We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

This song truly cracks me up! The guy she is describing in this video is TOTALLY Bruce! Everything from the "needing space" after not seeing me for a month, to the "listening to an Indie record that is SO much better than mine" lol. I've literally been jamming to this in the car all week because I find it SO funny!

What are SNAP benefits?

If you live in Illinois you may be eligible for something known as SNAP benefits. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. It was formerly known as "food stamps". In Illinois this means the LINK card. The LINK card essentially provides the user with free money for food that can be used at any store that accepts LINK cards. The "food stamps" portion of the LINK card may only be used to buy grocery type food items such as produce, cereal, soda, dairy, and anything else that is a food item that can be bought at a grocery store. It can NOT be used to purchase "hot" food items like friend chicken from the deli, or pizza from the deli, and it can NOT be used to purchase toiletries, alcohol, or tobacco. The LINK card also has a "cash" option that some people may also qualify. You can find the official SNAP website here. To qualify for the SNAP program you mainly need to make under a certain amount of money. However there are some other qualifications as well. If you qualify for SNAP you may be eligible for many other programs, and the Department of Human Services should be able to assist you with that as well.

Applying for SNAP benefits in Illinois

Once you have determined that you may be eligible for SNAP benefits in Illinois you'll want to go here to apply for them online. They also have information regarding applying for them on paper as well.
 These are the instructions for applying online given by the Illinois Department of Human Services:

Facts About Applying Online

1. You can complete the application whenever you want, and in private. You can stop at any time and your work will be saved for up to 15 days.  You have 15 days to return to the application and complete it.
2. The online application is convenient and reduces the need for an extra trip to the Illinois Department of Human Services office.
3. Your completed application is submitted electronically to the Illinois Department of Human Services.  You can track the receipt and status of your online application.
4. If at any time you choose to quit you may print the application form containing information you have entered up to the point you chose to quit. You may then mail, fax or take the application form to an Illinois Department of Human Services office.
5. An application for SNAP must contain a name, address, and signature. Filing with only this information may delay the processing of your application because we will need more detailed information about your family circumstances. However, if you wish to only file an application with name, address and signature then complete the name and address sections on the "Tell Us About Yourself" page and select the "Quit" button at the bottom of the page. On the "Quit Application" screen select the "Submit Application" button and then on the "Submit Application" screen select the "Submit Application" button. Review the rights and responsibilities, check the agree to the terms box, and electronically sign the application by clicking on the "Submit Application" button.

Why I created this blog....

As someone who works for a non-profit in a low income area I regularly encounter people who would, and could qualify for financial aid resources only they don't know where to go to apply for them. These people are in DESPERATE need of aid, and if they had such aid would be able to get back on their feet and out of poverty. The purpose of this blog is to put information for all of these services in one central location so that if you do need aid you don't have to search the entire world wide web to get help.

Do you qualify for Federal Welfare Assistance?

While there is no EXACT science to determine whether or not you will qualify for federal welfare assistance without actually applying one good guideline to look at is the Federal Poverty guidelines. These guidelines will give you an idea of whether or not you will qualify. However, because this isn't an exact science, you shouldn't go simply by this to determine whether or not to apply for or seek assistance. For instance if you don't have any assets, and you have a lot of debt and/or it costs a lot to take care of any dependents you have you may still qualify even if you do make more money.

Need Help Paying for Child Care?

If you find yourself in need of financial assistance paying for child care you should contact your local Head Start Office. You can find their locator on their website.

Illinois Department of Human Services Office Locator

If you live in Illinois you may be able to receive financial aid benefits through the Illinois Department of Human Services. You can locate your nearest office using their locator.

Illinois SNAP Eligibility Caluclator

If you live in Illinois you may be eligible for SNAP benefits such as the LINK card, the state Medical card, and other such benefits. To qualify for these though you have to make under a certain amount of income. You can use The SNAP Eligibility Calculator to find out whether or not you qualify for these benefits! This can save you a trip to the Department of Human Services.