Following new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program requirements established in February by the federal government, thousands of people in Illinois are expected to lose SNAP benefits this weekend.
With roughly 13,000 SNAP beneficiaries in DuPage and Will counties losing their aid, local food pantries are stepping up to meet the need.
February SNAP benefit changes
The Trump administration’s tax bill that passed last summer added new SNAP requirements. The bill requires “able-bodied” adults without dependents to work or volunteer 80 hours per month to continue receiving benefits. This was expanded to include people with no disabilities between the ages 55 to 64 and parents whose youngest child is 14 or older.
On February 1, the rule went into effect in Illinois, and those receiving benefits were given three months to meet this requirement. The Illinois Department of Human Services said that if people did not meet the new requirements, they could only receive benefits for three months in a three-year period. After this three-month period, they would lose benefits…