SNAP BILL

Illinois lawmakers are weighing a new bill aimed at softening the blow from tightened federal SNAP work requirements. The proposed Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger, or FRESH, program would deliver one-time cash assistance to households losing or seeing a reduction in SNAP benefits. Support would be distributed through EBT cards, with the payment size linked to recent benefit levels. For families facing a reduction, the amount would be triple the difference between their old and new SNAP amount. If benefits are terminated, recipients could receive three times their last monthly benefit, offering a temporary safety net as federal rules change.