MR #21.27: January 2022 Increase in State Minimum Wage

Illinois Department of Human Services logo

12/23/2021

Summary:

Effective 01/01/2022 the Illinois state minimum wage will increase to $12.00 per hour.
Earnfare participants may now earn up to $420 per month due to the state minimum wage increase.
The state minimum wage of $12.00 per hour can be used in determining the number of hours of participation for Earnfare and Community Workfare for the SNAP Employment and Training Program.
The state minimum wage of $12.00 per hour can be used for TANF when determining the maximum number of hours to assign an individual in work-like activities.

Due to state law, the state minimum wage will increase to $12.00 per hour effective 01/01/2022. The new minimum wage can be used when determining customer participation hours for SNAP Employment and Training Program and certain TANF work-like activities.

SNAP Employment and Training Program (SNAP E&T)

Earnfare

Effective 01/01/2022, Earnfare participants may earn up to a maximum of $420 per month after working off the value of their SNAP benefit amount divided by the state or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher.
The state minimum wage is currently higher than the federal minimum wage.
Effective 01/01/2022, the state minimum wage is $12.00 per hour.

Community Workfare

A person's monthly participation hours are based on the amount of SNAP benefits received divided by the state minimum wage of $12.00 per hour effective 01/01/2022.

TANF FLSA and Deeming

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) determines the maximum number of hours to which we may assign an individual in work-like activities. Customers cannot be assigned more hours than the total amount of Cash and SNAP benefits divided by the larger of state or federal minimum wage for:

Work Experience; or
Community Service.

For these two FLSA activities, the core 20/30 hour participation requirement is deemed met for a case when the customer participates the number of hours indicated by the FLSA calculation.