*This is an estimate based on standard Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) guidelines. Final determination is made by IDHS.*
How the Illinois EBT Calculator Works
Understanding your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Illinois—often referred to as the LINK Card—can be complex. Our Illinois EBT Calculator simplifies this by using the specific income limits and deduction rules set by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).
Eligibility Requirements in Illinois
To qualify for EBT in Illinois, households must generally meet two financial tests: the Gross Income Limit and the Net Income Limit. However, many Illinois households are "categorically eligible," which means the gross income limit is set at 165% or 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) depending on household composition.
How Your Benefit is Calculated
The amount of money you receive on your Illinois LINK card is determined by a specific formula. It starts with the Maximum Allotment for your household size. The state assumes a household will spend 30% of its net income on food. Therefore, the formula is:
Monthly Benefit = Maximum Allotment – (Net Monthly Income x 0.30)
Standard Deductions for 2024
Standard Deduction: Subtracted from all households based on size (usually between $198 and $290).
Shelter Deduction: Costs for rent, mortgage, and utilities that exceed 50% of your income after other deductions.
Standard Utility Allowance (SUA): In Illinois, if you pay for heating or cooling, you get a fixed utility credit (currently $641 as of late 2023/2024 updates).
Example Calculation
Consider a household of 2 people in Chicago with a gross income of $1,800 and rent of $800.
Max Allotment: For 2 people, the maximum is $535.
Adjusted Income: After the standard deduction ($198) and earned income deduction (20% of gross), let's say net income is $1,242.
Shelter Credit: Calculated based on the $800 rent plus utility allowance.
Result: If the final net income is $1,000, the calculation is $535 – ($1,000 * 0.3) = $235 Monthly Benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Illinois LINK benefits deposited?
In Illinois, SNAP benefits are sent to your EBT card over the first 10 days of the month, based on the last digit of your case number. For example, if your case number ends in 1, you usually receive benefits on the 1st.
Can I use my Illinois EBT card in other states?
Yes. EBT is a federal program. You can use your Illinois LINK card at any authorized retailer across the United States that displays the Quest logo or SNAP decal.
function calculateIllinoisSNAP() {
// Inputs
var hhSize = parseInt(document.getElementById("hhSize").value);
var grossIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossIncome").value) || 0;
var rent = parseFloat(document.getElementById("rentCost").value) || 0;
var utilityStatus = document.getElementById("utilityStatus").value;
// Constants for 2023-2024 (Approximate IL IDHS rules)
var maxAllotments = [0, 291, 535, 766, 973, 1155, 1386, 1532, 1751];
var standardDeductions = [0, 198, 198, 198, 208, 244, 279, 279, 279];
var grossIncomeLimits = [0, 2430, 3287, 4143, 5000, 5857, 6713, 7570, 8427]; // 200% FPL for IL Categorical Eligibility
var sua = 641; // Illinois Standard Utility Allowance
// Error handling
if (hhSize 8 ? grossIncomeLimits[8] + ((hhSize – 8) * 857) : grossIncomeLimits[hhSize];
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("ebtResult");
var statusText = document.getElementById("eligibilityStatus");
var benefitText = document.getElementById("monthlyBenefit");
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
if (grossIncome > limit) {
statusText.innerText = "Income Exceeds Illinois Limits";
statusText.style.color = "#d9534f";
benefitText.innerText = "$0.00";
return;
}
// 2. Calculate Net Income (Simplified)
// Deduction: Standard deduction + 20% of gross (if earned, simplified here)
var earnedIncomeDeduction = grossIncome * 0.20;
var stdDed = hhSize > 8 ? standardDeductions[8] : standardDeductions[hhSize];
var incomeAfterInitialDeductions = grossIncome – earnedIncomeDeduction – stdDed;
if (incomeAfterInitialDeductions < 0) incomeAfterInitialDeductions = 0;
// 3. Shelter Deduction
var totalShelterCosts = rent + (utilityStatus === "yes" ? sua : 0);
var halfAdjustedIncome = incomeAfterInitialDeductions * 0.5;
var excessShelter = totalShelterCosts – halfAdjustedIncome;
if (excessShelter 672) excessShelter = 672;
var netIncome = incomeAfterInitialDeductions – excessShelter;
if (netIncome 8 ? maxAllotments[8] + ((hhSize – 8) * 219) : maxAllotments[hhSize];
var thirtyPercentNet = netIncome * 0.30;
var finalBenefit = maxBenefit – thirtyPercentNet;
// Min benefit for 1-2 person households
if (finalBenefit 0 && hhSize <= 2) {
finalBenefit = 23;
}
if (finalBenefit <= 0) {
statusText.innerText = "Likely Not Eligible / High Income Relative to Costs";
statusText.style.color = "#d9534f";
benefitText.innerText = "$0.00";
} else {
statusText.innerText = "Estimated Monthly Benefit Amount:";
statusText.style.color = "#333";
benefitText.innerText = "$" + Math.round(finalBenefit).toLocaleString();
}
}