In January of 2026, the State of Illinois is set to enact cuts to the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce. These cuts will take place through a 35% “rollback” of the CILA hour adjustment factor, which was only implemented last year in order to preserve all DSP service hours in the system. In 2026 approximately 600,000 DSP service hours, or 300 full time equivalent (FTE) DSPs, will be eliminated.
We have strongly opposed these cuts to DSP staffing since they were first proposed in 2023. The bulk of investments made into I/DD services in recent years has been aimed at stabilizing the DSP workforce, but now the state is making cuts to that same workforce. We cannot stabilize and cut a workforce simultaneously, and we must take action to prevent reckless cuts to DSP service hours.
One of the major recommendations from the state-commissioned Guidehouse Study which has yet to be implemented is the “Zero Hour” staffing model. When implemented, “Zero Hour” staffing will fund staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and require 2.4 million service hours to be added back into the system. It is illogical and inefficient to make major cuts to DSP service hours only to add them back into the system at a later date.
As the Illinois General Assembly prepares to return to Springfield for the 2025 Veto Session, it is critical that we make our strong opposition to these DSP cuts crystal clear. If these DSP workforce cuts do go into effect, it will result in fewer service hours, fewer DSPs, and fewer options for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
The Governor has been one of the most prominent voices in the United States criticizing federal cuts to Medicaid, often saying individuals with disabilities may lose access to services. Yet the state will be making cuts to I/DD staffing before any federal cuts occur. If protecting these crucial Medicaid services is a priority of this administration, why are they making cuts to staffing ahead of further federal cuts?
The I/DD community service system is fragile and in need of major expansion just to meet the current need for services, and that need continues to grow. There are more than 16,000 individuals on the waiting list for services, 50,000 individuals living with a caregiver who is 60 years old or older, hundreds of individuals in state institutions are seeking community services, and many individuals who have received funding for services but cannot find any availability with a community provider. DSP staffing challenges are the biggest challenge preventing these individuals from accessing community services, and without intervention, further cuts to the DSP workforce will take place, exacerbating all of these challenges.
Join advocates throughout the state in the fight to delay cuts to DSP service hours until the “Zero Hour” staffing model is implemented to protect crucial services individuals with I/DD depend on every day. Take action on our campaign to urge your elected officials to support House Joint Resolution 44 (HJR44) which urges the Governor and the Department of Human Services to delay the cuts to DSP service hours until “Zero Hour” staffing is implemented.