Child Therapists Not Paid On Time: 'The State of Owes Me Over $11,000'

UPDATE: Just hours after CBS2's Chris Tye exposed the slow payment schedule the State of Illinois uses to compensate therapists in the Early Intervention Program, $9 million appears ready for payout.  For some of these contractors who work with developmentally disabled infants and toddlers, the state was 11 weeks late on payment, in some cases tens of thousands of dollars were outstanding.  We learned Wednesday morning that $9 million has been green-lit for payout to workers that will cover hours worked through the month of September.

"And just like that, it happened overnight," is how Flor Avila described it to CBS 2 on Wednesday.    "Nine million should be good for about three payments, when they decide to release them." 

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Child therapists contracted by the state said they're only getting paid every other month.

After CBS 2's Chris Tye started asking questions from the state, there may be relief in sight.

Working every day, but getting paid every other month?

For 18 years, therapist Flor Avila has helped children from birth to 36 months through the state funded Early Intervention Program, whose promotional videos tout helping children.

"I believe it's a crisis at this moment," Avila said.

She comes to people's homes, is paid by the state and helps toddlers, like her grandson Nathan, overcome early learning obstacles.

"I love what I do. I genuinely love working with the children and the families," Avila said.

What she doesn't love is how much the state owes her: seven weeks of backpay. At the worst, it's been four months.

The way its supposed to work is for Avila to submit her invoice to the Illinois Department of Human Services. Once they greenlight it, it's the state comptroller's job to write the check and send it to Avila and the thousands like her.

Somewhere along the line, a big log jam occurs.

"The state of Illinois currently owes me over $11,000," Avila said.

Others said they're owed twice as much.

"Basically beg and cry and plead with them (and ask) 'when are we gonna get some funds?' When are we gonna get paid," Avila lamented.

As she teaches Nathan the building blocks of learning, she's re-learning what a life without budgeting or stability really feels like.

"It's not right to treat people like this," Avila said.

After  CBS 2 spent the day digging into the matter, the state acted. Employees said dollars were approved Tuesday for mid-September workdays.

A state spokesperson said the average paycheck comes in after four weeks. It's a number many workers said they doubt.