Getting a snapshot of people receiving SNAP benefits in Illinois

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A new ruling coming from Rhode Island may be giving new life to a federal program providing food to millions of people. A U.S. District Judge ordered the Trump administration to provide full federal SNAP benefits to the states by Friday.

Now the question is when will that money be released, and who will receive these benefits across the country and here in Illinois?

It starts with the income level. The USDA said as of 2022, three-fourths of people with SNAP are at or below the poverty line in the state. An average person gets around $190 a month — and the average household gets $356.

A person who runs a food pantry in Urbana talked more about what specifically we’re seeing in Illinois.

“I’m so glad that, at least some judges are coming to grips with what is going on and trying to make a difference,” said Hope Center Food Pantry Director Marti Pearson.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnel Jr. gave President Trump’s administration until Friday to make full payments through the supplemental nutrition assistance program. He said they, “failed to consider the practical consequences associated with this decision to only partially fund SNAP.”

“I’m glad that the judges are making that happen,” Pearson said.

If these benefits get fully funded, they’ll be going out to a diverse group of people across the United States.

A 2019 breakdown of USDA numbers shows 37% of people getting SNAP assistance are white, 26% African American, 16% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 2% Native American and 16% unknown.

“We all need help from time to time,” Pearson said. “If you’ve lived very long at all, you have probably gone through times that you’re living paycheck to paycheck, or you’re really relying on someone else to help you.”

They also tracked users in a different way.

In 2023, the USDA broke down SNAP recipients by how they get their income:

• 33% are on social security
• 28% work a job
• 23% get supplemental security income, which typically goes to people with disabilities or their families
• 7% by other means.

The USDA said as of last year, more than 1.9 million people, or one in every seven, get these benefits in Illinois compared to the national average of one in eight. Pearson said that’s okay and has a message for people who may be embarrassed to ask for help.

“You’re not alone,” Pearson said. “You’re not the only person that that’s ever happened to. There are many more people like, like myself, who have maybe had to rely on someone else’s help from time to time in my life.”

The Justice Department has already appealed the judge’s order — and the Trump administration said they are already complying with an earlier order to use the contingency funds to provide partial SNAP benefits for November.

However, we’re still waiting to find out when those payments will come.