More than 50,000 Illinoisans have received Disaster Food Relief

CHICAGO – September 3, 2010. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced today the application period for Disaster SNAP benefits ends at 4 p.m. today, however thousands of applicants with tickets will be processed next week.  Due to the overwhelming response, IDHS is processing the maximum amount of applicants each day and is issuing tickets to individuals in line who could not be seen the same day. The purpose of the tickets is to decrease unnecessary waiting for customers in need of Disaster SNAP benefits.  Anyone who requests assistance by 4 p.m. Friday will be seen next week and need not worry about benefits running out.

Already, the department has approved Disaster SNAP benefits, formerly known as Food Stamps, for more than 15,000 households with 50,000 persons and has issued a total of $6.7 million in benefits.  As many as 12,000 more applicants have received tickets for next week.

“We understand that many people in Chicago have had to wait in line for hours this week to receive the Disaster Food Stamp benefits and we thank everyone for their patience,” said IDHS Acting Secretary Grace Hong Duffin.  “We will work hard to serve everyone who has been in line this week, but the application period ends today and people must have a legitimate ticket next week in order to have their application processed.”

State and local agencies are working with IDHS to help manage the application process and provide assistance to those waiting in line.  IDHS also reminds people they are not allowed to camp overnight at a IDHS office or they will be asked to leave by law enforcement.  People must also heed parking and private property signs.  Illegally parked cars will be towed.

To qualify, a person must have had damage to their home or business, disaster-related expenses that were not reimbursed, or a loss or reduction of income during the period of July 22 through Aug. 20.  Applicants must bring proof of identity and residence, or employment in a disaster area, prior to the disaster.  Active cases do not qualify for Disaster Food Stamps if they already received the maximum benefit level in August:

Individuals may be eligible for Disaster Food Stamps if they live or work in specific areas of the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stevenson and Winnebago.  Illinois residents who lived or worked in a disaster area within one of these counties at the time of the disaster may qualify for this special program.  Applicants must apply in the county in which they live.

            For more information about SNAP benefits or to find the nearest IDHS location, please call IDHS at 1-800-843-6154. Below is a list of DHS offices accepting disaster SNAP applications.