Home Based) = 1/3 point
The Point System
18 points per month reserved for crisis
requests that cannot be predicted by
PUNS
22 points per month for CILA and HBS
Remember this does not mean 22
individuals
These 22 points = services for 42 individuals
Distribution of the 22
points
CILA (12 of the 22 points)
8 Individuals in emergency situations
2 from Chicago Network, 1 from each remaining
Network based on length on time on PUNS
2 Individuals living with caregiver 75 or older
Based on length of time on PUNS, statewide
2 Individuals residing in ICFs/DD
Based on length of time on PUNS, statewide
Distribution of the 22
points
HBS Adult (10 of the 22 points)
6 Individuals in an emergency or critical
situation and needing in home or day
supports
Based on length of time on PUNS, statewide
16 Individuals leaving school in last 5 years
4 from Chicago Network, 2 from each remaining
Network based on length on time on PUNS
8 Individuals living at home with caregiver 60
or older
2 from Chicago Network, 1 from each remaining
Network based on length on time on PUNS
Levels of Urgency
Emergency
Needs supports immediately
Critical
Needs support within one year
Planning
Needs supports within 1-5 years or caregiver
is age 60+
What about the
Childrens HBS Waiver?
The State has not assigned points to this
category yet.

They will assign points in the future.

Important points
Completion of the PUNS registration
does not guarantee eligibility for services
or that services will be provided

PUNS must be updated at least annually

or the individual will be removed from
the PUNS
Need more help?
Developmental Disabilities Hotline
1-888-DD-PLANS (1-888-337-5267)
1-866-376-8446 (TTY)
Acronym Glossary
PAS- Pre-Admission Screening
ISC- Individual Service Coordinator
DHS- Department of Human Services
DD- Developmental Disability
HBS- Home Based Support (waiver program)
CILA- Community Integrated Living
Arrangement (group home)
ICF/DD- Intermediate Care Facility for people
with Developmental Disabilities
PUNS- Prioritization of Urgency of Need for
Services (database/waitlist for DD services)
Sources
State of Illinois, Developmental Disabilities
http://www.dd.illinois.gov
DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities
January 4, 2008 Memorandum
April 16, 2008 Memorandum
The Family Support Network of Illinois
Newsletter, September 2005
Access Services of Northern Illinois
February 15, 2008 Memorandum