Up to 150,000 Illinoisans are set to lose access to food assistance, beginning May 1.
As many as 150,000 residents are slated to lose benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as changes take effect from the One Big Beautiful Act.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office is encouraging SNAP recipients to use the state’s screening tool to check their status.
The office also shared resources for work and volunteer opportunities that could help the recipients retain assistance.
Here’s what to know.
Who is at risk of losing benefits?
Here are the Illinoisans whose benefits are at risk beginning May 1:
The 150,000 able-bodied adults without dependents individuals estimated to be at risk of losing benefits have not yet submitted documentation of work, training, volunteering, or an exemption, Pritzker’s office said.
New work requirements went into effect on Feb. 1, saying able-bodied adults without dependents may only receive SNAP for three months in a three-year period unless they meet the work requirements or are otherwise exempt.
Able-bodied adults without dependents without an exemption must spend at least 80 hours each month working, earning $935 per month or more, participating in an approved work program, volunteering, or doing a combination of those activities.
Screening tool
Residents can use an abe.illinois.gov to see if they are meeting SNAP work requirements.
Work and volunteer opportunities
Pritzker’s office shared resources for work and volunteer opportunities via Job Ready IL and Serve IL.
Residents can find more resources at SNAPWorkRequirements.illinois.gov.
‘Ripping away food assistance from Illinoisans’
Pritzker said in the news release that Trump is “ripping away food assistance” from residents.
“For 60 years, Americans across the country have relied on federal food assistance to prevent them from going hungry. Now, as the cost of groceries, gas, and utilities are all rising, Donald Trump is ripping away food assistance from Illinoisans,” Pritzker stated.
The number of people receiving food assistance has reportedly declined by more than three million people since Trump took office.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also imposed restrictions on the foods that SNAP recipients can buy for many states, which the department attributes to the Trump administration’s leadership “to strengthen integrity and restore nutritional value within the (SNAP),” a webpage from the agency reads.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Estimated 150K Illinois residents set to lose SNAP benefits May 1
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
