Despite new federal data showing Illinois’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) error rate continuing to climb, the Pritzker Administration has launched a program offering one-time payments, just before the election, to certain households that recently lost their SNAP benefits, with a cost of $70 million to taxpayers for fiscal year 2027.
Recent federal changes to SNAP were made requiring able-bodied single adults to either work, go to school, be in job training, or even just volunteer part-time to maintain benefits. However, if they were unwilling to take those simple steps then benefits were going to end.
In response, the Governor launched the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger, or FRESH, program on August 1. This program provides a one-time payment of $400 to those single adults that lost their SNAP benefits.
State Senator Dave Syverson said spending $70 million in Illinois taxpayer dollars on a cash giveaway to healthy, single adults reflects misplaced priorities. He said that money could instead be used to support families in the developmental disability community, where it could have a real and significant positive impact.