Temporary Cash Assistance for Groceries

• 1,000 individuals will be randomly selected to receive monthly payments for 3 months. Additional applicants who are not selected for the program may be eligible to participate in the research study and will receive an incentive in the form of a gift card for participating in research.

• Outside of completing the application, you do not need to submit other documents to apply. An email address is required to apply. 

• Selected applicants will receive a monthly payment for 3 months in a row, in the amount of $150 or $300 per month based on your eligibility. Participants can select to receive their benefits either through a virtual gift card emailed to them or a physical gift card that can be mailed to them. 

• Participants can use these funds for groceries anywhere Visa is accepted. The funds cannot be used at an ATM or for bank transfers.

• No, purchases made at a store are not tax-free. Items purchased are subject to sales tax or other relevant tax applied at the store.

• This application will ask questions to help us determine your eligibility for this program and understand more about who is applying to this program. Each section indicates why we are collecting information and how it will be used. 

• Participating in this program will not affect SNAP eligibility. Some individuals who are currently receiving other public benefits may experience benefits disruption or loss as a result of participating in this program (see table below). If you are interested in understanding more about how your benefits may be impacted, please contact 312-229-7243 or [email protected]. 

• This funding qualifies as a tax-exempt charitable gift under IRS rules. As such, you do not need to claim it as income for your tax returns. 

• Your payment will be sent to you by GiveCard, a partner of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. GiveCard is a secure payment platform that sends funds to recipients quickly and safely. We take your privacy very seriously. The information you provide in this form will only be used to send you payments on behalf of the program. 

• No, you cannot apply more than once per household. Duplicate entries will be removed during the application review. 

• A household includes you, your spouse or domestic partner, and anyone who depends on you for financial support. This does not include individuals who live at the same address that do not rely on you for financial support. For example, if you have a roommate but you buy groceries and cook meals separately, then you are considered two separate households for the purposes of the program.

• Applications will be entered into a lottery. If selected to participate in the program, you should expect to be notified the week of May 25, 2026. For individuals who select a virtual card, you can expect to receive it via email the same week. If you select to receive a physical gift card via USPS mail, please allow 7-10 days to receive the card. 

• If you need assistance in filling out the application by phone, you can call the YWCA for assistance: 312-229-7243. Please leave a voicemail and someone will get back to you within 1 business day. You can also email [email protected] and someone will follow-up in 1 business day.  
• If you need assistance in filling out the application in person, there will be in-person application assistance available. Please see the table below.

**PHALANX UPDATED DATE IS 5/12, not 5/15 – PLEASE SEE BELOW: