The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or Link) helps individuals and families purchase groceries. By providing money for groceries, SNAP frees up household income for other necessities like medicine or utilities.
There are some eligibility requirements for income, employment, and citizenship. Older adults over age 60 and individuals with a disability have expanded eligibility rules and a simplified process for maintaining benefits.
SNAP benefits are distributed monthly on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. Each month, participants receive a dollar amount to spend on grocery foods at authorized retail stores.
The amount of benefit you receive depends on your household income and expenses and the number of people in your household.
SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase non-food items.
To be eligible for SNAP, you must meet both the gross income requirement and net income requirement.
For most households, gross income (income before taxes) must be under 165 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Gross income includes all income from your job or self-employment, and other income like social security, disability, child support, worker’s comp, unemployment, and pension income.
Maximum Gross Income by Household Size
(July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025)
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income |
Annual Income |
| 1 | $2,071 | $24,852 |
| 2 | $2,811 | $33,732 |
| 3 | $3,551 | $42,612 |
| 4 | $4,290 | $51,480 |
| 5 | $5,030 | $60,360 |
| 6 | $5,770 | $69,240 |
| 7 | $6,510 | $78,120 |
| 8 | $7,249 | $86,988 |
For households with someone over 60 or someone with a disability, gross income must be under 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
Maximum Gross Income by Household Size
(July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025)
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income |
Annual Income |
| 1 | $2,510 | $30,120 |
| 2 | $3,406 | $40,872 |
| 3 | $4,303 | $51,636 |
| 4 | $5,200 | $62,400 |
| 5 | $6,096 | $73,152 |
| 6 | $6,993 | $83,916 |
| 7 | $7,890 | $94,680 |
| 8 | $8,786 | $105,432 |
For all households, net income after deducting for qualifying expenses such as housing and child care must be below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
Net Income Limit by Household Size
(July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025)
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income |
Annual Income |
| 1 | $1,255 | $15,060 |
| 2 | $1,703 | $20,440 |
| 3 | $2,152 | $25,820 |
| 4 | $2,600 | $31,200 |
| 5 | $3,048 | $36,580 |
| 6 | $3,497 | $41,960 |
| 7 | $3,945 | $47,340 |
| 8 | $4,393 | $52,720 |
Learn more about some of the expenses that can be deducted to calculate net income.
There is no age requirement to qualify for SNAP.
Adults over age 60 have expanded eligibility rules. Older adults can have income up to 200% of the federal poverty line. When determining eligibility, older adults can deduct medical expenses, and they do not face a cap on housing expenses for the housing deduction. Older adults also have a simplified process for maintaining benefits. Once enrolled, they only have to recertify their eligibility every 24 months.
SNAP is the only nutrition program with a citizenship requirement. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for SNAP. Immigrants can enroll in SNAP if they meet income and work requirements and have a qualifying immigration status:
Learn more about considerations for immigrant households in our FAQs below.
Adults ages 18 to 54 must meet work requirements unless they have dependent children, a disability, or qualify for an exemption. These adults are considered Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). ABAWDs who do not meet work requirements are limited to only three months of SNAP benefits in a three year period.
Learn more about work requirements and time limits in our FAQs below.
You can apply for SNAP in person, over the phone, or online. In some communities, community based organizations provide application assistance.
Apply in person at an Illinois Department of Human Services Family Community Resource Center.
Apply by phone by calling 800-843-6154
Apply online at the Illinois Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE).
Proof of Identity
State ID or Driver’s License, Photo ID such as work or school ID or birth certificate. If you don’t have proof of ID or Address, you can have someone write a statement on your behalf affirming your identity and Illinois residency.
Proof of Residency
State ID or Driver’s License, Utility Bill, Lease, Piece of mail from the last 30 days, collateral statement.
Proof of Income for Last 30 Days
Check stubs, Employer Letter, Pension Statement.
Proof of Citizenship/Immigration Status
You only have to provide proof of your immigration status if you are applying for benefits for yourself. You do not have to provide your immigration status if you are applying on behalf of your children.
Proof of Medical Expenses
Older adults and individuals with disabilities can deduct their medical expenses (including Medicare premiums) on their application.
