Chicago News: Illinois Offering One-Time $400 Food Benefit to Some Residents Who Lost SNAP

Thousands of Illinois residents who lost their SNAP (food stamp) benefits because of the new federal work requirements may now qualify for a one-time $400 payment through a new state program called Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH). The program began August 1 and is intended to help households that were removed from SNAP because of the recent eligibility changes.

The good news is that most eligible households do not have to apply. If you lost your SNAP benefits because of the new work requirements, the Illinois Department of Human Services says eligible households are being automatically enrolled, and the $400 payment will be loaded onto their Illinois Link card. People who lose benefits in the coming months may also receive the payment while funding remains available.

If your SNAP benefits were cut off, do you have to reapply?

Yes, if you want your regular SNAP benefits back.

The $400 payment is a one-time emergency benefit. It does not restore your monthly SNAP benefits. To receive SNAP again, you generally must:

• Reapply if your case has closed.

• Meet the current eligibility rules, including the work requirement if it applies to you.

• If you lost benefits because you didn't meet the work requirement, you can become eligible again by meeting the work requirement or qualifying for an exemption before or during the application process.