2022 Illinois Food Stamps Increase

It’s a new year and with the continued increase in food prices, one of the questions we have received from Illinois SNAP recipients is whether there will be an increase in Illinois food stamps benefits. Specifically, will there be a cost of living adjustment to food stamps benefits in 2022 to make up for the increase in food prices? In this post, we will explain in detail what the 2022 Illinois Food Stamps Increase will be, the income limits to qualify for benefits, and how much a family of 4 or 5 will get in SNAP benefits.

Additionally, we will provide a list of other food stamps changes in 2022 that may affect your benefits.

See Extra SNAP for Illinois Schedule – August 2022.

"2022 Illinois Food Stamps Increase"

If you are approved for food stamps in Illinois, how much in benefits you get partly depends on the:

Number of people in your household,
Total amount of your household’s income, and
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan.

The Thrifty Food Plan is a government estimate of how much it costs to provide a household with nutritious, low-cost meals.

The table below shows the maximum food stamps benefits for households with zero income.

As your income increases, your Illinois SNAP benefit amount goes down.

Additionally, SNAP allotments will be increased for 2022 by the USDA. Maximum allocations will be increased for the 48 contiguous states, Washington D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the United States Virgin Islands.

The table below shows the maximum SNAP allotment per household size for 2021-2022 fiscal year.

Household Size	Illinois SNAP Maximum Monthly Allotment
1	$250
2	$459
3	$658
4	$835
5	$992
6	$1,190
7	$1,316
8	$1,504
Each Additional Member:	+$188

How Much will a Family of 4 Get in Food Stamps?

Here’s how to calculate how much a family of 4 will get in Illinois SNAP benefits.

First, we need to start with the household income.

If you have a countable net income, multiply your net monthly income by 0.3 (30 percent).

Round up this amount to the nearest dollar.

Next, take this amount and subtract it from the maximum benefit level for a household of your size.

From the table above, the maximum a household of 4 could receive in Illinois SNAP is $835.

The result is the amount of your monthly Illinois SNAP benefits for a family of 4.

Here’s an example:

Example: Susan and her family of four (4) have $1900 in net income after allowable income and shelter deductions. To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $1,900) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:

$1,900 Net Income for Susan’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 570 Countable Income
$ 835 Maximum SNAP for 4 persons
-$570 Countable income
$ 265 Monthly SNAP benefits for Susan’s family

How much will a Family of 5 get in Illinois SNAP?

Using the same example above, we are going to calculate how much Susan’s family will get if they were a family of 5 with the same $2,600 net income.

From the table above, the maximum a household of 5 could receive in Illinois SNAP is $992.

Example: Susan and his family of five (five) have $2,600 in net income after allowable income and shelter deductions. To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $2,600) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:

$ 2,600 Net Income for Susan’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 780 Countable Income
$ 992 Maximum SNAP for 5 persons
-$780 Countable income
$ 212 Monthly SNAP benefits for Susan’s family

Other Food Stamps Changes in 2022

Here are the other Illinois SNAP changes in 2022 that may affect your benefits:

Illinois Restaurant Meals Program

Illinois has elected to participate in the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) starting late summer of 2021.

The RMP allows specific qualifying SNAP households to utilize their SNAP Benefits to purchase hot meals at participating restaurants.

The Illinois Department of Human Services is currently running a pilot of the RMP program.

The pilot is currently for SNAP recipients that resides in Dewitt County, Franklin County or Cook County with the following zip codes (60619, 60620, 60628 and 60617) AND meets certain criteria.

Illinois will be rolling the program out to selected areas over a period of time.

CHICAGO, Ill. (WAND) – The Illinois Department of Human Services is seeking partners for a special Restaurant Meal Pilot Program to provide prepared meals to elderly, homeless, and disabled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program customers. https://t.co/UKuu3glHvz

— WAND TV News (@wandtvnews) August 6, 2021

Updated Illinois Income Limits for 2022

The biggest factor when determining if you are eligible for food stamp benefits is your household income.

Each year, the USDA is responsible for setting the Income Eligibility Standards for SNAP. These standards are then used to perform an income test on all households that apply for food stamp benefits.

The income test is required for all households, unless your household is already receiving cash assistance benefits from the federal government or your state.

Most households must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), to be potentially eligible for Illinois SNAP benefits.

If your household has a person who is 60 or older or disabled, only the net income limit must be met.

The Illinois SNAP Income Limit for 2021-2022 is based on your household’s total income and size.

To see if your household’s income meets the fiscal year 2022 SNAP Eligibility Requirements, use the chart below:

Number of People in Your Household	Maximum Gross Monthly Income	Maximum Gross Monthly Income (Age 60 and Over or Disabled)
1	$ 1,771	$ 2,147
2	$ 2,396	$ 2,903
3	$ 3,020	$ 3,660
4	$ 3,644	$ 4,417
5	$ 4,268	$ 5,173
6	$ 4,893	$ 5,930
7	$ 5,517	$ 6,687
8	$ 6,141	$ 7,443
9	$ 6,766	$ 8,200
10	$ 7,391	$ 8,957
Each additional person add	$ 625	$ 757

New Allowable Deductions for 2022

To calculate your net monthly income, you must deduct approved household expenses. Here are the expenses that can be deducted from your household’s gross income:

20% deduction from Earned Income
Standard deduction of $177 for households with 1 to 3 people and $184 for households with 4 or more people (see chart below)
Dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education
A deduction for elderly or disabled members medical expenses that exceed $35 a month (if not paid by insurance or someone else)
Any legally owed child support payments can be deducted
Homeless Household’s shelter costs deduction of $159.73.
A deduction for excess shelter costs that exceed more than half of the household’s income (after the other deductions listed above & cannot exceed $597 unless a household member is elderly or disabled).