Illinois SNAP recipients will begin
receiving maximum benefit amounts this week
Customers do not need to call or visit an
office; Increased SNAP benefits will be loaded directly on Link
cards
Send a link to a friend
[June 22, 2020]
The Illinois Department of Human
Services announced today that more than 450,000 Illinois households
will receive additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) benefits beginning this Wednesday, April 8th.
|
All who are eligible for the additional benefits
should receive them by April 20th. The additional funds are intended
to help Illinoisans obtain food and support for their families
during the COVID-19 pandemic. The maximum SNAP benefit amounts will
be implemented for April and May.
“No Illinoisan should ever have to worry about where their next meal
is coming from, especially during an ongoing public health
emergency,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Expanding the amount of
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits people receive
will help families stay safe and healthy in the coming months.”
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Apr/07/images/ads/current/elkhart_grain_daily_sda_022614.png)
Increased benefits will be automatically loaded onto SNAP
recipients’ Link cards, and there is no need for anyone to re-apply,
visit an office, or call. All new applications authorized in April
will also receive the maximum allotment for their household size.
“We’re exploring every avenue we can to provide extra support for
Illinoisans. IDHS has applied for several waivers to make it easier
for people looking for food assistance,” said IDHS Secretary Grace
B. Hou. “Less documentation is required, in-person requirements are
waived, and now we’ll be able to increase the amounts loaded into
Link cards by a significant amount for many families.”
The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act
gives states the option to provide SNAP households with the maximum
SNAP allotment, which is based on household size. SNAP households
which are not currently receiving the maximum allotment will receive
additional SNAP benefits which bring their allotment amount to the
maximum. Households already receiving the maximum benefit will not
receive additional benefits.
[to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Apr/07/images/ads/current/openarms_lda_EASTER_2020.png)
Maximum amounts per household size are as follows:
Number in SNAP household |
Maximum benefit |
1 |
$194 |
2 |
$355 |
3 |
$509 |
4 |
$646 |
5 |
$768 |
6 |
$921 |
7 |
$1,018 |
8 |
$1,164 |
Each additional person |
Add $146 |
Illinois SNAP recipients receive their benefits at
different times each month, so increased SNAP benefits will be
loaded on different dates for SNAP recipients.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food
assistance to low-income people and families living in the United
States. It is a federal aid program administered by the Food and
Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Distribution of benefits occurs at the state level.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Apr/07/images/ads/current/anh3_lda_SFARM_2019.png) |