To qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, a person must be financially eligible and meet all non-financial eligibility rules. A person does not have to receive cash or medical benefits in order to receive SNAP. Eligibility for SNAP benefits is determined by "Benefit Units."
Benefit Units
Eligibility for SNAP is determined by SNAP units. A SNAP unit is one person or a group of people who usually buy and prepare their food together. SNAP policy and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) policy differ regarding who must be included in a unit, so SNAP and TANF units are not always the same.
The following people living together must be included in the same SNAP unit:
- Spouses,
- Any person under age 18 and under the parental control of an adult unit member who is not their parent (except for foster children), and
- A parent and their children who are under 22 (unless they claim to be living separately and share no living space).
Foster children can be included or excluded from the household at the request of the foster parent.
Elderly Disabled Status Rule
Elderly persons aged 60 and over (and spouses) unable to purchase and prepare their own meals because of a permanent disability can apply for SNAP as a separate unit even though they are living and eating with others, provided that the gross income of persons who live (excluding the spouse) with them does not exceed 165% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Roomers and boarders are not considered as part of the SNAP unit if they pay reasonable compensation for their room and board.
Persons residing in shelters or residential drug rehabilitation programs may qualify for separate unit status.
Non-citizens ineligibility
To qualify for SNAP, a person must be a US citizen or must have a specific type of immigration status. Not all immigrants with lawful status are eligible for SNAP. Undocumented immigrants have never been eligible for SNAP benefits.
Persons temporarily in the US such as diplomats, students, tourists, and visitors do not qualify for SNAP benefits. The main categories of eligible non-citizens are:
- Lawful permanent residents (LPRs or green card holders) who have lived in the US for at least five years,
- Certain other LPRs without a waiting period,
- Certain Cuban or Haitian entrants,
- People living in Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau, and
- Non-citizen US Nationals.
Please note that on July 4, 2025, H.R. 1 (also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) was passed that significantly narrowed the categories of non-citizens who were eligible for SNAP. For example, refugees and asylees were previously eligible for SNAP.
Noncitizens whose children are US citizens or eligible non-citizens can apply for SNAP benefits for their children regardless of their own status. Parents who are applying for benefits on behalf of their children are required to report their income but do not have to report their immigration status. The online application will ask which members of the household are requesting benefits; anyone who does not wish to report their status should uncheck their name in this section.
Please note that if you have a client who does not qualify for SNAP on the basis of the above eligibility criteria, they could still qualify for Cash and Food Assistance for Noncitizen Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or other Serious Crimes (VTTC). This program is intended for asylum, U-visa, and T-visa applicant victims.
Students
A student enrolled in an institute of higher education at least half-time is eligible for SNAP if they meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
- Under age 18 or over age 50,
- Physically or mentally impaired,
- Working in a paid job an average of 20 hours a week and earning at least the federal minimum wage,
- Approved to participate in state or federal work-study program and expecting to work in the work-study program during that time,
- Receiving TANF benefits,
- Responsible for the care of a unit member under age six, but only one adult in the SNAP unit may claim this exemption; when there is more than one adult in the home, the student must provide the majority of childcare to meet this requirement,
- Responsible for the care of a unit member age 6 through 11 without adequate childcare available to allow the student to attend classes and work an average of 20 hours per week or participate in work study,
- Childcare is adequate and the student is ineligible when the child(ren) receive at least 24 hours of childcare per week, and time spent in school does not count as childcare, or
- There is someone in the SNAP unit age 18 or older, other than the student, who is available to provide the care. A person who is physically or mentally impaired is not considered available to provide childcare,
- Enrolled full-time in a school of higher education, and is a single parent or person providing parental control whose spouse is not in the home, and is responsible for the care of a unit member under age 12, regardless of childcare eligibility, or
- Enrolled through TANF Work and Training activities, or SNAP Employment and Training Program.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) must identify and flag all college students who may be eligible to receive SNAP benefits. The Department of Human Services will determine eligibility for SNAP using, among other things, information the college student provided in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
ISAC must notify institutions of higher education when their students are eligible for SNAP. Any Illinois institution that participates in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) must, in turn, inform each of its accepted or enrolled students of their eligibility. If possible, the institution must also designate a public benefit liaison or another point person to help eligible students take steps to get SNAP benefits.
