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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants can now purchase groceries online
from June 22 - 28, 2020
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users can purchase groceries online as of June 2, following the adoption of new rules pushed by state Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago).
“Residents are appropriately concerned about the risks of visiting the grocery store, and they should not be forced to put themselves potentially in harm’s way because they are on SNAP,” said Harper, who is cochair of the Illinois House of Representatives’ bipartisan Food Accessibility working group, which encouraged Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state agencies to prioritize making SNAP purchases a reality as soon as possible. Their advocacy led to a May 21 announcement by the governor and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) that they have received federal approval to enable 1.8 million SNAP recipients to purchase food online from participating grocery retailers online.
Walmart and Amazon are among the retailers that have agreed to accept online orders once the program launches. Retailers interested in participating can visit www.fns.usda.gov/ snap/online-purchasing-pilot
-Suzanne Hanney, from prepared sources
