May 29, 2025
Written by Joe O’Sullivan, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy
What’s at stake in the FY26 Budget?
By the end of this week, the FY26 budget will be voted on by the General Assembly. Before that happens, it is crucial for us to be heard by those in Springfield so they craft a budget that will help move the I/DD service system forward, not set us back. The Governor’s proposed FY26 budget includes a major cut to the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce, to which Clearbrook is strongly opposed.
Over the past several years, Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly have made unprecedented investments into the I/DD system, for which we are grateful. The system has been in desperate need of investment for many years, but Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly have helped keep the I/DD system afloat with their historic investments. These investments have primarily been made to increase DSP wages to 150% of minimum wage as the state-commissioned Guidehouse Study recommends. We applaud the efforts in recent years to bolster the I/DD service system and DSP workforce.
The Impact of the Proposed Cuts
The Governor’s proposed FY26 budget includes a 50% “roll back” of the CILA Hour Adjustment Factor. This adjustment factor was only implemented last year, after more than a year of negotiations with DHS. The adjustment factor preserves the total amount of DSP service hours in the system, and allows for some hours to be redistributed so that individuals with higher support needs could access additional services. The agreement to implement the adjustment factor was never meant to be temporary, which is why we dedicated significant time and resources to keep those hours in place.
However, the proposed FY26 budget will eliminate half of the service hours preserved through the adjustment factor. What this really means is individuals with I/DD will receive less support than they have this year.
The proposed cuts would result in:
- Elimination of 900,000 DSP service hours 🚫
- Loss of $32 million in service value 💲
- Termination of 430 full-time DSP positions 🚹
Why DSPs Are Essential
DSPs are the lifeblood of home and community based services for individuals with I/DD. Without DSPs, Clearbrook could not exist. The cut to the DSP workforce included in the proposed FY26 budget will significantly set our system back. Individuals with I/DD will have decreased access to services, system capacity will remain stagnant, individuals seeking to leave State Operated Developmental Centers (SODCs) will have even more difficulty finding placement, and service expansion will be hindered leaving tens of thousands of Illinoisans with I/DD with little or no access to community services.
While we do appreciate everything that the Governor and General Assembly have done to improve the I/DD system, cutting service hours will set the system back significantly and exacerbate the challenges preventing individuals with I/DD from accessing community services. We have made some great progress, but we are certainly not in any position to sustain a significant cut in services.
The investments made in recent years also need to be put into context. Since 2020, the DSP wage has increased by $6.50/hour, which is a tremendous achievement. However, during that same time the minimum wage increased by $5.75/hour, meaning DSP wages have increased only 75 cents more than the minimum wage. In comparison to the minimum wage, DSP wages have actually lost some ground. In 2020, the DSP wage was 140% of minimum wage. Today it is 137% of minimum wage. During that time frame there was also a global pandemic, high inflation, rising costs of goods and services, and rising private sector wages. The investments made into the I/DD system were essential, but the impact of these investments was significantly mitigated by outside economic factors.
The Bigger Picture
The I/DD system is already under immense strain:
- 16,000+ individuals on PUNS (Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services) waiting list
- 50,000+ individuals receiving care from caregivers over age 60
- Individuals in SODCs unable to find community placements
- Many selected from PUNS cannot find a provider with capacity
The biggest obstacle preventing these individuals from accessing services is the lack of DSP staff.
Clearly, the I/DD service system is not overstaffed, or providing too many hours of support. If it were, these individuals would be able to find a community provider to serve them. The I/DD system went more than a decade without any rate increases or meaningful investment prior to the efforts in recent years. The system is in desperate need of expansion to meet the current need for services, and that need continues to grow. There is still a long road to go before the system can adequately meet the needs of all Illinoisans with I/DD.
Unfortunately, the proposed FY26 budget will further restrict services and eliminate hundreds of DSP staff. Should these cuts come to pass, it will have a real and immediate negative impact on the lives of individuals with I/DD. However, the budget is not final yet, and we are vigorously fighting back against these cuts.
How to Take Action
House Resolution 316 calls upon the General Assembly to fully restore the cut DSP service hours and preserve those hours in the system. We are urging all legislators in Clearbrook’s service area to support and co-sponsor this resolution. This will help send a clear message that the services provided to individuals with I/DD are essential and must be protected.
The most essential part of Clearbrook’s advocacy is you. You can be a grassroots advocate and make an impact in just a few click, thanks to our digital advocacy platform.
You can take action in just minutes by:
- Sending an email to your legislator 📩
- Making a quick phone call 📞
- Recording a short video message 📷
- Posting on social media 📣
While making your voice heard is quick and easy, the impact of your action can be profound. We need to get loud and make it crystal clear to the General Assembly that individuals with I/DD and the dedicated front-line professionals who support them deserve more, and making cuts to these essential services must be completely rejected.
TAKE ACTION on our campaign to stop the DSP cuts and fight for fair DSP wages.
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