An institute of higher education is defined as a business, technical, trade or vocational school that normally requires a high school diploma or the equivalent for enrollment in the course of study; or regular courses, including internet, mail, self-study, or correspondence courses, at an accredited college or university that offers degree programs. A course is considered a regular course if it would count toward a degree or certificate but the student does not have to be in a degree or certificate program. A college or university student enrolled only in literacy, adult basic education, GED or English as a second language program is not considered to be a student under this rule.
The eligible student exemption begins the month the school term begins, or the month the state or federal work-study is approved, whichever is later. The exemption continues through the end of the month the school term ends, or the student refuses an assignment.
The eligible student exemption does not continue between terms when there is a break of a full month or longer. The exemption does continue if the student works in a state or federal work-study assignment during the break. To qualify during the break, the student must continue to meet one of the above items.
Residents in an institution are not eligible for SNAP. Dorms are considered institutions if they provide students the majority of meals, meaning 50% or more of three meals daily through either a mandatory or optional meal plan. If a student can demonstrate the dorm doesn’t provide a majority, they may otherwise be eligible if they meet other requirements.
Residency
No fixed residence is required, and homeless persons are eligible. Vacationers are not eligible. A person cannot receive benefits in more than one household in any payment month.
Verification of residence is not required for homeless persons, but DHS must have the means to administer benefits for homeless persons.
Social security number required
SNAP units must provide a social security number for each unit member. Persons for whom no social security number is provided without good cause are ineligible for SNAP. A unit should not be denied SNAP if they are in the process of obtaining an SSN.
Work rules
There are two work rules that must be met to qualify for SNAP benefits. IDHS has existing work provisions (formerly called “work registration”) for people between the ages of 16 and 59. As of February 1, 2026, certain SNAP recipients must also comply with new work requirements. These requirements were introduced by H.R. 1 on July 4, 2025. SNAP recipients must comply with both work policies, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Existing work provisions
Under the work provisions policy, SNAP recipients must register with IDHS to find work and provide IDHS information about their employment status. They must also accept a suitable job if offered one, and must not voluntarily quit or reduce their hours below 30 hours per week without good cause. The IDHS Policy manual contains the full list of requirements.
There are some exemptions to the work provisions. For example, if a SNAP recipient is also receiving TANF and complying with the TANF work and training program requirements, they are exempt from the SNAP work provisions. People who are physically or mentally unable to work, people who are responsible for caring for an incapacitated person, and people who are receiving unemployment compensation are all exempt from the work provisions requirements. The IDHS policy manual contains the full list of exemptions.
If the head of SNAP unit voluntarily quits a job, reduces work hours, or participates in a strike without good cause within 60 days before or any time after that she applies for SNAP, the entire unit may be sanctioned.
Quitting a job does not affect eligibility if:
- There was good cause for quitting the job,
- The job called for working less than 20 hours per week,
- Gross weekly earnings including tips were less than the federal minimum wage times 20 hours,
- The person quit the job more than 60 days before the date of application,
- The employer reduced the number of hours of work,
- It was due to the ending of a self-employment business,
- The employer demanded the person resign from the job, or
- The person quit a job to start a new job for at least the same wages or hours and was laid off or lost the new job through no fault of their own.
A voluntary reduction in work hours to less than 30 hours per week does not affect eligibility if:
- There was good cause for reducing work hours,
- The hours are reduced by the employer,
- The reduction in hours is due to the ending of a self-employment business, or
- The employer demanded that the person either resign or reduce their hours.
A person who violates any of the SNAP work provisions without good cause is sanctioned from receiving SNAP benefits for:
Violation Incidence | Sanction Time Limit |
1st | 3 fiscal months |
2nd | 3 fiscal months |
3rd or more | 6 fiscal months |
New work requirements
On July 4, 2025, H.R. 1 introduced new work requirements for SNAP eligibility. H.R. 1 narrowed the exceptions for “able-bodied adults without dependents,” or ABAWDs.
Beginning February 1, 2026, ABAWDs in Illinois must complete at least 80 hours per month of one or more of the following:
- Working for pay, part-time or full-time,
- Volunteering at an approved organization, or
- Participating in a job training or employment program.
