Chicago, IL — According to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), up to 340,000 Illinoisans are at risk of going hungry when new SNAP work requirements from Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” go into effect on February 1st. IDHS is urging SNAP participants who qualify for work-requirement exemptions to alert IDHS immediately. Those who don’t meet the work requirements or alert the department of an exemption can only get food stamps for three months in a three-year period.
In response, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez said the following:
“Donald Trump and his MAGA lackeys ran entire campaigns on making life affordable for Americans. There is nothing affordable about leaving hundreds of thousands of people wondering where their next meal will come from. The economy they set up with their ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ works against seniors, veterans, and people struggling to make ends meet. These are all people who want to work, but how can we expect them to clock in if they can’t even eat? Illinoisans will remember at the ballot box in November how Republicans like Mary Miller, Darin LaHood, and Mike Bost let them go hungry while the rich get richer.”
Under the new rules, seniors, veterans, parents without kids younger than 14, and people experiencing homelessness must work or volunteer at least 80 hours a month to keep receiving food assistance. These groups were exempt from work requirements prior to Republicans passing the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which also gave massive tax cuts for billionaires.
SNAP recipients can report any income or household changes, review new work requirements, and apply for exemptions at saveoursnap.org.
Key excerpts from the Chicago Tribune: ‘Not sustainable’: New SNAP work requirements could leave up to 340,000 Illinois residents without enough food
By Rebecca Johnson
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[Kenneth Robinson, a 61 year old from Englewood, said], “I struggled most of my life. A lot of things are too high, out of my budget. SNAP helps me ease the pain and get those things that I need. People think it’s all people who don’t want to work, lazy people, that’s not me. I do want to work. I do want to add to my legacy and be a part of other people’s lives and be a part of society. So I volunteer. It’s the only place that will have me to work.”
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The Rev. Sandra Gillespie, the assistant pastor at Chosen Bethel Family Ministries, said many of her clients are in a similar situation as Robinson and they’re “terrified.” She spends time with clients searching for jobs on Indeed or for other volunteer opportunities. But the options are slim for those with a criminal background, mobility issues or minimal work experience.
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Because many of the changes are confusing, many clients also don’t fully understand the new requirements, she [Gillespie] said.
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She [Gillespie] said she’s been struggling for months to keep up with demand. Between a tough economy and the government shutdown, people have been lining up outside. They may have to limit the amount of food given to each person or limit the number of days they can visit if the crowd continues to grow.