Illinois residents can complete an online screener to estimate how much in monthly SNAP benefits you are eligible for.
Having savings doesn’t disqualify you. You can apply for SNAP even if you have money in the bank.
SNAP has two sets of work requirements, the general work requirements and the able bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) work requirements.
General Work Requirements
If you are age 16–59 and able to work, you will probably need to meet the general work requirements to get SNAP benefits. The general work requirements include registering for work, participating in SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) or workfare if assigned by your state SNAP agency, taking a suitable job if offered, and not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing your work hours below 30 a week without a good reason.
You are excused from the general work requirements if you are any one of these things:
If you have to meet the general work requirements but you don’t, you are disqualified from getting SNAP for at least a month and must start meeting the requirements to get SNAP again. If you get back on SNAP and then don’t meet the requirements again, then you are disqualified for longer than a month and you could be disqualified forever.
ABAWD Work Requirement and Time Limit
If you are age 18–54, able to work, and don’t have any dependents, you might need to meet both the general work requirements and an additional work requirement for ABAWDs to get SNAP for more than three months in three years (the time limit).
You can meet the ABAWD work requirement by doing any one of these things:
You are excused from the ABAWD work requirement and time limit if you are any one of these things:
If you have to meet the ABAWD work requirement but you don’t, you will lose your benefits after three months. To get SNAP again, you must meet the ABAWD work requirement for a 30-day period or become excused. Otherwise, you need to wait until the end of your three-year period, when you’ll get another three months under the time limit.
If your children are legal permanent residents or U.S. citizens, you can enroll them in SNAP even if you are undocumented or don’t have a qualifying immigration status.
If you are eligible for SNAP, you can apply for yourself even if others in your household are not eligible because of their immigration status.
If you are not eligible for SNAP due to your immigration status, you can still apply on behalf of your children or others in your household who are eligible.
On your application, you will have to provide income information for everyone in the household to determine whether your family meets income requirements. But you only have to share a social security number and immigration status for household members you are requesting benefits for.
Applying for SNAP does not affect immigration status, although some people want to change that.
Under current law, SNAP enrollment does not affect your ability to remain in the United States, get or keep a green card or permanent resident status, or become a U.S. citizen. A few years ago, lawmakers talked about changing this, and they may try to change it in the future.
Talk to a trusted source for the latest information. You can get up-to-date information online from Protecting Immigrant Families Illinois or the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights also maintains a list of organizations around the state that provide comprehensive public benefits assistance for those who face language and cultural barriers in accessing public benefits.
There are ways to apply in your native language. If you apply by phone or in person, you can request interpretation services. In some communities, there may be organizations who can answer questions or help with enrollment in your native language.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights maintains a list of organizations around the state that provide comprehensive public benefits assistance for those who face language and cultural barriers in accessing public benefits.
SNAP/Link participants can purchase groceries online for home delivery or curbside pick up. SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for delivery fees, driver tips, or bag fees. Depending on the retailer, SNAP participants can qualify for free delivery if they meet minimum order amounts, otherwise SNAP participants must pay for delivery using another form of payment. Learn more about which Illinois retailers provide SNAP online shopping and how to use your SNAP benefits to shop online.
SNAP benefits can be redeemed in participating farmers’ markets. Explore a list of participating farmers’ markets in Illinois.
Through the new SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), older adults, people with a disability, and the unhoused are eligible to use their benefits to purchase hot meals from participating restaurants in two Illinois counties. Learn whether you might be eligible to use your SNAP benefits in restaurants.
SNAP is there for everyone. If you apply for SNAP, it won’t take away benefits from someone else.
Illinois SNAP participants qualify for free perks and discounts.
There are several programs that support families with children, from pregnancy through high school. Learn about nutrition programs for families with children.
Several grocery and meal programs are available to support nutrition for adults over age 60. Learn about nutrition programs for older adults.
There is a lot of misinformation about how citizenship impacts eligibility for nutrition programs, including whether participating in a nutrition program will impact future immigration status. Make sure you have accurate information so you can make the best decision for you and your family. Learn about nutrition programs for immigrant households.