Overview
- The Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger program started issuing automatic $400 deposits to eligible Illinois LINK cards on Saturday, Aug. 1, for households that lost SNAP because of new federal work requirements.
- Lawmakers set aside $70 million for the one-time payments and also approved $55 million to hire about 450 Illinois Department of Human Services staff to update systems and handle new federal eligibility rules.
- Payments will continue for people who lose SNAP in the coming months until the appropriation is exhausted or the program ends in July 2027, and only households cut for not meeting the work rule qualify.
- State officials warn of larger fiscal exposure because Illinois had a 14.7% SNAP error rate in FY2025 and could face roughly $700 million in added costs by the end of 2028 if error rates and federal cost-sharing changes are not addressed.
- Local food banks and community groups are helping people replace LINK cards and navigate benefits, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository and IDHS offer free assistance for residents who need help understanding eligibility or getting a new card.