The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP in the state of Illinois. Eligible applicants receive food assistance benefits, which are automatically transferred to an electronic card, called the Illinois link card. The first step in applying for food assistance is submitting a SNAP application to your nearest DHS office. Expect an interview after the DHS office processes your completed application. The DHS office determines your eligibility based on your total household income, how many people live in your household and whether any household member is disabled or elderly. Occasionally, individuals in Illinois who work hard to support their families don't have enough money left to buy enough healthy food. Therefore, the state steps in and provides supplemental income to those families to assist them in buying healthy food. Formerly called food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dispatches cash amounts through LINK cards that can be used to purchase groceries for needy families. In general, you can purchase any food or food product intended for human consumption besides alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and foods prepared for immediate consumption. Seeds and plants are also authorized to be purchased using the benefits card. You can also purchase meals prepared by organizations that are approved by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) or meals that are prepared and served to eligible residents for example by a shelter for battered woman and children, adult foster care homes and substance abuse treatment centers. There are requirements individuals and families must fulfill before receiving SNAP benefits. Families who find themselves on the borderline of these qualifications are urged to submit an application as they may be accepted into the program Eligibility RequirementsIn order to receive benefits through Illinois SNAP program youwill have to meet the following eligibility criteria: Financial RequirementsQualifying for Illinois SNAP benefits is mainly determined by a family's combined gross monthly income, any resources in the home, the household's combined monthly expenses, and the number of people eating together in the home. If any household member is over age 60 or disabled or you have a larger family, the higher the allowable monthly income. If unsure about your family's financial eligibility, check the SNAP eligibility calculator, available online at: www.michigan.gov/documents. It provides a quick and easy pre-screener for the program. A family may meet all the income requirements but not qualify for food stamps in the state of Illinois. Individuals on strike or capable of working but not actively seeking employment are not be approved to receive SNAP benefits. In addition, some immigrants, boarders and residents of various institutions may not qualify for food stamps. Families who receive money for groceries through Illinois's SNAP program have to meet certain income requirements. Maximum income levels depends on household sizes as listed below:
In households with more than ten people, add $406 per person to calculate the maximum monthly income allowable. Non-financial RequirementsImmigrants may receive SNAP benefits if they've been any of the following for five or more years: a legal permanent resident, on parole, a conditional entrant or a VAWA self petitioner. Refugees, asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking, United States veterans, service persons or one of their family members, or persons withheld from deportation qualify for Illinois SNAP benefits. SNAP benefit applications can be submitted online, or at the Social Services office near you. Once the application is completely filled out and submitted, the department will contact you to set up a one on one interview. For Mail/ Walk in Applications - download and print SNAP application details by following this link: www.ides.state.il.us/individual/online_claim.asp.
For Online Application - visit www.ides.state.il.us/individual/online_claim.asp click on Illinois Web Benefits Online Application System and submit an electronic application for food assistance. You will then receive a notice from the DHS office to attend your SNAP benefits interview and the appointment time. If you are unable to physically go to the interview, you may take a phone interview. The following documents must be availed at the time of your interview:
Additional documents may be required by the DHS representative depending on individual circumstances. You will not know for sure if you qualify to receive SNAP benefits until after the case worker has verified all of your information. You will then receive a letter in the mail 30 days after the date of the interview informing you of your eligibility. In line with the Federal Law, U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy, the Department of Human Services is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, or political affiliation. A discrimination complaint can be filed at the Department of Human Services, USDA, or HHS using the following contact information: Department of Human Services, EEO/AA Office 401 S. Clinton Street, 7th floor Chicago, IL 60607 USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington D.C. 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Voice) or (800) 877-8339 (Hearing impaired/speech disabilities) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish) HHS, Director, Office for Civil Rights, Room 506-F, HHS Building 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20201 or call (202) 619-0403 (Voice) or (202) 619-3257 (Hearing impaired/speech disabilities) DHS, USDA, and HHS are equal opportunity providers and employers.
Worried about doing this on your own? You may be able to get free legal help.
Note: Covid-19 is changing many areas of the law. Visit our Covid-19 articles for the latest information. Displaying information for 07991 [ change ]
After completing and signing the application, you must mail, fax, or hand-deliver it back to the DHS Office. Once your application is received, you will be asked to go to the office for an interview. Most interviews are in person. If you are unable to leave your home, interviews may be done by telephone. At your interview, or soon after, you will need to provide DHS with documentation of your:
This may include pay stubs, utility bills, rent receipts, etc. Depending on your circumstances, additional documentation may be required. After you start getting food stamps, you may need to report certain changes. Examples include changes in:
Once your application is processed, you will get a written decision telling you if you have been approved for food stamps. If so, the letter will tell you what amount you will receive. Applications are available online through the Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE). The online application allows an applicant to submit a single application for multiple programs: It also lets you upload and submit verification documents. The application can then be tracked using a tracking number. The tracking number is provided when the application is submitted. You will get a letter telling you if DHS has approved or denied your application. If you are approved, the letter will tell you the total money you will receive each month. If you need your benefits sooner than 30 days, use this link to apply for emergency or expedited SNAP benefits.
If you are approved for SNAP benefits, your household will be mailed a Link card. This card has the SNAP benefits money on it. Every month food stamps will be electronically placed on the card. If you receive cash benefits as well as SNAP benefits, your cash benefits will also be placed on this same Link card. You can use the card at LINK terminals in certain grocery stores, which scan the card and deduct the amount of the purchase from your account. SNAP benefits are different from TANF cash benefits in the recipient’s account. SNAP benefits can only be used for food purchases. Recipients cannot cash in SNAP benefits. You can call (800) 678-LINK or go to the Manage My Illinois LINK Account website to:
You will need to report any change that could impact your SNAP eligibility or the amount of SNAP you receive. You must report this within 10 days of the change.
Only logged-in users can post comments. Please log in or register if you want to leave a comment. We do our best to reply to each comment. We can't give legal advice in the comments, so if you have a question or need legal help, please go to Get Legal Help. |