Last updated: February 2006

Food Stamp cases usually include all of the people who live together and who buy and prepare their food together. However, sometimes you can increase the amount of Food Stamps available to your household by making some simple changes:

• If you live with others and they buy and prepare their food separately, they can usually be considered a separate Food Stamp case. This will always result in the total amount of Food Stamps being greater than if everyone is combined into one case;
• If you live with your spouse, your Food Stamp case must include both of you;
• If you live with your parent and you are under age 22, your parent must be included in your Food Stamp case;
• If you are under 18 years old and live with an adult, this adult must be included in your Food Stamp case unless you are living with your spouse and/or children;
• You can also be considered a separate Food Stamp case if you or your spouse are age 60 or older and cannot buy and prepare food due to a serious disability, and the other people with whom you live have income which is below certain limits set by the Illinois Department of Human Services;
• Foster children can have separate Food Stamp cases;
• You may qualify for more Food Stamps if you pay someone to care for your children while you work or attend an employment training program;
• If you are disabled or elderly, you may qualify for more Food Stamps if you pay for medicines, have other medical expenses, or are having your Social Security benefits reduced to pay for Medicare;
• If you are paying court-ordered child support to children who are not living with you, you may qualify for more food stamps. 

If you have questions about these issues, contact the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago Public Benefits Hotline - 1-888-8WELFARE, 1-888-883-5327, (312) 431-1206 (TDD).

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