November 13, 2025
Important changes are currently being made to the distribution of funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , the federal program that provides monthly benefits to low-income families, to help them afford healthy food. We at Legal Aid Chicago want to ensure that this information is shared broadly, as the impacts are great. Thousands of Chicago households are directly affected.
After the federal government did not issue November SNAP benefits because of the federal government shutdown, two different federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts found that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the law by stopping SNAP. The Courts ordered USDA to use an emergency fund to pay for November SNAP.
Now that the federal government has reopened, we expect that Illinois residents will receive their full November SNAP allotments, but the timing on benefit distribution is still unclear.
As the situation is evolving quickly, we recommend that those using SNAP benefits sign up for IDHS text alerts to directly receive the most current information. You can sign up by calling 866-324-5553 or logging on to current accounts via “Manage My Case” at abe.illinois.gov. You can also check the IDHS website SNAP Federal Impact Center for the latest information.
If you need more resources on food pantries, please visit the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s website. Some Chicagoland restaurants are currently offering free or reduced cost meals to SNAP recipients.
Do you need legal help? Please click here to apply online for services, or call 312-341-1070 to speak with our intake staff.
All Legal Aid Chicago services are free. Please note that we do not accept requests for assistance by email or by signing up for our email list.
TO LEARN MORE
Legal Aid Chicago is a trusted expert in civil legal issues affecting our clients. Our team has access to up-to-date information and deep expertise on policy changes like the recent updates to SNAP benefits, as well as a wide range of other civil legal matters. We welcome inquiries from journalists, community organizations, and service providers who want to better understand how these changes may impact the people we serve.
Community Partners & Service Providers: Please click here to visit our Community Engagement page – we would love to hear from you!
Media Inquiries: Journalists and other media representatives are invited to send inquiries, interview requests, or press-related questions to communications@legalaidchicago.org.
We look forward to speaking with you and will get back to you as soon as possible!