The program that administers food stamps in Illinois is called SNAP the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This program provides food benefits to low income persons and families to ensure they have access to quality food even if their income is very low. However to receive Illinois SNAP benefits you must qualify to stay eligible and follow the rules. Below are 5 tips to ensure your success in receiving Illinois food stamps.
1: Use the Illinois SNAP Calculator to determine your eligibility and likely benefit amount. The Illinois SNAP Calculator is available on the IL SNAP website.
2: Know the SNAP income limitations so you know whether you qualify for food stamps in Illinois. You can find the SNAP income limitation chart at the IL SNAP website.
3: Read up on the Illinois Link Card which is the Illinois benefit debit card that SNAP benefits are paid on. The link card allows you to pay for food using a SNAP food stamp benefit card just like a Visa type card. Reading up on the Link Card will ensure you know what to do if you have problems.
4: Know what food you can buy with SNAP benefits and what food is not eligible for food stamp purchases. For example you can purchase any food for human consumption but did you know you can also use your benefits to purchase seeds to grow your own food?
5: Know what you cannot buy with your SNAP benefits. You cannot buy hot ready to eat foods, lunch counter or foods to be heated in a store. You cannot buy vitamins or pet food or tobacco products or alcohol.
These five tips should help you ensure that you know who is eligible, how benefits are paid and used and what you can use your link card debit card to purchase and stay within the guidelines of the Illinois SNAP benefit program.
If you are in need of food assistance in the State of Illinois you’ll be applying for food stamps in the SNAP program. What was traditionally known simply as Illinois Food Stamps has grown and changed into the SNAP program run by DHS. The SNAP program provides food assistance in two forms. Food stamps can come in the form of cash or SNAP benefits but both are obtained using the Link Card which is much like a credit or debit card.
The Link card and SNAP program has taken away the stigma of using actual food stamps at the checkout counter. Now benefit recipients just pay for their food with the Link card and to everyone else it looks like a credit or debit card. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and is run by DHS for the State of Illinois.
You can use the Link card and your SNAP benefits to buy any food that is not already hot and ready to eat. You can also buy seeds for your garden if you grow your own food. As mentioned before Illinois Food Stamps are not available for hot foods that are ready to eat, food you would heat in a store or vitamin or medicine type items. SNAP benefits are for humans only so pet foods are also not an option. As you might expect no alcohol or tobacco may be purchased using the Link card.
Apply For Illinois Food Stamps
You can apply for Illinois food stamps at the SNAP program website at http://fspp.dhs.state.il.us/register/wb/wbHomePre.do
You can also download a paper food stamp application at http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=33698 and turn it in at your local DHS office. If you need to apply for food stamps do it quickly as it can take up to 30 days for your SNAP benefits to kick in. There are emergency situations that can get benefits going as soon as five days but for most cases consider within 30 days to be your window. You will generally have to come to a DHS office to be interviewed and this is especially the case for any cash based benefit.
If you are going to be receiving SNAP food stamp assistance in the State of Illinois, you’ll likely be receiving your SNAP benefits on your Illinois LINK card. The LINK card is used to hold and allow you to spend your SNAP benefits for food assistance at local stores. If you have been approved to receive cash or SNAP food stamp benefits you’ll receive a Link card that looks much like a traditional debit card or credit card. You can use the LINK card for both cash and food stamp benefits. Unfortunately only one LINK card per SNAP approved case is allowed.
You can managed the Illinois LINK card online. The LINK website is http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=35280 and can be used to perform many helpful functions. At this Illinois LINK website you can see your benefit amount and account balance. If you have lost your Illinois LINK card you can report it lost or stolen and obtain a replacement LINK card. You can also use this website to change your pin or set your initial pin once you receive your LINK card. You can also review your transaction history to see cash withdrawls and purchases.
Lastly if you have a problem with your LINK card you can use this online website portal to obtain help or report any problems.
If you will be receiving Illinois SNAP benefits you might be curious to determine your benefit amount. The Illinois SNAP calculator at the DHS website http://fscalc.dhs.illinois.gov/FSCalc/ is the tool you can use to figure out exactly how much your SNAP food stamp benefit will be. The state of Illinois provides the calculator online to make figuring out the benefit amount very easy. Keep in mind the SNAP calculator only provides an estimate of your benefit amount it is not an exact calculation. Not only does the SNAP calculator estimate your benefit amount it can provide eligibility information in terms of whether you are eligible to receive SNAP food stamp benefits at all. Some of the information the SNAP calculator will need to make a determination is the household size, Illinois Medicaid or disability information, gross income and total of your assets. Other information that goes into the calculator is your household expense data. You’ll need to provide dependant care costs, child support, medical if disabled and rent/mortgage as well as insurance and tax expenses. Then hit the Calculate Now button and you’ll see your resulting benefit amount. If you do not qualify for SNAP benefits you’ll see a message that says ” Based on the information provided, you would not be eligible for SNAP benefits ” You will need to look elsewhere for food related assistance in that case.
In total the information regarding your income, assets, expenses and household size helps the Illinois SNAP calculator product an estimate of your benefits. The SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and calculator is provided by the Illinois DHS which is the Department of Human Services. You can use the calculator in either english or Espanol depending on your needs.
If you are in need of food assistance from the state of Illinois you will want to be aware of how to apply for SNAP benefits. The Illinois SNAP application is how you can submit your request for food stamp type assistance benefits. You can start the SNAP application online at http://fspp.dhs.state.il.us/register/wb/wbPreScreeningPre.do or print off a paper application and bring it to a DHS office. You will need to come to a DHS office for an interview so doing the application online and in person is both a great way to apply for Illinois food stamps. When you arrive for your interview and submit your application be ready with a photo ID and date of birth for anyone receiving SNAP benefits. If there will be cash or medical benefits proof of citizenship is required. You will need the social security number for everyone applying for food stamps. Be prepared to provide all income information for the entire household and also the expenses of the house hold. This includes rent/mortgage insurance, utilities and taxes. You will also need to provide asset information such as the amount of cash in checking or savings accounts, investments and real property.
It’s a great idea to apply for food stamps online because you will only have to go into the DHS office one time for your interview. If you print a paper application you will then need to turn it in at the DHS office and then return for your interview at at later time. You can find internet terminals at the local library if you are unable to access the SNAP application at home on your own PC.
Illinois Snap benefits are the new means of providing what used to be known as Food Stamps to Illinois residents who are in need of government assistance to feed themselves and their families.
