A new state program took effect Saturday to provide food benefits to people who have recently become ineligible because of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger, or FRESH, program began August 1st after state lawmakers appropriated $70 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget to establish a state food assistance program.
The initiative allows households that lost their SNAP benefits earlier this year to receive a $400 one-time payment.
About 150,000 Illinoisians were expected to lose food assistance benefits beginning May 1 after new work requirements established by Congress went into effect.
About 1.5 million Illinoisans received SNAP benefits in June according to the Illinois Department of Human Services.
