Over 1M Illinois families to get federal help with Thanksgiving
Over 1 million Illinois families will put turkey on the table this Thanksgiving with the help of federal food assistance, including more than half of the households in Pulaski and Alexander counties.
More than 1 million Illinois families will put turkey on the table this Thanksgiving with federal food help, including more than half of the households in Alexander and Pulaski counties.
Over 1.99 million Illinoisans, or 1.09 million households, received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in August 2024, according to the latest data from the Illinois Department of Human Services.
The state data shows 1.6% fewer Illinoisans were taking advantage of the SNAP program in August than one year earlier. Despite this short-term decline, Illinois had 210,630 more residents using SNAP benefits than before the pandemic in August 2019.
The rise in SNAP recipients shows economic challenges remain for many families across the state, even as the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have waned.
Illinois has 346,000 residents who need a job – a 5.3% unemployment rate that is third highest in the nation. Since the pandemic, Illinois jobs have barely grown and the state ranks 47th for the nation’s worst recovery.
High taxes and limited prospects are prompting workers to leave, taking their money with them – $9.9 billion that left with 87,311 former Illinoisans in 2022. Those left behind are poorer and more likely to need public aid.
Illinois had the ninth-highest share of residents using federal SNAP benefits, and the highest share in the Midwest. More than 1-in-7 Illinoisans received federal food help.
The data also shows big disparities in food assistance needs across Illinois counties. Alexander and Pulaski counties showed the highest concentration of SNAP recipients and households in August, with about 55% of households receiving benefits.
McHenry County reported the lowest household and individual participation rate, with only about 9% of households receiving federal food assistance.
Cook County contributed significantly to Illinois’ SNAP participation rate. While Cook County was home to about 41% of Illinois’ population in August, it accounted for 46% of statewide SNAP recipients.
The city of Chicago accounted for 21% of the state population and 31% of Illinois SNAP recipients.
While SNAP benefits help thousands of families put food on the table each year, the rising cost of goods means those benefits don’t stretch as far for program participants.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s move to eliminate Illinois’ grocery tax will provide some relief for families in 2026, but municipal leaders could use their ability to reimpose it – and some already have. It’s clear more comprehensive solutions are needed.
To address these issues, Illinois must focus on strengthening its fiscal position, removing regulatory burdens and providing real tax relief both to workers who are already finding it difficult to remain and to job creators who are desperately trying to stay. Progress on any of these issues would truly give Illinoisans something to be thankful for.