How to Apply for the Link Card in Illinois

Co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD

Last Updated: December 10, 2023 References

The Illinois LINK card is a debit card issued by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to certain low-income people. The card can be used to buy food from authorized retailers. To receive a LINK card, a person must qualify for the Illinois' food stamps program, which is known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program).

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Qualifying For SNAP

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1
Count the number of persons in your household. The number of people in your household includes you, your spouse, children under 18 years of age and anyone else with whom you live and buy and share food.
- If you live alone or live with others but do not buy and share food with them, the total number of people in your household is 1.
- if you live with your spouse and two minor children, the total number of people in your household is 4.
- If you live with others and all of you buy and share food together, count each individual member towards the total number of people in your household.
- If any person in your household is over the age of 60 or disabled, that person is considered a "qualifying member." That person might qualify for benefits separate from the rest of the household. If this is your situation, contact your local IDHS office to ask how this will affect your eligibility.
2
Calculate your gross monthly income. To qualify for SNAP, you will need to disclose the gross monthly income for your entire household.^{[1]
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- Add income from all sources, including earned income (before payroll taxes are deducted) and unearned income, such as cash assistance, Social Security benefits, unemployment insurance and child support.
- Add income earned by every member of your household.
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3
Assess your assets. Assets are defined as anything you own that has monetary value. Calculate the total value of your assets, including:
- Liquid assets: cash, money in a checking account or savings account
- Non-liquid assets: cars, property, real estate
- Note that some non-liquid assets, including your home, clothing, furnishings and one car, will not count towards the asset limit. Contact your local IDHS office to find out which non-liquid assets you should include when calculating the total value of your assets.
4
Use the SNAP calculator to determine eligibility and benefits
- Open the link for the SNAP calculator on the Illinois Department of Human Services website: http://fscalc.dhs.illinois.gov/FSCalc/
- Enter all of the information requested, including the number of people in your household, your gross monthly income, the total value of your assets and your expenses.
- Press "Calculate Now!" to find out whether you qualify and, if so, how much money you are eligible to receive in benefits.
5
Confirm no other factors disqualify you. Even if the SNAP calculator indicates that you meet the required income and household member guidelines, you will not qualify for SNAP if:
- You have an intentional program violation on your record.
- You are living in a hospital, jail or other place where meals are provided.
- You are on strike.
- You were convicted of a drug felony on or after August 22, 1996.
- You are an undocumented immigrant.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Applying For Your Card

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1
File an application.
- Apply online by filling out the Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) on the IDHS website: https://abe.illinois.gov/abe/access/. Submit it electronically.^{[2]
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- Download and print a paper application at http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=33698. Fill it out, sign it and then mail, fax or submit it in person to your local Family Community Resource Center.^{[3]
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- Apply in person at your local Family Community Resource Center. Use the DHS Locator (http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12) to find the Family Community Resource Center nearest to you.^{[4]
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- If you do not have internet access and have questions about how to obtain and submit an application, call IDHS at 1-800-843-6154.
2
Attend an interview. Once your local IDHS office receives your application, you will be asked to come to the office for an interview. If you are unable to come to the office due to a disability or conflict with your job, you can probably arrange for a phone interview.^{[5]
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- Interviews are typically scheduled within 14 days of filing an application.
- Take the documents the IDHS caseworker tells you to bring to the interview. These will likely include: proof of identity, proof of your residence and proof of social security numbers for all people in your application.^{[6]
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Wait to receive a response by mail.^{[7]
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- Within 30 days of processing your application, IDHS will inform you by mail whether or not you qualified to receive SNAP benefits.^{[8]
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- If you are approved, you will be informed the amount of monthly SNAP allowance you have been awarded and receive a card in the mail.^{[9]
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- If you are denied benefits or you do not think you have been awarded the right amount of SNAP allowance, you have the right to file an appeal within 90 days.
4
Use you card appropriately to avoid incurring penalties.^{[10]
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- You can use your LINK card to buy most foods from grocery stores and farmers' markets and to pay for meals brought to you by the Meals on Wheels program.
- You cannot use your LINK card to buy: prepared meals from a grocery store, alcohol, tobacco, soap, paper products, pet food or other nonfood items.

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If your income is less than your monthly rent or mortgage payment and the appropriate utility standard or in certain other extreme cases of need, you may be entitled to receive SNAP benefits immediately.^{[11]
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