The Illinois Department of Human Services has announced the resumption of full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits now that the federal shutdown has ended after a record 43 days.
Human Services announced in a news release Thursday that payments will be made in the next few days, with all SNAP recipients getting their full November benefits by November 20. Payments are expected to begin today.
An estimated 1.9 million people and businesses rely on SNAP, a federal program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Illinois DHS news release ends with a pointed message about responsibility for the SNAP disruptions: “The crisis was entirely avoidable — the Trump Administration had the funding to fully support SNAP but chose not to, putting tens of millions of Americans at risk of hunger.”
The shutdown — the longest in American history — ended after the president signed a government funding bill Wednesday night just hours after the House passed the measure, mostly along party lines, 222-209. The Senate passed the measure Monday.
The legislation funds three annual spending bills and extends the rest of government funding until January 30. It does not include an extension of health care subsidies that Democrats had been seeking. Republicans have vowed to hold a vote on those subsidies by mid-December.
The Greater Chicago Food Depository said in a statement that while they and other advocates welcome the resumption of SNAP benefits, a looming crisis remains. They urged Congress to prioritize protecting affordable health care.
“The Food Depository and anti-hunger advocates are concerned that the deal to reopen the federal government fails to include an extension of enhanced premium tax credits for healthcare. An estimated 418,000 people in Illinois rely on these credits to lower the cost of health insurance premiums,” the statement says. “Without action before the end of 2025, healthcare expenses and the cost of living will rise for many of our neighbors at risk of food insecurity. This will force more families to make impossible choices between buying food or paying for healthcare.”
How You Can Help and Get Help
The Food Depository offers a list of ways to take action to fight hunger.
To check an EBT Card balance, visit the IDHS: Illinois Link Card or call Illinois Link Help Line: 1-800-678-LINK (5456). Officials say that benefits left on cards from previous months can still be used.
A list of free food resources in Illinois can be found here.
In Chicago, The Love Fridge maintains “17 free community fridges across the city to keep them regularly stocked full of fresh food, household items and, most of all, love.”
