April 30, 2026
Our friends and neighbors who depend on SNAP (food stamps) are entering a difficult period starting tomorrow, Friday, May 1, 2026, as a result of new “work requirements” for SNAP benefits.
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
CCHCC is here to help Champaign County residents to maintain their benefits! Please read below for important information, and see the link to a WCIA TV news story featuring CCHCC’s Chris Garcia discussing exemptions to the SNAP work requirements.
What do SNAP beneficiaries in Illinois need to know?
On July 4, 2024, Trump signed a budget bill that included massive changes to SNAP, and those changes take effect tomorrow, on Friday, May 1, 2026.
The Trump Administration is now imposing “work requirements” for SNAP beneficiaries. At CCHCC, we refer to these as “paperwork requirements” because the reality is that most SNAP beneficiaries who are able to work, are already doing so. It is important to remember that many low-wage jobs or part-time jobs do not pay enough for people to be able to afford nutritious food.
Still, complying with the new documentation requirements can be challenging. CCHCC can help!
Further below, we outline the circumstances under which someone can be exempt from the new requirements.
But first, some facts.
Governor JB Pritzker and IL Department of Human Services recently held a press conference to remind Illinois residents about the new SNAP requirements. Here are some key points from that press conference:
– Due to Trump’s budget bill, around 150,000 Illinoisans are at risk of losing food assistance beginning May 1, 2026.
– Illinoisans on SNAP are encouraged to use the state’s screening tool to check their status: https://aberp.illinois.gov/screener/ABAWD?lang=EN
– The State of Illinois has resources for work and volunteer opportunities through Job Ready IL and Serve IL: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/?item=177800
To learn more, read the full press release: https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/trump…
Who is eligible for a Work Requirements Exemption?
Anyone who can answer YES to ANY of the questions below, and provide proof if asked to do so, is considered “Exempt” from the SNAP Work Requirements:
- Have a physical or mental condition that prevents me from working or makes it difficult to maintain work?
- Experiencing chronic homelessness?
- Pregnant?
- Live in a SNAP household with a child under age 14?
- Attending a school, college, or training program at least half-time?
- Applied for or am receiving unemployment benefits?
- In a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program or suffering from substance addiction?
- Currently receiving TANF and am participating and complying with the TANF work and training requirements?
- Are you Alaskan Native, American Indian, American Urban Indian, or California Indian?
- Providing care for another person who needs help caring for themselves?
- Responsible for the care of a child under the age of 6?
- An AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer working 30 or more hours a week paid, unpaid, or paid in-kind (living stipend)?
- Are you a migrant or seasonal farm worker under contract with an employer to begin employment within 30 days for an average of 30 hours per week or earning wages at least equal to $217.50 per week before taxes and other deductions?
If you need help claiming your Work Requirement Exemption, or proving your employment or volunteer hours to show compliance with the new requirement, please contact CCHCC for help.
You can call us at 217-352-6533 and leave a voicemail requesting help with this, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
You can also email CCHCC at cchcc@cchcc-il.org .
Or, you can fill out our webform at: https://www.healthcareconsumers.org/contact-us/
We also take walk-in clients (no appointment needed) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 – 4 p.m. at our office in downtown Champaign in the Lincoln Building at 44 E. Main Street, Suite 208 (2nd floor).
Lastly, to see Chris Garcia’s interview with WCIA TV, you can click on the link below:
https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-county/an-important-snap-deadline-is-approaching-heres-what-you-should-know/
You can help by sharing this email with anyone who might need help with SNAP. We also welcome contributions to help support our work.
Support CCHCC!
As always, thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Champaign County Health Care Consumers