Food Stamps in Illinois: A New Round of Payments Is Coming in a Matter of Days

In the state of Illinois, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pays its beneficiaries their allowances on a monthly basis, meaning that each individual receives their deposit on the EBT card once a month. People who qualify receive the money through the Illinois Link card, which works the same as a debit card and allows you to buy food at USDA-authorized stores.

The payment process for SNAP benefits follows a strict schedule established by the state Department of Human Services (DHS): each beneficiary receives his monthly allowance on a specific date, depending on the last digit of their IES number.

Illinois Food Stamps: New Payments Are Coming in May

For example, if the last number of a beneficiary’s birth year ends in 1, he will receive his benefits on the first day of the following month. Similarly, those whose last birth year number ends in 2 will receive their benefits on the second day of the month, and so on until the number 0, whose beneficiaries will receive their benefits on the tenth day of the month.

The Maximum Food Stamps Allotment in Illinois Is $1,751

Effective through September 30, 2024, SNAP benefit payments in the state of Illinois will have values set by the USDA, which are the same for all contiguous states and Washington DC. In the states of Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands the values are different, because the costs of living in those territories are different.

But let’s focus on the payments in the state of Illinois, which are detailed below, based on the size of the household:

What Is the Income Limit for SNAP Benefits in 2024?

1-person household:

• 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands: $1,580
• Alaska: $1,973
• Hawaii: $1,817

2 people household:

• 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands: $2,137
• Alaska: $2,670
• Hawaii: $2,457

3 people household:

• 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands:  $2,694
• Alaska: $3,366
• Hawaii: $3,098

4 people household:

• 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands: $3,250
• Alaska: $4,063
• Hawaii: $3,738

5 people household:

• 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands: $3,807
• Alaska: $4,760
• Hawaii: $4,378

6 people household:

• 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands: $4,364
• Alaska: $5,456
• Hawaii: $5,018

7 people household:

• 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands: $4,921
• Alaska: $6,153
• Hawaii: $5,659

8 people household:

• 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands: $5,478
• Alaska: $6,849
• Hawaii: $6,299

Each Additional Member:

• • 48 States, District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands: $557
  • Alaska: $697
  • Hawaii: $641

Products that can be purchased with SNAP include: fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry and fish, dairy products, bread and cereals, as well as other foods such as snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. In addition, beneficiaries can also use their benefits to purchase seeds and plants that produce food for family consumption, thus promoting food self-sufficiency.

SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase include: alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medications, supplements, live animals (except seafood and fish), prepared foods, hot foods, pet food, cleaning products, hygiene items, or cosmetics. Don’t risk your allotments by trying to buy forbidden items.