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Chicago Food Pantries Brace for Surge in Demand when New SNAP Work Requirements Go Into Effect Feb. 1
Nearly 340,000 Illinois SNAP recipients must now meet 80-hour monthly work or training requirements or face benefit cuts under federal law changes.
- Starting Feb. 1, 2026, Illinois will enforce expanded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work requirements, risking benefits for up to 340,000 able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64.
- The federal megabill rewrote SNAP rules by modifying ABAWD definitions and implementing more work requirements, with the law signed in July 2025, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
- The rules require working an average of 20 hours per week or participating in SNAP Employment & Training, with benefits limited to three months in a 36-month period and exemptions narrowed to parents caring for a child under 14.
- Common Pantry expects a surge as SNAP recipients, like Edward Lara, prepare for the Feb. 1 changes; Greaney said, `I spoke with a woman just last week who decided it was better to just cancel her benefits, because of the fear she had of not being able to meet those work requirements.`
- States now face up to 15% of benefit costs and higher administrative costs rising from 50% to 75%, while Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 22 attorneys general in a Nov. 26 lawsuit challenging USDA guidance.
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Chicago food pantries brace for surge in demand when new SNAP work requirements go into effect Feb. 1
In three days, major changes are happening for people who rely on food stamps, and food pantries expect to see a surge in those needing food while food stamp recipients take the needed steps to meet the new program requirements.
·United States
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New SNAP work requirements go into effect Feb. 1, threatening recipient eligibility - IPM Newsroom
Illinois Newsroom - The requirements change which recipients must work or volunteer and how often. The post New SNAP work requirements go into effect Feb. 1, threatening recipient eligibility appeared first on IPM Newsroom.
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Total News Sources23
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution70% Center
Bias Distribution
- 70% of the sources are Center
70% Center
L 30%
C 70%
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