Illinois SNAP food aid recipients to receive all November benefits by next week, IDHS says

CHICAGO (WLS) -- People in Illinois who rely on SNAP benefits could start to see their November benefits as soon as Friday following a lapse due to the longest-ever federal government shutdown that has now ended.

However, the Illinois Department of Human Services says it could take until next week for everyone to see the impact.

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Natasha McClendon of Englewood is among millions of SNAP recipients who are relieved the government shutdown is over.

"It has been extremely stressful," McClendon said. "Extremely stressful."

The 49-year-old substitute teacher, her husband, who is disabled, and three school-age children have relied on food pantries and giveaways in recent weeks as she secured a second job.

"I also take my lunch to work with me, so I had to try to... it came to a point where I skipped the lunch," McClendon said.

The Illinois Department of Human Services, which distributes federal SNAP dollars, says recipients should receive all or remaining November benefits by Thursday, Nov. 20.

"We're all moving as quickly as we can at the state level knowing that funds will flow or are flowing," Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said.

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"We've seen in these weeks the lines, the need, the outcry from our neighbors... the fragile state of food insecurity in our nation," said Camerin Mattson with the Greater Chicago Food Depository

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is reporting a nearly 40% rise in the number of visitors at its network of hundreds of pantries in the past month.

"The past couple of weeks have been a really stark object lesson in how important SNAP is to our neighbors... and how many people are one paycheck... away from needing extra assistance," Mattson said.

The Illinois Department of Human Services issued the following public notification Thursday afternoon:
"IDHS is restoring full USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits now that the federal government shutdown has ended.

"IDHS anticipates that the remaining benefit payments will be made over the coming days, with all SNAP recipients receiving their full November benefits by Nov. 20.

"The lapse in SNAP funding created unnecessary hardship for 1.9 million Illinoisans and businesses who rely on this federally funded program. The crisis was entirely avoidable - the Trump Administration had the funding to fully support SNAP but chose not to, putting tens of millions of Americans at risk of hunger.

"SNAP information and food resources are available here: SNAP Federal Impact Center."