Illinois DAH IH 81 Day Care Verification Form Guide

Illinois DAH IH 81 Day Care Verification Form Guide – If you are seeking a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) or reinstatement of driving privileges in Illinois and need to drive for daycare purposes, the Illinois Secretary of State Form DAH IH 81 (Day Care Verification Form) is a required document. This official form, issued by the Department of Administrative Hearings, provides verifiable proof that children or other immediate family members attend a daycare facility on a regular basis.

This guide explains the purpose of Form DAH IH 81, who must complete it, how to fill it out correctly, where to submit it, and how it fits into the process of obtaining driving relief under Illinois law. Information is drawn from official Illinois Secretary of State resources and the Illinois Administrative Code.

What Is Illinois Secretary of State Form DAH IH 81?

Form DAH IH 81 is the official Day Care Verification Form used by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Department of Administrative Hearings. It is a fillable PDF that must be completed by an authorized representative of a daycare facility (owner, partner, manager, director, or officer).

The form verifies:

The names and ages of children (or other eligible family members) attending the facility
The specific days and hours of regular attendance
An agreement by the provider to notify the Secretary of State if enrollment or attendance ends for any reason

Importantly, verification on business letterhead is not accepted. The form itself must be completed in full. The current version was printed in October 2021 (DAH IH 81.1).

You can download the official form directly from the Illinois Secretary of State website:

Download Illinois Form DAH IH 81 (PDF)

Purpose of the Day Care Verification Form

Under Illinois law, individuals whose driving privileges have been suspended or revoked may petition for a Restricted Driving Permit if they can prove an “undue hardship” and that no reasonable alternative transportation is available. One recognized purpose for an RDP is daycare transportation.

According to 92 Illinois Administrative Code Section 1001.420, a petitioner requesting an RDP for day care purposes must:

Identify the children or other persons receiving day care services
Specify the nature of the services
Provide verifiable documentation from the day care provider on the form supplied by the Secretary of State

The DAH IH 81 form serves as that official verification. It supports petitions involving transportation of children, elderly household members, or persons with disabilities who live in the petitioner’s household and do not hold driving privileges.

A day care RDP may also allow a petitioner to drive a child to daycare while engaged in other approved activities (such as work or medical appointments), even if a separate permit for those activities is not issued.

Who Needs to Complete the DAH IH 81 Form?

The form must be completed entirely by an authorized person at the daycare facility—not by the petitioner. Acceptable signers include the owner, partner, manager, director, or officer of the facility.

Petitioners typically need this form when:

Requesting a Restricted Driving Permit for daycare-related driving
Seeking reinstatement of driving privileges and demonstrating ongoing hardship related to daycare transportation
Participating in formal or informal administrative hearings before the Illinois Secretary of State

It is commonly used alongside other verification forms such as the Employment or Self-Employment Verification Form (DAH IH 89), Education Verification Form (DAH IH 83), and Medical/Treatment Verification Form (DAH IH 84).

How to Fill Out the Day Care Verification Form?

Follow these steps carefully to avoid delays or rejection:

Petitioner Information — Enter the full name of the petitioner (the person seeking the driving permit) and their Illinois driver’s license number at the top of the form.
Children Attending — List each child’s name and age clearly. Space is provided for multiple children. If more space is needed, use the back of the form or attach additional pages.
Days and Hours — Circle the days of the week the child(ren) attend (Monday through Sunday). Provide the specific hours (a.m. to p.m.).
Provider Agreement — The authorized signer must agree to notify the Secretary of State if enrollment or attendance of any listed child is terminated for any reason.
Signature Section — The provider must sign, print their title, date the form, and provide the company name (if any), telephone number, and physical address (no P.O. Box).

Critical notes from the form:

All blanks must be completed.
The form must be completed by the day care provider in its entirety.
Verification on business letterhead will not be accepted.

For best results, download the form and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader before filling it out, as recommended by the Illinois Secretary of State.

Where to Submit the Completed Form?

Mail the completed original form to:

Secretary of State
Department of Administrative Hearings
Support Services Section
501 S. 2nd St., Room 212, Howlett Building
Springfield, IL 62756

Phone: 217-782-7065
Website: ilsos.gov

Do not email or fax the form unless specifically instructed by a hearing officer. Always retain a copy for your records and bring a copy to any administrative hearing.

How Form DAH IH 81 Fits Into the Restricted Driving Permit Process?

Obtaining an RDP or full reinstatement in Illinois generally involves these steps:

Determine whether you need a formal or informal hearing (formal hearings are required for cases involving fatalities or multiple DUI dispositions).
Schedule or attend a consultation with an informal hearing officer at a designated location to review eligibility and required documents.
Gather all required documentation, including Form DAH IH 81 if daycare is a claimed purpose.
Demonstrate that no reasonable alternative transportation exists and that granting the permit will not endanger public safety.
Attend the hearing and present evidence. Decisions are issued after review by the Department of Administrative Hearings.

Additional required documents often include an Alcohol/Drug Evaluation Uniform Report (for alcohol- or drug-related cases), treatment verification, letters of support, and proof of financial responsibility (SR-22 insurance) when applicable.

For a full list of administrative hearing forms and publications, visit the official page:

Illinois Secretary of State Administrative Hearings Forms

Download the Official Illinois DAH IH 81 Form

Always use the official form provided by the Illinois Secretary of State. Third-party versions or letterhead substitutions are not accepted.

Download Form DAH IH 81 – Day Care Verification Form (PDF)

Related helpful resources:

Frequently Asked Questions About Form DAH IH 81

Can I submit a letter on daycare letterhead instead of Form DAH IH 81?
No. The form explicitly states that verification on business letterhead will not be accepted. The official DAH IH 81 form must be used and completed in full.

Who can sign the form?
Only an owner, partner, manager, director, or officer of the daycare facility who has authority to complete the form on its behalf.

Does the form cover elderly or disabled family members?
Yes. The underlying administrative rules allow day care RDPs for children, elderly persons, or persons with disabilities living in the petitioner’s household. Additional proof of age or disability (such as an Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card) may be required.

What happens if attendance ends after the form is submitted?
The daycare provider agrees on the form to notify the Secretary of State if enrollment or attendance of any listed child is terminated for any reason.

Where can I get help completing the form or preparing for a hearing?
Contact the Department of Administrative Hearings at 217-782-7065 or consult an informal hearing officer at a designated location. You may also review the official Hearing Requirements document (DAH IH 22) available on the Secretary of State website.

Final Tips for Illinois Drivers

Accuracy and completeness are essential. Incomplete forms or missing documentation are common reasons for delays or denials at administrative hearings. Download the current official form, ensure the daycare provider completes every section, and mail it to the Springfield address listed above.

For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the official Illinois Secretary of State website at ilsos.gov and the Department of Administrative Hearings publications page. Rules and form versions can be updated, so verify details before submitting your petition.