Governor Pritzker’s proposed FY25 budget contains ZERO increases to the Direct Support Professional (DSP) wage. Meanwhile, on January 1st the minimum wage will increase to $15.00/hour. While we have been fortunate to receive significant investments into the DSP workforce over the past few years, the DSP staffing crisis persists. If we halt investments, much of the progress we have achieved will be lost. We need to build on the recent years investments to expand services, and we will need an outpouring of support from you, our dedicated grassroots advocates, to secure funding to stabilize the DSP workforce.
State Representative Michelle Mussman and State Senator Karina Villa have introduced two identical pieces of legislation aimed at supporting the DSP workforce. House Bill 4806 and Senate Bill 3764 will raise the DSP wage by $3.00/hour, bringing the rate to $22.50/hour. This would satisfy the top recommendation of the Guidehouse Study by setting DSP wages at 150% the minimum wage. We are fortunate to have had bipartisan support and so many vocal legislative allies supporting us over the past few years, and we will need their support again this year. These 2 pieces of legislation are integral to our advocacy efforts this year, and we need your voice to help gain support in Springfield to ensure a wage increase is funded!
The disabilities services system had finally begun to receive significant investments from the state in recent years. These investments, which came after years of neglect and underfunding, had put us on the right track. However, despite these investments, we are further away from our goal of achieving 150% the minimum wage today than we were before these investments began. Without an increase this year, we will fall even farther behind and the earliest DSPs in Illinois could potentially receive a wage increase is 2026. We cannot allow the system to take steps backwards. We must prioritize these crucial investments and commit to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities throughout Illinois.
DSPs make an enormous impact on the lives of thousands of individuals with disabilities every day. The work they do directly impacts the health, well-being, and quality of life of the individuals they serve and they deserve to be paid wages that reflect the value of their work. Help convince the General Assembly to support HB 4806 and SB 3764 and get disability services back on track by taking action on this campaign and spreading the word about our advocacy efforts!