Applying for Food Assistance (Food Stamps) in Illinois

In tough economic times, more people are needing help to get through. Paying monthly bills and keeping food on the table can become a struggle. If you find yourself in this situation, you might need to consider applying for food assistance through your state. Here is how to apply for food stamps (food assistance) in the state of Illinois. The food stamp program is called SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in Illinois. I have had to make use of this program in the past when my family needed assistance.

Food assistance in Illinois is provided through the use of an EBT (Electronic Balance Transfer) card which works like a debit card. It is called Link and is scanned electronically at stores. Every month on a specific date, funds are credited to each Link account. The amount per account is assessed on an individual basis and assigned based upon income, number of household dependents and assets.

When the card is scanned a PIN (Personal Identification Number) must entered and the amount of the purchase is deducted from the account balance. In most cases, the account balance is non-transferable and cannot be accessed for cash.

Where to apply for food assistance in Illinois

Each county in Illinois has a local Department of Human Services office. Due to budgetary constraints and locations, some smaller, rural counties in Illinois have seen their local DHS offices closed and combined with adjoining county offices. For a listing of each county location, see the DHS Office Locator.

What you will need in order to apply for food assistance in Illinois

There are a number of specific documents and verifications you will need in order to apply for food assistance or LINK.

You will need proof of identity to apply for any type of assistance through the DHS in Illinois. A driver's license for yourself and Social Security cards for each household member will need to be copied for your caseworker and added to your application and file. Other forms of identification would be a state-issued ID, birth certificates or passports.

Copies of current bills will be needed for your application. The bills needed will be all utility bills (phone, electric, water, trash), rent receipts, a mortgage payment book or paperwork and payment books or paperwork for vehicles.

Your caseworker will need proof of your assets. Assets are vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATV's, RV's), bank accounts, insurance policies and cash on hand. The idea with assets is that anything you own (without a lien against it - or the resell value is more than the lien amount) could be sold and the profit could be used to provide financial support for your family. The maximum amount of assets you can have is $2000. You will need the most current official statements from your banks, insurance companies and loan companies.

You will need verifications of your income for the past 30 days (or more if the caseworker determines this is needed). Forms of income verifications will be pay stubs or official statements from your employer. In some cases you might need to provide W-2 forms for income verifications.

You will need to provide proof of your residence for your application. Usually a bill listing your current address will be sufficient.

When you apply for food assistance in Illinois, you will need to provide the caseworker with your current budget. He or she will need to know where your money is going each month. They will ask about all of your expenditures. It is best to have this written down ahead of time so you don't forget anything.

How to get an appointment

Food assistance applications are usually taken on a walk-in basis during specific times. You should contact the DHS office in your area to find out the exact details. When you walk in for an appointment, you will have to wait to be seen by the caseworker. Take all of the necessary information with you. Your caseworker will go over what you have brought and will let you know if anything else is needed.

If the caseworker needs information that you don't have with you, he or she will give you a paper detailing what exactly is needed. You will be given a date by which you will need to turn in the required information. After you provide that information, you should receive a determination of your application within 30 days.

If you are approved for food assistance, a LINK card will be issued to you. Once you receive it in the mail, you will need to go back to your local DHS office to have the LINK card activated and add a PIN.

Applying online for Illinois food assistance

An online application can be entered to apply for food assistance in Illinois. Once you submit the application, you will receive an appointment time and date through the mail. The appointment paperwork will detail what information you should bring to the appointment (the same information detailed earlier in this article). Once you turn in the paperwork on the appointment date, you will receive a determination on your application within 30 days - unless your caseworker decides further information is needed.

The online SNAP application can be found at Illinois Web Benefits Online Application System. You can also enter your information into the DHS Food Stamp Eligibility Calculator to see if you might be eligible for SNAP.

Source:
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=33698