McLean County Times

In a March 19 Facebook post, Illinois state Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora) highlighted changes coming to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

"If you receive SNAP/Link benefits, formerly known as food stamps, you may have noticed that your benefits were reduced this month," the legislator wrote in his post. "During the pandemic, the federal government issued emergency supplemental benefits to SNAP. Since April 2020, all Illinois SNAP households have received their regular monthly benefit from the 1st to the 20th of the month and a separate emergency SNAP issuance after the 21st of the month. Emergency SNAP was issued for the last time in February 2023."

The changes are resulting in the average one-person household seeing an $86 drop every month in their SNAP benefits, Tipsword wrote.

"SNAP participants should make sure that all of their information is complete and accurate to ensure they receive the maximum SNAP/Link benefits they are eligible for," the representative stated.

Tipsword also wrote that certain changes, such as reductions in income, increases in housing, medical, or child care expenses, and child support payments, could make people eligible for increased SNAP benefits.

“If you experienced one of these changes, the Illinois Department of Human Services can help you understand the impact on your benefits,” Tipsword stated. He also encouraged people to visit the IDHS website or call the department’s hotline at 1-800-843-6154 for more information.

According to a notice published on the IDHS website, "under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, emergency allotments are ending Feb. 28, 2023."

Beginning in March, SNAP benefits will return to the regular monthly benefit amount each household was approved to receive based on household size, income, and deductions, the notice stated.

“Your regular benefit is listed in your most recent notice of decision,” the IDHS stated. “If you have not had changes, your SNAP benefits will remain the same amount that you receive on your regular availability date (1st through the 20th of the month)."

Tipsword was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in November 2022, to represent the people of the 105th District, according to his legislative biography.