Illinoisans who lost SNAP benefits may get financial help from the state

​The newly-launched Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger program ("FRESH") will provide a one-time, $400 benefit per household to an estimated 100,000 people in Illinois who were deemed ineligible for SNAP, as of May 1st, due to the federal government expanding required work rules. ​The money will be distributed through LINK cards, which is how SNAP recipients receive funds to buy groceries. The Illinois Department of Human Services says that since Congress expanded the work rules for the SNAP program,... about 148,000 people in the state have lost federal food assistance.