Federal Government Cuts Funding for Food Assistance Program in Illinois

Participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a reduction in benefits due to the expiration of the temporary increase put in place by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

On November 1, most families saw their benefits decrease due to the end of the extra benefits provided by the 2009 law. IDHS informed SNAP recipients of the changes by distributing flyers at local offices and placing notices on its automated helpline, website and social media pages. Recipients can get the amount of their benefits by calling the number on the back of their Illinois Link card or the IDHS automated helpline at (800) 843-6154.

The amount of SNAP benefits each eligible household receives depends on several factors, such as income, household size and expenses. For example, on November 1, a family of four with no change in circumstances saw a decrease in their monthly benefits of $36.

SNAP Maximum Monthly Benefit Changes Household Size Difference 1 $11 2 $20 3 $29 4 $36

In Illinois, more than two million people currently participate in the SNAP program, which is managed and funded by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by IDHS.

For more information about IDHS programs, please visit www.dhs.state.il.us or call (800) 843-6154.

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