An ABAWD may not have to meet the rule if they:
- Have mental or physical limitations that impacts their ability to work, including chronic homelessness, domestic violence, or other barriers,
- Are pregnant,
- Are caring for a child under age 14 or someone with a disability,
- Regularly participate in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program,
- Are a student enrolled at least half time at an institution of higher education,
- A Native American, Urban Indian, or California Indian as described in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, or
- Live in an area with a temporary waiver because of an unemployment rate of over 10%. As of February 2026, there are no areas in Illinois with this waiver.
If a person fails to meet the ABAWD work requirements for three consecutive months in a three-year period, then their SNAP benefits will stop. The current 36-month time period began January 1, 2024 and ends December 31, 2026. A new 36-month period will begin on January 1, 2027.
For example, if a person is not working, volunteering, or in a training program starting in February 2026, they can get benefits for February, March, and April. If they still don’t meet the rule by April 2026, they won't receive SNAP benefits in May 2026.
If they did not work in February 2026 or March 2026, but resumed employment in April 2026, they will not have an interruption in their benefits.
To get SNAP after a disruption in benefits, a person must meet the ABAWD work requirement for a 30-day period or become excused from the ABAWD work requirements.
Employment and training program
A voluntary SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Program operates in designated areas of the State that have SNAP E&T Job Placement Provider slots available. The Family Community Resource Center (FCRCs) in the designated areas will refer nonexempt customers to the providers to the extent that slots are available and ensure that provider slots are filled each month on a first come, first serve basis.
Clients in E&T take part in one or more of the following activities:
- Basic education,
- Vocational training,
- Job readiness only as part of another countable activity,
- Job search only as part of another countable activity,
- Work experience,
- Earnfare*, or
- Community work.
*Note: the Earnfare program is limited to adults who receive SNAP benefits and volunteer, or to persons who are court-ordered to participate.
Intentional Program Violations
Intentional Program Violations (IPV) can also result in a suspension of SNAP benefits for:
Intentional Program Violation | Suspension Time Limit |
1st | 12 months |
2nd | 24 months |
3rd | The violator will never get SNAP benefits again |
Financial Eligibility
Assets
Most units do not have their assets counted when applying for SNAP. However, units that have a member who has been disqualified for an Intentional Program Violation or who has been sanctioned for failure to comply with a work provision are subject to asset limits.
For units without a qualifying member, the asset limit is $3,000. For units with at least one qualifying member, the limit is $4,500. For a complete list of exempt and non-exempt assets, see the DHS Policy Manual.
Income
The maximum income a SNAP unit may have and still be eligible for SNAP depends on the unit’s size and composition. A household without a "qualifying member" must have a gross income that is at or below 165% of the federal poverty level.
If a SNAP unit contains a person who is elderly, disabled, or a United States veteran, referred to as a "qualifying member," then the SNAP unit gross income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Check the DHS Workers’ Action Guide for the most recent limits.
Gross income for a SNAP unit consists of all non-exempt income for the unit. All income must be verified and the amount and source documented in the case record. The receipt of SNAP benefits is not income and does not reduce the amount of benefits received from other public assistance programs. See the DHS Policy Manual for a complete list of exemptions and definitions.
To determine eligibility, the Department will calculate income twice, both gross and net. For more on how the Department calculates gross income, see "Determining SNAP benefit amount" below.
Qualifying members
To be considered a qualifying member a person must meet one of the following criteria:
Is 60 years of age or older,
Receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, including a member who receives SSI pending a final decision from the Social Security Administration. This type of SSI is provided on a temporary or emergency basis,
Receives Social Security Disability or Blindness benefits under Title II (RSDI) of the Social Security Act,
Receives AABD cash or Medical,
Is a veteran:
With a service or non-service connected disability rated or paid as totally disabled by the Veterans Administration (VA) and verified in writing by VA as totally disabled, or
Is considered by the VA to be in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently homebound.
Is a veteran's surviving spouse who is considered in need of aid and attendance or permanently homebound by the VA,
Is a veteran’s surviving child who is considered permanently incapable of self-support by the VA,
Is a surviving spouse or child of a veteran entitled to VA benefits for a service-connected death, or VA pension benefits for a non-service connected death. Note: the spouse or child must also have a disability under Social Security Requirements,
The member receives a federal, state, or local government disability pension and is considered permanently disabled under Social Security requirements,
The member receives Railroad Retirement disability benefits, or
The member receives an annuity payment from Railroad Retirement and is eligible for Medicare.
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