POLICY PRIORITIES
The Save Our SNAP Coalition is advocating federally to reverse harmful changes to SNAP, and in Illinois to protect the program and mitigate harm for those losing benefits.
Lift your voice today and urge your Federal and State elected officials to protect SNAP.
THE PROBLEM: SNAP IS AT RISK IN ILLINOIS
Illinois is working to protect access to SNAP food assistance after major federal cuts included in H.R. 1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Despite valiant work to mitigate harm, federal cuts have already caused nearly 120,000 Illinoisans to lose SNAP due to expanded work requirements. Another 16,000 lawfully-present humanitarian immigrants in Illinois have lost SNAP due to cruel eligibility restrictions. Now, the larger fight has begun to preserve the continued existence of SNAP for the remaining 1.7 million Illinoisans who receive vital food assistance through the program.
One of the biggest changes in H.R. 1 is that it shifts part of the cost of SNAP benefits from the federal government to states. For the first time in program history, states may have to pay hundreds of millions—or even billions—of dollars to help fund benefits that were previously paid for entirely by the federal government.
Starting in October 2028, Illinois could be forced to pay up to $700 million each year just to keep SNAP benefits available. If the state cannot cover this cost, SNAP could end entirely in Illinois. The end of SNAP would create the worst hunger crisis in state history, push the charitable food system beyond the brink and devastate health outcomes. It would be a crushing blow for grocery retailers, jobs, food prices and the entire state economy.
FEDERAL ADVOCACY: REVERSE CUTS TO SNAP
Our coalition is advocating for the complete reversal of cuts to SNAP contained in H.R. 1. As a short-term goal, we are lifting our voices alongside national partners to reverse or delay the state cost share in the 2026 Farm Bill.
STATE ADVOCACY: PROTECT SNAP IN ILLINOIS
The coalition is urging the Illinois General Assembly to make protecting SNAP a top priority. Leaders must start planning for how to keep SNAP intact in the FY29 state budget now – as October 2028 will be here before we know it.
ADVOCACY IN ACTION: POLICY MILESTONES AND VICTORIES
In 2026, we successfully advocated for the state to create a $70M program called Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) – to provide a one-time payment of $400 to Illinoisans losing SNAP due to the new federal work requirements. FRESH will keep food on the table for an estimated 175,000 individuals who are cut off from SNAP over the next year. This program will be established by August 1, 2026.
In 2026, we advocated for Illinois to use an existing state-funded program to provide ongoing food assistance to 16,000 lawfully present humanitarian immigrants losing SNAP and keep our neighbors from going hungry. This bill would have expanded who is eligible for the VTTC food program, which provides food assistance for survivors of torture and trafficking pursing lawful status. We were unsuccessful in expanding eligibility for this program, but we reversed a proposed $15M cut to this critical program in the final budget. Our advocacy continues.
TAKE ACTION
Hunger in the United States is not the result of scarcity. It is the result of policy decisions and acceptance of poverty. To end hunger for good, we need strong public policy. Now is a crucial time to raise your voice and let elected officials know that you support hunger relief programs.
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Your voice matters. Elected officials need to hear from you about the importance of SNAP. Email your General Assembly members today and let them know that the state must step in to support our neighbors.
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Together, we can keep our neighbors informed and connected to critical benefits. Use our toolkit to share critical information with your community.
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Public policies impact real people in our community. Members of Congress need to know about the personal impact of SNAP on their constituents' lives to fight these harmful policies. Share your story of how SNAP impacts your family and community.
Food is not a privilege. It is a basic human right.
We stand ready to confront this emergency head-on, but we cannot do so alone. Help our neighbors navigate changes to their benefits and advocate to ensure SNAP keeps working for Illinois neighbors.