Illinois voters overwhelmingly support a state income tax credit for family caregivers

ONE IN THREE VOTERS 40 AND OLDER IN ILLINOIS HAVE EXPERIENCE AS A FAMILY CAREGIVER (34 PERCENT). While one in ten say they are currently providing care to an adult loved one (11 percent),

nearly one in four say they have been a caregiver in the past (23 percent). These caregivers are likely caring for a parent and helping them with meals, transportation, shopping, chores, as

well as bathing and dressing, toileting, overseeing medications, and helping with medical or nursing tasks. NEARLY ALL ILLINOIS CURRENT AND FORMER CAREGIVERS HAVE INCURRED SOME EXPENSE WHILE

PROVIDING CARE. Over nine in ten caregivers say they have incurred expenses in at least one of the eleven cost areas asked about in this survey (93 percent). Nearly half of caregivers (48

percent) say that paying for these expenses is extremely, very, or somewhat difficult. In fact, current caregivers estimate they spend on average $300 a month caring for their loved ones. A

slight majority of voters in Illinois do not believe that the Illinois State Government offers enough support for unpaid family caregivers. Just over half of voters do not believe their

state government is doing enough to support family caregivers, but one in three say they are not sure if their state government does enough. In fact, only 13 percent of voters agree that

their state government is doing enough for family caregivers. ILLINOIS VOTERS SUPPORT PROVIDING CAREGIVERS WHO INCUR EXPENSES WHILE CARING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES WITH A FAMILY CAREGIVER INCOME

TAX CREDIT. Nearly nine in ten voters support the creation of a state income tax credit for family caregivers. The majority of voters, across political parties, also support such a tax

credit. METHODOLOGY AARP Illinois commissioned a telephone survey among 1,126 registered voters age 40-plus in Illinois to learn their views on caregiving and long-term care. The main sample

utilized an age-targeted landline and cell phone registered voter list obtained from Aristotle International. Quotas were used in this study based on age and gender and were filled based on

responses to questions in the questionnaire. Respondents were selected at random from the main sample list to be dialed. American Directions Research Group (ADRG) asked to speak with the

registered voter listed on the file. If that person was unavailable, ADRG asked to speak with another member of the household aged 40-plus who was registered to vote in Illinois. The

interviews averaged 22 minutes in length and were conducted in English and Spanish. Interviews were conducted from July 16 to August 13, 2024. The data is weighted by age, gender, race and

ethnicity, and AARP membership status. Percentages reported are rounded. This report highlights results from 1,126 registered voters 40-plus who reside in Illinois. For more information,

please contact Terri Guengerich at [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at [email protected].