You can use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy food. The money comes from the federal government, but it is run by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Every month, your SNAP benefits are automatically put on a LINK card. Your LINK card can be used to buy food at approved locations. There are different rules if there is an elderly or disabled member of your household.

What SNAP can be used for

SNAP benefits can be used to buy foods for the household to eat, such as:

• Breads and cereals,
• Fruits and vegetables,
• Meats, fish, and poultry,
• Dairy products, and
• Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

SNAP benefits also can also be used to pay for:

• Meals-on-wheels,
• Group community dining,
• Meals at approved shelters, restaurants, treatment centers, and group living homes, and
• Food from certified farmers markets and farm stands.

Some markets and food stands will give you twice the value of your benefits.

Restaurant Meals Program

The Restaurant Meals Program went into effect on January 1, 2020. That program allows certain people to use their SNAP benefits at restaurants. This includes people who:

• Are 60 years old or over,
• Have a disability,
• Are a veteran (or the child of a veteran), or
• Are homeless.

It also includes their spouses.

What SNAP cannot be used for

SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy:

• Hot foods ready to eat,
• Food intended to be heated in the store,
• Lunch counter items or foods to be eaten in the store,
• Vitamins or medicines,
• Pet foods,
• Soaps and paper products,
• Household supplies,
• Alcoholic beverages, or
• Tobacco.

Note: It is illegal to sell your LINK card or allow others to use your card in return for cash. Doing this can cause you to lose your SNAP benefits and potentially face criminal charges.