Illinois offers both cash assistance and food stamp benefits to low-income individuals and families who reside in the state. Most welfare programs require recipients to work or have a plan for becoming self-sufficient. Illinois offers welfare, including food stamps, only to people who have the legal right to live in the United States.
Food Stamps Only
If you are interested only in getting food stamps, you must apply for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP. In Illinois, your household must make less than the income limit for a household of that size, which is based on the federal poverty guidelines. You can make more money and still qualify for food stamps if your household is larger or if it contains someone who is over 60 years old or has a disability.
Earnfare Program
The Earnfare program is a food stamp and welfare program that is designed to help Illinois residents become self-sufficient. To qualify for this program, applicants must receive SNAP benefits for themselves only -- applicants may not use food stamps to support dependents. Participants attend an orientation, after which they are given a job assignment. Participants work off the amount of their food stamp benefits before beginning to earn money. They may earn up to $294 per month through this program.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
If you are pregnant or have dependent children under age 18, you may qualify for the Illinois Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. This is an income-based program providing temporary cash assistance to families with children that struggle to pay utility and shelter costs. If an Illinois family qualifies for this program, it may automatically get SNAP benefits, depending on the family's income level and needs.
Apply
Go to the closest Department of Human Services office to apply for food stamps or welfare benefits. You must provide personal information such as your legal name and your Social Security number as well as information about your household's income. A DHS representative may interview you after you submit your application. You must be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant as well as an Illinois resident to qualify for SNAP or welfare benefits.
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