Keeping Your SNAP Benefits

Check your situation.

New SNAP work rules started in February 2026. You must follow these rules to keep your SNAP if you are 18 to 64 years old and do not have an exemption. An exemption means you do not need to follow work rules. 

You might have an exemption if any of these statements are true:

  • You have a physical or mental condition that makes it difficult to work
  • You are homeless
  • You are pregnant
  • You have a child 13 years old or younger
  • You receive unemployment benefits

If any of these things are true for you, you may not have to follow work rules. This is an exemption.

If you don't have an exemption, you must meet the work rules to keep your SNAP.

Not sure if you’re exempt? Use the Screener Portal to check.

Need to ask for an exemption? You can do this online using Manage My Case. For help in person, go to your local Family Community Resource Center. For help on the phone, call the ABE Customer Service line at 1-800-843-6154.

Follow the work rules.

If you do not have an "exemption", you have to meet work rules. This means that:

  • You must earn an average of 20 work hours per week. This is 80 work hours per month.

  • Work hours can come from a job, volunteering, training program, or a mix of all three.

Job

Volunteering

Work training program

What does this mean?

Any job that pays you for your work, or an unpaid job like an internship.
Working with a local group for free. You could work at a food bank, church, animal shelter, or other group.
A program that gets you ready for a job. It might teach you skills for a new job. Or, it might teach you reading, writing, and math.

Where can I find this?

Use IllinoisJobLink to create resumes, search jobs, and apply to jobs.

You can explore other websites to make sure you don't miss any jobs you like. You can search jobs using LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, or Indeed.

You can volunteer online or in person. You can find volunteering on websites like Serve Illinois or Idealist.

Or, you can ask churches or other groups near you if they need help.

IDHS has partners who can help you. An IDHS partner could offer training programs. Or, they could help you find a training program.

You can find an IDHS partner near you using this website.

If there are no programs near you, you can use Job Ready IL. The Job Ready IL program helps you earn work hours online.

How do I report these work hours?

You only need to report a new job, or changes to your current job.

  1. Fill out the Change Report Form.
  2. Either upload the form to Manage My Case. Or, bring/mail it to your local FCRC.
  1. Fill out the SNAP Activity Report form. Or, get a signed letter from the group you worked with.
  2. Upload the form to Manage My Case. Or, bring/mail it to your local FCRC.

Some training programs will submit your work hours for you. 

If you use the Job Ready IL program, you will submit your work hours yourself. To do this:

  1. Read the instructions in the Job Ready IL platform.
  2. Download your certificate. You earn a certificate when you finish a course.
  3. Upload the certificate to Manage My Case. Or, bring/mail it to your local FCRC.

Job

Volunteering

Work training program

Job

Volunteering

Work training program

What does this mean?

Any job that pays you for your work, or an unpaid job like an internship.
Working with a local group for free. You could work at a food bank, church, animal shelter, or other group.
A program that gets you ready for a job. It might teach you skills for a new job. Or, it might teach you reading, writing, and math.

Where can I find these opportunities?

Use IllinoisJobLink to create resumes, search job openings, and apply to jobs.

Some companies post jobs on one website and not others. This means that you might have to use a few websites in your search. We recommend also using LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, or Indeed.

You can volunteer online or in person. You can find volunteering on websites like Serve Illinois or Idealist.

Or, you can ask churches or other groups near you if they need help.

IDHS has partners who can help you. An IDHS partner could offer training programs. Or, they could help you find a training program.

You can find an IDHS partner near you using this website.

If there are no programs near you, you can use Job Ready IL. The Job Ready IL program helps you earn work hours online.

How do I report these hours once I've earned them?

You only need to report a new job, or changes to your current job.

  1. Fill out the Change Report Form.
  2. Either upload the form to Manage My Case, or bring/mail it to your local FCRC.
  1. Fill out the SNAP Activity Report form. Or, get a signed letter from the group you worked with.
  2. Either upload the form to Manage My Case, or bring/mail it to your local FCRC.

Some training programs will submit your work hours for you. 

If you use the Job Ready IL program, you need to submit your work hours. Follow the instructions in the program to submit your work hours to Manage My Case or your FCRC.

You can earn your work hours in more than one place. You could work 10 hours per week at a job, and work 10 hours per week volunteering. It's up to you!

Get help from an expert.

This process can be hard. You don’t have to go it alone.

Your Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) is waiting to help you. To find your nearest FCRC, use the Office Locator. You can visit your FCRC in person or call their phone number. 

If your FCRC is not available, you can reach out to IDHS. IDHS is in charge of SNAP in Illinois. Call them at the ABE Customer Service line: 1-800-843-6154.

If the ABE Customer Service Line is not available, you can contact the Greater Chicago Food Depository. They have experts who can help you. Call them at 773-247-3663.

If you have questions about Job Ready IL, email us at help@jobreadyil.com