The income limit is the most important food stamps (SNAP) eligibility requirement in Illinois. In this post, In this post, we are going to walk you through the 2023 income limit for Illinois food stamps, including how to calculate how much you will receive in SNAP benefits if approved.
Additionally, we will provide information on how to apply for food stamps in Illinois.
Lastly, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about SNAP benefits in Illinois.
Table of Contents:
- Food Stamps in Illinois
- Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Illinois
- 2023 Income Limit for Illinois Food Stamps
- How to Apply for Food Stamps in Illinois
- Food Stamps in Illinois FAQs
Food Stamps in Illinois
SNAP (also known as food stamps) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families in Illinois.
In Illinois, the SNAP program is run by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS).
Once you are approved, SNAP benefits are provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, that is used as a debit card.
EBT cards are accepted at most grocery stores, some farmers’ markets, convenience, big box stores, and some online stores, like Walmart and Amazon.
SNAP benefits generally cannot be used to buy prepared foods, vitamins, alcohol/tobacco, and non-food items (like soap or toothpaste).
Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Illinois?
To be eligible for SNAP in Illinois, a household must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be a citizen or legal immigrant
- Must be an Illinois resident
- Your household income must be less than the food stamps income limits for your household size (see chart below)
- With some exceptions, you must work or participate in an employment and training program
- For most households, resources must be under $2,750 to qualify for SNAP or $4,250 in countable resources if at least one member of the household is age 60 or older, or is disabled
Senior SNAP
If you are age 60 and older, you may be eligible for Senior SNAP in Illinois.
Click here to access the Senior SNAP page to learn more about this program.
2023 Income Limit for Illinois Food Stamps
To qualify for SNAP in Illinois, your household income must not exceed 165 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
You can find out if you may qualify by using the 2022/2023 table below.
Income limits vary according to household size.
Households that contain no elderly or disabled individuals must meet both the gross (income before deduction) and the net income (income after allowable deductions) limits.
However, households that contain an elderly (age 60 or over) individual or a disabled individual must meet only the net income limits.
See the table below for both the net and gross income limits according to household size.
| Illinois SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2023 | |||
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | |||
| Household Size | Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL) | Monthly Gross Income (165% of FPL) for households without Disabled or Elderly Persons | Monthly Gross Income (200% of FPL) for households with an Elderly or Disabled Member |
| 1 | $1,133 | $1,869 | $2,265 |
| 2 | $1,526 | $2,518 | $3,052 |
| 3 | $1,920 | $3,167 | $3,839 |
| 4 | $2,313 | $3,816 | $4,625 |
| 5 | $2,706 | $4,465 | $5,412 |
| 6 | $3,100 | $5,114 | $6,199 |
| 7 | $3,493 | $5,763 | $6,985 |
| 8 | $3,886 | $6,412 | $7,772 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $394 | $649 | $787 |
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Illinois
There are multiple ways you can apply for food stamps in Illinois.
Option 1 – Apply Online
The easiest way to apply for SNAP benefits is online through the Illinois Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) portal.
Visit https://abe.illinois.gov/ and select “Apply for Benefits.”
For help in creating an Illinois ABE account, see our post on How to Create an Illinois ABE Account.
If you are having trouble logging into your Illinois ABE account, see our guide on
Illinois ABE Login Help.
Option 2 – Apply by Mail or Fax an Application
To apply by mail or fax, download the SNAP application here.
Once you have completed the application, you can submit it by mail or fax.
Instructions on how to do so are included in the application.
Also, you can request an application to be mailed to you by calling 1-800-843-6154.
You may mail your completed form to:
Central Scan Unit (CSU)
P.O. Box 19138
Springfield, IL 62763
Option 3 – Apply in Person
If you are unable to apply online or by mail, the DHS has offices statewide to assist you with the application process.
Click here to find your local office.
Food Stamps in Illinois FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Illinois Food Stamps:
What is the Phone Number for Illinois Food Stamps?
If you need help applying for food stamps in Illinois or have further questions about how the SNAP program works, call Customer Call Center at 1-800-843-6154.
How long does it take to get Illinois food stamps?
Once your Illinois SNAP application has been submitted, you will receive written notice from the Department of Human Services (DHS) within 14 days which will tell you the date and time of your interview.
After your interview, you will get a determination letter (approval or denial) within 30 days.
If approved, the Illinois Link EBT card comes in the mail.
SNAP recipients must fill out a form at least once a year to continue to receive benefits.
Also, if you need food immediately, you may be eligible for “expedited” processing – where you could get SNAP benefits within 7 days.
How Much Will I Receive in Illinois Food Stamps?
If you are approved for food stamps in Illinois, how much in benefits you get partly depends on the:
- Number of people in your household,
- The total amount of your household’s income, and
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan.
The Thrifty Food Plan is a government estimate of how much it costs to provide a household with nutritious, low-cost meals.
In Illinois, the average monthly SNAP amount per person is approximately $240.
