 The number of people receiving food stamps in Illinois is growing faster than
the state’s population. More than 100,000 Illinoisans have enrolled in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, since 2011.
In fact, participation in SNAP has increased almost 6 percent, while the total
Illinois population has only grown 0.2 percent. The percentage of the total
Illinois population that receives SNAP benefits has grown as well. In 2016, 15
percent of Illinois residents are participating in SNAP, up from 14.2 percent in
2011.
This has occurred during a period of economic recovery, though increased food
stamp usage in Illinois might indicate that the recovery never came for too many
Illinoisans.
The increased dependency on government financial aid is a clear sign of the
economic distress Illinoisans are facing. In fact, Illinois’ workforce has
shrunk by 105,000 people just over the past summer, which is no surprise
considering many working-age adults, especially those who are unemployed, are
choosing to move from Illinois to other states where job prospects are brighter.
Illinois’ food-stamp usage compared to other states
In Illinois, since 2011 the number of jobs has been fairly stagnant and
workforce dropout continues, and participation in SNAP has increased. But the
exact opposite has happened in other states, where the number of jobs has
increased, and SNAP participation has decreased.
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 Take Michigan for example. From September 2011 to September 2016,
the number of Michigan residents receiving SNAP benefits decreased
by over 487,000. Michigan’s decrease of SNAP participants is double
Illinois’ increase of SNAP participants. Moreover, Michigan’s SNAP
participation has dropped more than 12 percent. This is not
surprising, considering during the same time period, Michigan gained
over 356,000 jobs net.
Indiana also has had good prospects. From September 2011 to
September 2016, the number of Indiana residents receiving SNAP
benefits decreased by over 185,000. Indiana saw a 21 percent
decrease in SNAP usage over this time period, which is astonishing
considering Indiana’s population is almost half the size of
Illinois. This also is not surprising, considering during the same
time period, Indiana gained over 180,000 jobs on net.
Illinois legislators need to take steps to make Illinois a more
business friendly environment before the state loses more jobs and
people. A good place to begin would be to fix Illinois’ broken
workers compensation system, which is costing Illinois business
millions of dollars each year. Illinois also needs to decrease the
overall tax burden on businesses and residents that is creeping
higher and higher.
Until these problems change, Illinois will continue to see its
economic prospects spiral downward, and Illinoisans will be stuck in
the middle of it.
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