The Mind & Meal Project

Families in Illinois who receive federal food benefits may face a difficult Thanksgiving, with a federal government shutdown and no budget in sight.
Illinois officials stated the federal government shutdown potentially impacts Illinois’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding as soon as November 1, meaning it could impact all 1.9 million SNAP users in Illinois—millions of people in Illinois who may experience a significant delay or end to their monthly food benefits, will likely be very difficult.
At the same time, there is a political stalemate in Washington around budgets & health care, which has turned the shutdown into one of the longest shutdowns in history. Many low-income families depend on programs that are impacted by the funding halt.
Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, said that while the state could attempt to fill the gap from federal funding, it has limitations if the funding pause continues. “There is no reimbursement to the state if those SNAP benefits are lost,” Pritzker stated last Friday during a visit to Moline. “That’s a big challenge for hundreds of thousands of families across Illinois.”

While Pritzker mentioned that his administration is exploring potential support for food pantries and community organizations, he pointed out that Illinois is also experiencing financial pressures, making it hard to provide the same level of support as the federal government typically does.

Currently, the state anticipates that SNAP benefits will continue if Congress manages to pass a budget by the end of the month. However, advocates express concern that even the possibility of a lapse in benefits is creating significant anxiety for families throughout the state.

What Illinois Residents Can Do

If SNAP benefits are delayed or interrupted, IDHS recommends that residents:

• Check for updates by calling the IDHS Help Line at 1-800-843-6154.
• Contact local food pantries for immediate assistance. Many community organizations, including Feeding Illinois and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, are preparing to expand services if benefits are disrupted.
• Budget existing benefits carefully and use local resources such as community kitchens, churches, and food banks.
• Stay informed through official IDHS social media channels and local news outlets for updates on when benefits may resume.