SNAP recipients struggling with a federal change in benefit requirements may have received a temporary lifeline in Illinois.
According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, certain SNAP clients lost their benefits on or after May 1 because they didn’t meet new federal work requirements changed as part of the Big Beautiful Bill passed last year.
“It was estimated that about 450,000 people would lose their benefits because of that change,” said Danielle Perry, the vice president of policy, advocacy, and community engagement at Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Since May, 148,000 people already lost their SNAP benefits, according to Perry.
That’s why Illinois created the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger Program, also known as FRESH.
According to IDHS, the FRESH Program “…gives a one-time [$400] cash payment to people whose SNAP benefits were reduced or stopped because they did not meet the federal SNAP work requirement.”
Previously, Illinois SNAP recipients were exempt from work requirements due to the state’s high unemployment rate, Perry, who was an integral part of the team that collaborated with the state to begin the FRESH program, said.
Beginning Aug. 1, an estimated 100,000 eligible Illinois residents who recently lost food assistance benefits due to new federal regulations should have seen a one-time $400 deposit on their LINK cards.
For those who qualify, the money should automatically showed up on your LINK card. If you no longer have a LINK card, IDHS says you can request a new one through EBTedge.com or by calling the LINK Hotline at 1-800-678-LINK (5465).
According to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, “individuals who have benefits impacted for reasons other than the work requirements will NOT be eligible for FRESH.” If your benefits are impacted in August or later, “payments will be provided in the same month the loss or reduction of SNAP occurred.”
The FRESH Program is only available in Illinois. It’s set to expire in July 2027 or when the funding runs out.
If you’re having trouble navigating your SNAP benefits and you’d like help with the process, the Greater Chicago Food Depository offers free help to the community. You can call the Food Depository Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (773) 247-3663.
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