From the Illinois Policy Institute:
Food aid feeds almost 2M statewide in May, 1-in-3 in southern counties
Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dropped by 3.2% in May. Still, nearly 2 million Illinoisans relied on federal food aid, with participation rates exceeding 30% in some Southern Illinois counties.
In May, about 1.93 million Illinoisans received food assistance benefits to feed their families, including more than 30% of residents in parts of Southern Illinois.
Recent state data showed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation fell 0.35% between April and May. It fell 3.2% from May 2024 – the steepest year-over-year decline in recent months. Yet other states saw bigger declines.
Connecticut’s food aid participation went down nearly 8% in May, while Maine’s fell about 6%. Alaska had the steepest decline, at nearly 17%, though driven largely by a backlog of applications.
Although SNAP enrollment in Illinois has decreased by 98,623 residents since the pandemic’s start in May 2020 – indicating slight economic recovery – it still remains much higher than pre-COVID levels.
Illinois had over 152,000 more residents enrolled in SNAP this May than in 2019, with federal programs serving nearly 15% of the population.
These numbers show many Illinoisans still face economic hardship, especially in rural and urban areas. For example, in Alexander and Pulaski counties, 31.5% of residents received food assistance in May – more than five times the share in suburban McHenry County.
Cook County makes up 48.5% of the state’s SNAP-receiving households, with Chicago driving much of that demand. The city make up 54.7% of Cook County’s households but represents 67% of its SNAP recipients.
The high concentration of SNAP use in Chicago and rural Illinois counties highlights the need for statewide and targeted regional policies to boost employment opportunities and economic investment.
Illinois’ unemployment rate remains above the national average as of July 2025, with over 300,000 residents looking for work.
The state has had sluggish job growth since the pandemic, with the country’s fifth-worst economic recovery rate and the second worst in the region.
Illinois’ low social mobility potential and steep benefits cliffs – when individuals and households avoid work advancement to retain public aid – compound these issues.
To reverse course, policymakers should enact strategies to fix Illinois’ unfriendly tax and regulatory climate, which drive residents and businesses to leave the state and stifle job creation.
Additionally, removing barriers to employment and smoothing cliffs in welfare programs where possible would further encourage work and set the stage for sustainable growth statewide.
While SNAP remains a lifeline for numerous Illinois families, the rising cost of living means benefits may fall short of covering basic needs.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s move to end Illinois’ 1% grocery tax will help provide relief in 2026, but 209 municipalities have already reimposed it, with Chicago likely next.
If state leaders are serious about combatting food insecurity, Illinois needs deeper reforms.
