Illinois SNAP Benefits for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

How SNAP Works When You're Raising a Grandchild in Illinois

SNAP (food stamps) doesn't work the same way as TANF child-only grants. While TANF completely ignores your income, SNAP looks at the whole household. If you and your grandchild live together and customarily purchase and prepare food together, you apply as one unit.

That means your Social Security, pension, or wages factor into the household's SNAP eligibility. But it's not as limiting as it sounds — standard deductions, shelter costs, and utility allowances bring the countable amount down significantly.

Household Rules for Kinship Families

Under federal SNAP regulations, people who live together and customarily purchase and prepare food together must be in one SNAP household. You can't create a separate "child-only" SNAP unit for your grandchild while excluding yourself if you're buying groceries and cooking together.

This is different from TANF, where the caregiver's income is excluded entirely. With SNAP, the full household picture matters.

Income Limits and Deductions (FY 2027)

For a household of 2 (you and one grandchild):

• Gross income limit: $2,976/month (165% FPL) — or $3,607/month if your household has a qualifying member aged 60 or older or who is disabled
• Net income limit: $1,804/month (after deductions)
• Maximum SNAP benefit: $562/month

The higher gross income limit for households with a member aged 60+ is significant — most grandparent caregivers qualify for the more generous threshold.

Key deductions that lower your countable income:

• Standard deduction: $213/month for 1-3 person households
• Excess shelter deduction: up to $769/month for rent, mortgage, property taxes
• Utility allowance (SUA): $565/month. A LIHEAP payment of $21 or more automatically qualifies a household with a qualifying member aged 60 or older or who is disabled; a household without a qualifying member must verify its actual utility costs.

How TANF Grants Affect SNAP

If you're receiving a TANF child-only grant, that cash counts as unearned income in your SNAP household budget. A $350/month child-only grant for one child gets added to your gross income.

While this increases your total countable income, the deductions usually offset it. Many kinship families receiving both TANF and SNAP end up better off than those receiving neither.

Work Requirement Exemptions

If you're 55 or older, you're exempt from SNAP work requirements and the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit. You're also exempt if you're responsible for a child under 6 or an incapacitated household member.

Most grandparent caregivers meet at least one of these exemptions.

Free School Meals

Children receiving SNAP are directly certified for free school breakfast and lunch — no separate application needed. Schools in high-poverty districts operating under the Community Eligibility Provision serve free meals to all students regardless of individual income.

How to Apply

Apply for SNAP through the ABE portal at abe.illinois.gov, at your local Family Community Resource Center, or by calling 1-800-843-6154. IDHS must process SNAP applications within 30 days. Expedited SNAP may be available within 7 calendar days if monthly gross income is under $150 and liquid resources are under $100, or if combined gross income and resources are less than monthly rent or mortgage plus utility costs.

For a complete breakdown of how every benefit interacts — TANF, SNAP, All Kids, CCAP — the Illinois kinship financial help guide includes a benefit-by-arrangement matrix showing exactly what you qualify for based on your legal situation with the child.

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