Your SNAP/Link Benefits Will Be Reduced in March 2023 

If you receive SNAP/Link benefits, formerly known as food stamps, your benefits will be reduced in March as a result of federal policy changes. 

 

Your SNAP/Link Benefits Will Be Reduced in March 2023 

Due to a recent federal policy change, emergency SNAP is ending soon. During the pandemic, the federal government issued emergency supplemental benefits to SNAP, the program otherwise known as LINK or EBT in the state of Illinois. Since April 2020, all Illinois SNAP households have received their regular monthly benefit from the 1st to the 20th of the month and a separate emergency SNAP issuance after the 21st of the month. Emergency SNAP will be issued for the last time in February 2023. All Illinois SNAP households will see their benefits decrease in March. 

 

How Much Will My SNAP/Link Benefits Change? 

SNAP participants will see their benefits cut anywhere from $55 to $255 per person per month. The average one-person household will see their benefits go down by $86 per month in March. 

 

The exact size of the benefit decrease each household will experience will vary greatly depending on income and household size. Households with little to no net income will see the smallest cut. Households with larger net income will receive larger cuts. 

 

Illinois SNAP households receive their regular monthly benefit from the 1st to the 20th of the month. This is the amount you will continue to receive in March. Since April 2020, emergency SNAP has been sent after the 21st of the month. This is the amount you will no longer receive starting in March.  

 

You can also log into your account on the Application for Benefits Eligible (ABE) website or create an account on ABE to learn more. 

 

 

Next Steps for You: How to Maximize Your SNAP/Link Benefits 

If you have experienced certain changes, you may be eligible for more in SNAP benefits: 

  • The number of people in your household increased 
  • Your income went down 
  • Your housing, medical, or child care expenses went up 
  • You pay child support expenses for a child not in your home 

 

If you experienced one of these changes, you can get help understanding the impact on your benefits and how to report changes.  

 

The Illinois Department of Human Services is also here to help. Visit abe.illinois.gov or call the hotline at 1-800-843-6154. 

 

In Cook County, call the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s benefits hotline at 773-843-5416 or submit our online form to have us call you back.