IL Expands SNAP Benefits To Allow Online Grocery Orders

ILLINOIS — More than 1.8 million Illinois residents who use SNAP benefits to purchase groceries will soon be able to place their orders online, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday. Online ordering is set to begin June 2 to help residents remain safe while shopping for necessities after federal officials approved the state’s request to allow online grocery orders.

Though the expansion was brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, online ordering is a permanent change to the state’s SNAP benefits program, Pritzker said. Walmart and Amazon have already agreed to accept online grocery orders from SNAP users in Illinois, he said, encouraging grocery retailers to use the newly expanded program.

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There will be “no additional legwork” for SNAP recipients to use their benefits online, and LINK users will be notified when they can use their cards online, Pritzker said.

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Last month, state officials secured $112 million in federal funding to support about 316,000 Illinois households that rely on SNAP benefits and have school-aged children, according to The State Journal-Register.

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