How to Apply for Food Stamps in Wheaton, Illinois
When money is tight and your household needs financial assistance for food purchases, Illinois residents can apply to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, in which recipients are issued a Link card for food purchases. Assistance ranges from $200 a month to more than $1,000. The Illinois Department of Human Services administers the program, formerly called food stamps, through local public aid offices, including the DuPage County office in Villa Park. Wheaton residents utilize the DuPage County office, but visits to the facility can be reduced by applying for SNAP benefits via mail or the Internet.
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Things You'll Need
- Photo identification card
- Proof of residence
- Social Security cards
- Proof of household income, such as bank statements
Instructions
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Application process
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Determine whether your income possibly meets the criteria to receive a Link card. The Illinois Department of Human Services offers an online calculator to assist those applying and is available online at www.dhs.state.il.us. For example, households with two people and a monthly income of $2,333, or a home with six people and a monthly income of $4,733 may meet eligibility requirements, according to DHS.
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Apply online, by mail or in person. Applications are available online at www.dhs.state.il.us. Paper applications can be downloaded from the same website and for Wheaton residents, mailed to the DuPage County office: Illinois Department of Human Services, Family Community Resource Center, 146 W. Roosevelt Road, Suite 2, Villa Park, IL 60181. Applications also can be completed in person at the office.
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Have a photo ID handy, as well as Social Security numbers, proof of residence and information pertaining to household income before starting the application process. A DHS representative will contact you upon receipt of the application to schedule an interview at the local office. The application process takes less than 30 days, and if accepted, your Link card will be mailed.
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Use your LInk card to buy food, as well as seeds and plants used to produce food. Restricted purchases include tobacco, alcohol, medicine, pet food and certain ready-to-eat foods.
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Check for signs at your local grocery store that say the LInk card is accepted. In Illinois, more than 9,000 retailers participate. Or go online to www.fns.usda.gov to search for retailers that accept the Link card.
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Tips & Warnings
Card balances are available online at www.dhs.state.il.us.
Link card funds are replenished monthly.
Only one card is issued per household.
Fraud can lead to fines and removal from SNAP for retailers and program recipients.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit grocery cart image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
