The Illinois Department of Human Services ( IDHS ) announced that February Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) benefits will be issued to Illinois customers on or before January 20th. This is about a week and half earlier than usual for customers.
This is not an additional benefit. The regular February SNAP benefit is simply being issued early due to the federal government shutdown. Customers should take care to budget their SNAP benefits as their Link cards will not be refilled again in the month of February.
There is no need for customers to visit the local IDHS offices or call their caseworkers. IDHS staff will be working in the upcoming days to implement the necessary changes so customers see no disruption in their benefits. SNAP customers will receive the normal amount of monthly SNAP benefits on their Link cards.
IDHS will be working to communicate the early issuance to SNAP customers in the upcoming days through the IDHS website, Link website and customer service phone line, a social media campaign and community outreach.
—From a Springfield Update by Rep. Greg Harris, 13th District