The Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services are aware of a security incident with the State of Illinois’ Integrated Eligibility System (IES). A file that was received from the National Change of Address registry at the US Postal Service was matched against an out-of-date client file by a State Employee. That file was loaded into the IES. 

This changed the addresses for 8,848 Healtchare and Family Services and IDHS households. As a result in November and December notices were mailed to 8,848 households at incorrect addresses. In these notices, the name, case number, status as a recipient of medical assistance, SNAP benefits, and names of dependents and birth dates. Out of these 8,848 notices only one notice included a complete Social Security number, and five notices included a bank account number. 

To date there is not any record of any actual or attempted misuse of this information. As soon as the department became aware of the problem, the glitch was taken care of and the department is currently mailing out letters to individuals whose information was sent to the wrong address. If you have any questions, or think your information was taken down write your questions to HFS HIPAA/Privacy Officer, 201 South Grand Avenue East, Springfield IL 62763 or email HFS.Privacy.Officer@illinois.gov.