Don't Lose Your SNAP Benefits

You must meet certain requirements to be eligible for SNAP and receive benefits. For example:

• Be a US citizen or a legal permanent resident for five years or more in the US (unless you are exempt from the 5-year wait period). Non-eligible Parents or Legal Guardians of children under the age of 18 who are Legal Permanent Residents still apply for their children.
• Meet Department of Human Services (DHS) income limits for your household

Your “household” for SNAP is represented by anyone living together in the same residence; who purchases and prepares food together. For example, a roommate that you buy and make food separately from does not have to be included in your application.

You may need the following document to apply:

• Proof of identity for head of household
• Social security numbers for everyone who is applying for benefits
• Proof of earned income from the past 30 days (If paid in cash, you can submit an Employer Verification Letter)
• Proof of Illinois residency (ex. State ID, utility bill, rental lease) (If experiencing homelessness, you can submit a Collateral Statement as proof of Illinois residency)
• Proof of citizenship/immigration status (ex. birth certificate, passport, legal permanent resident card, etc.)

Your application will be processed by an Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) case worker within 30 days. You may be asked to complete an interview in person or by phone and will receive a notification that tells you if your SNAP request has been approved or denied.

The amount of your SNAP benefits is decided by the IDHS based on factors like your income and expenses. The maximum a one-person household will be able to receive per month is $298 and the minimum allotted amount is $24.

SNAP promotes client choice by allowing clients to buy food based on their own nutritional needs and preferences, on demand.

Eligible foods include:

• Breads and cereals
• Fruits and vegetables
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Meat, fish, and poultry
• Edible plants and seeds

New federal law passed in 2025 removed SNAP eligibility for many immigrants who are legally present in the United States, but it has yet to take effect. This is a developing situation, so check back to this page for the latest. In the meantime, if you are on SNAP, take the necessary steps above to maintain your benefits. If you are not on SNAP and would like to know if you are eligible to apply, contact us.

Undocumented non-citizens were never eligible for SNAP. Naturalized U.S. Citizens can qualify for the same benefits as U.S.-born U.S. Citizens, including SNAP.

Starting February 1, 2026, new federal law requires people between the ages of 18 and 64 to work or volunteer a minimum of 80 hours per month or participate in certain training or education to receive SNAP benefits.

Exemptions are available. Use this screener to see if you are meeting new work requirements or if you qualify for an exemption. If you are eligible for an exemption, complete this form and submit it to IDHS.

You can report that you are meeting the SNAP work requirements through Manage My Case or a Change Report form.

There are three ways to submit your forms:

1. Submit your forms by uploading them to Manage My Case
2. Bring them in person to your local Family Community Resource Centers (FCRC)
3. Mail them to Central Scanning Processing Unit, P.O. Box 19138, Springfield, IL 62794.

IDHS generally takes into account your household’s last 30 days income to determine what your income will be moving forward. However, if you have recently lost your job, IDHS will take that into account as they determine your eligibility. If you are concerned about being denied, give us a call at 773-247-3663 and we can help you find out if you are potentially eligible.

Non-citizens and their children may still be eligible for public benefits depending on their situation. Call us for a screening to find out what benefits and other resources are available for you.

Our food pantries and programs are available to everyone in Cook County, regardless of immigration status. Find a food pantry or program near you.