Grocery stores, food pantries share concerns as thousands to lose SNAP benefits Friday

FOREST PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- Living Fresh Market in Forest Park says one third of its customers rely on SNAP benefits.

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The store worries about the impact the new changes could have on its business and community.

The Trump administration changed SNAP eligibility requirements as part of last year's "One Big Beautiful Bill."

These new requirements mean some SNAP recipients could be at risk of losing their benefits by Friday, May 1.

Under the new rules, people ages 18 to 64 must work or volunteer a minimum of 80 hours per month or participate in certain training or education in order to receive benefits.

SEE ALSO | 150K Illinois households may lose federal food assistance beginning May 1

The Greater Chicago Food Depository says SNAP changes will impact their pantry networks, and they worry food insecurity could increase in our local area.

"In short our charity can't make up for what SNAP can do for every meal. We provide an emergency food system at a pantry or a soup kitchen," Greater Chicago Food Depository Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Danielle Perry said.

The team at Living Fresh Market also fears that the changes to SNAP will mean less customers through their doors, and they may have to cut back on their operations.

SNAP recipients can file for exemptions from these new requirements, including if they are pregnant, or have children in their home under the age of 14.

Everyone currently on SNAP is being asked to make sure they check in with the Illinois Department of Human Services to see if they can qualify for an exemption, if not make sure their work information is up to date.

SEE ALSO | SNAP benefits don't pay for rotisserie chicken. A bipartisan bill might change that