SPRINGFIELD (WREX) � Illinois residents who are on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will begin receiving maximum benefits this week.
The Illinois Department of Human Services says additional benefits will start going into place on Wednesday, April 8. 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.�
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.
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.
Maximum amounts per household size are as follows:
Illinois SNAP recipients receive their benefits at different times each month, so increased SNAP benefits will be loaded on different dates for SNAP recipients.
