Illinois Food Assistance
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 1.6 million Illinois families receive assistance with putting food on the table each month. As food costs rise and families struggle to make ends meet, the number of people that need help buying food continues to increase, but there are several programs in Illinois to help ensure that residents do not go hungry.
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Food Stamps
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Low-income Illinois residents can apply for help purchasing food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. These benefits, which are distributed via an electronic benefits card called Illinois Link, are meant to supplement a household's monthly food budget, and can only be used to purchase food items such as fruits and vegetables; meats, poultry and fish; bread and cereal products; frozen foods and dairy products. SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase paper or cleaning products, pet food, alcohol or cigarettes. Households are generally eligible for SNAP if the adjusted gross monthly income for their household size is equal to or less than 130 percent of the federal poverty level. Residents can apply online, or by visiting their local Family Community Resource Center.
Women, Infants & Children
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Low- to moderate-income Illinois women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or just had a baby or who are caring for children under five years of age, along with low-income families, can apply for food assistance from the Women, Infants and Children program. This program supplies monthly checks to help purchase specific healthy foods, such as milk, cheese, eggs, beans and peanut butter, as well as infant formula for infants that are not nursing. In general, to qualify for WIC, your household income must be equal to or less than 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size. Illinois residents can apply for WIC benefits at their local Department of Human Services office.
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WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program
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The WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program is an offshoot of the traditional WIC program. This program provides special checks to low- to moderate-income women caring for infants and children under age 5 to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmer's markets and roadside stands. The program is designed to help families have access to nutritious foods so they can stay healthy.
Emergency Food Program
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Illinois households that meet residency and income guidelines can also receive food for no cost through the Emergency Food Program, a federal program that helps supplement the diets of needy Illinois residents. Qualifying residents can get free food from local food pantries and soup kitchens. The food is donated by private individuals and organizations and distributed by eight food banks to food pantries throughout the state. Households that receive SNAP benefits or other state assistance benefits and the homeless are generally eligible for the Emergency Food Program.
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References
- Illinois Department of Human Services: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP
- Illinois Department of Human Services:Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Illinois Department of Human Services: Emergency Food
- Illinois Department of Human Services: WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
- USDA Food & Nutrition Service: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Average Monthly Participation
Resources
- Photo Credit food. image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
