Illinois launches FRESH food assistance program | Local News

Close up of box with vegetables in hands of mature man

Anna Bizon

CHICAGO (WICS/WRSP) — Illinois is launching a new emergency food assistance program that will provide one-time payments to residents who lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits because of new federal work requirements.

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services announced the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program on Thursday. The program will provide eligible households with a one-time payment of $400 for each qualifying household member.

The first payments will begin Aug. 1, with approximately 100,000 Illinoisans expected to receive assistance. The state said additional eligible households that lose SNAP benefits will receive payments each month until the program’s $70 million in funding is exhausted.

Under the program, eligible households do not need to apply. Benefits will be automatically deposited onto Illinois Link cards, and eligible recipients will receive a notice by mail.

To qualify, a household must include one or more members who lost SNAP benefits because they no longer met — and were not exempt from — expanded federal work requirements. Individuals are eligible to receive the FRESH benefit only once.

State officials said receiving a FRESH payment will not affect eligibility for other assistance programs, including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD).

According to the state, nearly 150,000 Illinois residents lost SNAP benefits because of federal changes enacted earlier this year. Illinois said many have since regained eligibility, but nearly 100,000 people remain without food assistance.

The FRESH program was approved as part of Illinois’ fiscal year 2027 budget and will continue issuing one-time payments through June 2027, or until funding is depleted. Officials said it is the first state program of its kind aimed at helping residents who lose SNAP benefits because of the new federal eligibility rules.