How to Apply for the Illinois Link Card and Get Assistance with Food

The Illinois LINK card provides lower income families, single mothers, and the unemployed with assitance for food purchases.  The LINK card is an EBT, or Electronic Benefits Transfer card. It's basically the electronic replacement for the paper-based food stamps program. The LINK card works just like a debit card and can be used at most grocery stores to buy food.  Each household is given a set amount that is deposited onto their LINK card each month to help purchase food for their family. 

Aside from the link card, other types of assistance are also available, like food pantries or the Angel Food Ministries program. Contact your local churches or community action agencies for assistance in locating local food pantries. Angel Food Ministries are also available nationwide. You can buy boxes of food for your family for around $30.  Angel food ministries has no upper income limit. Angel Food Ministries is available online, so you can see if there a local office in your area: http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

 How to Apply for the Link Card in IL.

Step 1 Contact your local Human Services or Public Aid department. If you are a low income household, unemployed, or a single mom with children, you could be eligible for the Illinois Link card which could assist you with your food purchases each month.  You can locate your local office online.

Step 2 Bring proof of any income, social security cards, proof of address ( like a utility bill ), and  information for each person who lives in the household. They will need names, birth dates, and social security cards for each household member.

Step 3 Speak with a case worker and set an appointment. Talk with them about your current financial situation during the appointment and let them know how the link card could be beneficial for you. Bring in any bills that you may be behind on to help show your household budget issues.

You'll then fill out an application with a case worker.  If you like, you can download the application and fill it out ahead of time.  Go ahead and ask any questions you may have about the card. After your application has been approved, the caseworker will present a Link card to you.