Important changes are coming to 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 will be great.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have announced that, unless the government shut down ends before November 1, SNAP benefits will not be issued in November.

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.

These changes will impact thousands of households in Chicago alone. If you need more resources on food pantries, please visit the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s website.

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!