If you live in the state of Illinois and receive food stamps benefits, an Illinois ABE Account will help you to apply for and manage your healthcare, food, and cash assistance benefits in one place. You can check the status of your case, update case information, view your benefit information, or complete important renewal activities., and more. In the article below, we will walk you through the step-by-step process on how to create Illinois ABE Account. Continue reading below for details.
If you already have an account and need help logging in, see our article – Illinois ABE Account Login help.
Table of Contents:
- Benefits of Illinois ABE Account
- How to Create Illinois ABE Account
- Illinois Food Stamps FAQs
How to Create BenefitsCal Account
To create your Illinois ABE account, follow the steps we have outlined below:
Step 1 – Visit Illinois ABE Website
To start creating your Illinois ABE account, visit the Illinois ABE Account website at https://abe.illinois.gov/.
Once you are on the homepage you will need to locate the “Login” button, which is usually located at the top of the site (see image below).
Click on the “Login” button to proceed with the process.
Step 2 – Locate “Create Account” Link
From the drop-down box, click on the “Create Account” link, as shown in the image below.
Step 2 – Enter Information Requested
Next, you will be taken to a page like the one below where you will be required to enter the following information to create your account as shown below:
- First Name
- Last Name
- User ID
- Password
Note that your password must include at least 8 characters, 1 number, 1 letter and 1 special character (!@#$%&).
Step 3 – Select Security Questions
After you have entered your Name, User ID, and Password, the next set of information you have to enter is to select security questions, as shown below.
Select two questions from the list and provide the answers.
It is important to select questions you are likely to remember answers to as you may be asked to answer these questions in the future to verify your identity to log in to your ABE account.
Once you have selected the questions and provided the answers, click on the “Create Account” link to create your Illinois ABE online account.
Step 4 – Login to View your account
Next, you will be taken to the page below, which is your indication that you have successfully created an ABE account.
Click the “ log in to the ABE system” link to log in to your new account, as shown below.
ABE Account Dashboard
Once you follow the link and log in, you will be taken to your ABE account page, as shown below.
Food Stamps in Illinois FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the New York Food Stamps program:
I heard that I might get extra SNAP benefits this month. Is that true?
Yes. During the Covid-19 emergency, the Illinois DHS is providing emergency supplemental SNAP benefits to those eligible.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for the extra SNAP benefits, you will receive up to the maximum amount of SNAP for the number of people in the household.
However, if you already receive the maximum amount, you will not be eligible for the supplement.
Am I taking Benefits from someone else if I apply for SNAP?
No. By receiving SNAP benefits, you are not taking benefits away from someone else.
SNAP is an entitlement program, therefore anyone that qualifies will get benefits.
In addition, eligibility for SNAP and benefit amount is based on who’s in your household, how much money you make, and what expenses you pay.
If you qualify for the benefit, you should not feel uncomfortable accepting it: after all, we all need help from time to time!
In the state of Illinois, 1,770,000 residents receive SNAP, or 14% of the state population (1 in 7).
Furthermore, in Illinois, thousands of households qualify for the program that do not utilize it.
What are P-EBT food benefits?
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) provides benefits to certain children
who receive free or reduced-price school lunches under the National School Lunch Act.
PEBT is a temporary food benefit program operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It provides benefits for days that students lack access to an in-school lunch.
P-EBT provides $6.82 per each school day that children are engaged in remote learning.
Who is eligible for P-EBT benefits in Illinois?
Your child and your school must meet certain criteria to be eligible for P-EBT:
- Be enrolled in free or reduced-price school meals at a school operating the National School Lunch Program; OR,
- Be enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision-2 school, which offers breakfast and lunch free to all students; AND,
- Have not had access to an in-school lunch at least some days of the month
Your School: - Operate the National School Lunch Program; AND,
- Have been closed or operating at reduced capacity at least 5 consecutive days at some point during the 2020-2021 School Year.
I lost my job! Can I apply for SNAP?
Yes. However, the first thing you should do is file for unemployment benefits with the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
You can apply for unemployment online here or call 1-800-244-5631.
Next, apply for SNAP benefits (food stamps) with the Illinois Department of Human
Services.
You can apply for SNAP online at here.
If you need help with your SNAP application, call the IDHS toll-free line at 1-833-2-FIND-HELP or visit this page for help.
Additionally, you can apply for SNAP by telephone by calling the ABE Call Center at 1-800-843-6154.
How to Create Illinois ABE Account Summary
We hope this post on how to create Illinois ABE Account was helpful.
Still Have Questions?
If you have further questions about Illinois EBT Card or SNAP benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Illinois Food Stamps & Illinois EBT, including:
How to login to Illinois SNAP Account Online
