Illinois launches $400 emergency food assistance program for former SNAP recipients

Illinois began the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program on August 1, providing a one‑time $400 payment to households that lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits after new federal work‑requirement rules took effect. The state allocated $70 million in its FY2027 budget for the program and $55 million to hire additional Department of Human Services staff to manage the changes.

The payments are automatically deposited onto Illinois Link cards for eligible families, with no application required. About 150,000 Illinois residents were expected to lose SNAP benefits after the May 1 changes, and state officials estimate over 100,000 have already been affected. Governor J.B. Pritzker and State Senator Elgie R. Sims highlighted the initiative as a state response to federal cuts.

The FRESH program will continue distributing payments to newly disqualified households until funding is exhausted, aiming to mitigate rising food‑insecurity costs amid broader economic pressures.