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Fiscal Year 2023 | |
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | $1,116 |
| 6 | $1,339 |
| 7 | $1,480 |
| 8 | $1,691 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $211 |
To find out how much you are likely to get in Illinois SNAP if approved, use the calculator below.
In the example provided below, we are using a family of 6 to demonstrate how to calculate your food stamps amount.
How Illinois Food Stamps Calculator
Here’s how to calculate how much a family of 6 will get in Illinois SNAP benefits.
First, we need to start with the household income.
If you have a countable net income, multiply your net monthly income by 0.3 (30 percent).
Round up this amount to the nearest dollar.
Next, take this amount and subtract it from the maximum benefit level for a household of your size.
From the table above, the maximum a household of 6 could receive in food stamps is $1,339
The result is the monthly food stamps benefits for a family of 6.
Here’s an example:
Example: Valarie and her family of six (6) have $2,280 in net income after allowable deductions.
To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $2,280) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:
$ 2,280 Net Income for Valarie’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 684 Countable Income
$ 1,339 Maximum SNAP for 6 persons
-$684 Countable income (round up)
$ 655 Monthly SNAP benefits for Valarie’s family
When are Illinois EBT benefits deposited?
Illinois food stamps benefits are deposited on your IL EBT Card on your scheduled deposit day. Your Illinois EBT Deposit Date varies from the 1st day of the month to the 20th day of the month.
The day your Illinois food stamp benefits are deposited depends on your case number and case name.
Food Stamp benefits will be made available in your Illinois EBT Card account by 3am on your scheduled deposit day.
Here is the Illinois SNAP EBT Deposit Schedule for 2023:
- 1st day of the month
- 3rd day of the month
- 4th day of the month
- 5th day of the month
- 6th day of the month
- 7th day of the month
- 8th day of the month
- 9th day of the month
- 10th day of the month
- 13th day of the month
- 17th day of the month
- 20th day of the month
If you are a new Illinois SNAP recipient, you will receive your food stamp benefits between the 1st and 10th of the month.
How Many People are on Food Stamps in Illinois?
| Number of People on Food Stamps in Illinois | |||
| As of September 2022 | |||
| September 2021 | September 2022 | Change | |
| Number of People | 1,824,419 | 2,018,799 | 10.7% |
| Number of Households | 993,216 | 1,090,161 | 9.8% |
| Total Benefits ($) | $423,636,704.00 | $494,763,792.00 | 16.8% |
United States Food Stamps Statistics for January 2023:
| Number of People on Food Stamps in The United States | |||
| As of September 2022 | |||
| September 2021 | September 2022 | Change | |
| Number of People | 40,846,833 | 41,665,296 | 2.0% |
| Number of Households | 21,402,558 | 21,907,553 | 2.4% |
| Total Benefits ($) | $9,117,810,630.00 | $9,338,989,005.00 | 2.4% |
What stores accept Illinois EBT online for delivery?
Currently, there are 18 stores that accept Illinois EBT Cards online as payment.
You can use your IL EBT Card and P-EBT benefits to purchase approved grocery items and have it delivered directly to your door.
However, your Illinois SNAP benefits cannot be use to pay for delivery fees.
Currently, the following stores accept Illinois food stamps and EBT Cards online:
- Aldi
- Amazon
- Capri IGA
- County Market
- Dave’s Supermarket
- Fairplay Foods
- Jewel Osco
- Local Market
- Meijer
- Metropolis Big John Grocery
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- Schnuck’s Market
- Supermercados El Guero
- Target
- Tony’s Fresh Market
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
- Woodman’s Markets
Can immigrants and refugees get Illinois Food Stamps?
Yes, immigrants and refugees are eligible to get food stamp benefits in Illinois. New laws have made most legal immigrants eligible for food stamps.
As a general rule, almost all legal immigrants are eligible for food stamps once they have been in the U.S. for five years.
Additionally, you may qualify to receive food stamps through the SNAP program if you belong to one of the following groups:
- Individuals who have held Legal Resident (LPR) or another qualified immigrant status for at least 5 years
- Veterans and active duty members of the US military and their spouses and children
- LPRs under the age of 18
- LPRs who are blind or disabled
- LPRs who have 40 qualifying quarters of work.
- LPRs who were legally residing in the US on August 22, 1996, and were 65 on or before August 22, 1996
- Certain Iraqi and Afghan immigrants
- Victims of trafficking, torture or other serious crimes and their derivative family members if they have applied for “T” Non-immigrant status, “U” Non-immigrant status, or Asylum status.If they are preparing to file an application with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for such status, this qualifies.
Also, receiving food stamps through SNAP will not affect your immigration status.
Income Limit for Illinois Food Stamps Summary
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If you have additional questions about the Illinois SNAP or EBT, please leave those in the comments section below. We are here to help you!
Be sure to check out our other articles about Illinois Food Stamps and EBT, including:
- How to Check Illinois EBT Card Balance
- Illinois EBT Card Discounts & Free Admissions
- How to apply for Illinois Food Stamps Online
- Grocery Stores that Accept EBT online
- How to Get 50% off Amazon Prime with EBT
- Eligible Food Stamps Items