Within 10 days after a decision is reached on an application, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the decision. If the applicant resides in a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or a supportive living facility authorized under Section 5-5.01a, the facility shall also receive written notice of the decision, provided that the notification is related to a Department payment for services received by the applicant in the facility. Only facilities enrolled in and subject to a provider agreement under the medical assistance program under Article V may receive such notices of decisions. The Department shall consider eligibility for, and the notice shall contain a decision on, each of the following assistance programs for which the client may be eligible based on the information contained in the application: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medical Assistance, Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled, General Assistance (in the City of Chicago), and food stamps. No decision shall be required for any assistance program for which the applicant has expressly declined in writing to apply. If the applicant is determined to be eligible, the notice shall include a statement of the amount of financial aid to be provided and a statement of the reasons for any partial grant amounts. If the applicant is determined ineligible for any public assistance the notice shall include the reason why the applicant is ineligible. If the application for any public assistance is denied, the notice shall include a statement defining the applicant’s right to appeal the decision. The Illinois Department, by rule, shall determine the date on which assistance shall begin for applicants determined eligible. That date may be no later than 30 days after the date of the application.
     Under no circumstances may any application be denied solely to meet an application-processing deadline. As used in this Section, “application” also refers to requests for admission approval to facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or to supportive living facilities authorized under Section 5-5.01a.