Avelar Looks to Direct Emergency Relief Payments to Low Income Illinois Families Impacted by SNAP Changes

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – With uncertainty surrounding new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance  Program (SNAP) rules, state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar is looking to deliver emergency relief  payments to qualified low-income families that have been denied, terminated or face reduced  SNAP benefits.  

“The so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ has left too many families choosing between putting food on  the table and meeting these new requirements,” said Avelar. “Stripping or reducing SNAP  benefits because someone may not be able to secure a job–often through no fault of their own–is  not financial reform, it is a harm on families. The Families Receiving Emergency Support for  Hunger (FRESH) Program would provide critical relief to reduce the harm directed toward low income families that the federal government has created.”  

Subject to available funding, Avelar’s House Bill 4730 would establish the FRESH Program  through the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide one-time emergency relief lump  sum payments of $600 to households that have been denied, reduced or completely lost SNAP  benefits as a result of changes from Congress’ H.R. 1 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Qualifying  residents would not need to apply, but would still need to meet federal SNAP eligibility  requirements and be living below the poverty line.  

Recently, H.R. 1 made new eligibility requirement changes to SNAP benefit receivers making it  so that some recipients had to have a job in order to continue to receive benefits unless they were  seniors or disabled. This change impacted many families, resulting in a loss of or reduced SNAP  

benefits as a consequence of members in the household not being able to obtain a job. The  FRESH Program would help individuals in this situation if they meet certain job waiver  requirements.  

“Every day, people are seeing their grocery bills go up and it’s becoming increasingly expensive  to purchase food for larger families,” said Avelar. “This emergency relief payment to households  pushed into crisis will offer a necessary lifeline to those hit hardest by these changes. In Illinois  we are strengthening food access and supporting vulnerable communities – not creating new  barriers to basic survival.”  

For more information, please contact info@repdagmara.org.  

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