SNAP Applications for Individuals Being Released from IDOC – Expanded to Graham and Murphysboro

07/12/2022

Policy Memo

Summary

• Due to a waiver modification approval from Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), this policy memo provides an expansion to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Pilot Program which allows the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to accept SNAP applications submitted by individuals incarcerated in certain correctional facilities within 10 days of their release date, and defines the application date as the date of discharge.
• Currently, there are 6 correctional facilities participating in the Pilot Program:

• Effective 07/05/2022, the IDOC Pilot Program is expanding to Graham Correctional Center in Montgomery County and Murphysboro Life Skills Re-Entry Center in Jackson County.
• Further guidance can be found in policy memos SNAP Applications for Individuals Being Released from Logan Correctional Center - PILOT, published 08/05/2020, and System Changes to Accommodate Applications Received Prior to an Individual's Release from Certain Department of Correction or State Mental Health Facilities - Phase 1  published on 10/20/2021.
• FCRC staff will continue to follow the same IES case processing procedures when an application is received from an individual in one of these two additional correctional facilities.

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FNS continues to expand a waiver approval of the IDOC Pilot Program for individuals to gain access to SNAP benefits upon their release date. Currently, there are 6 correctional facilities participating in the Pilot Program:

Effective 07/05/2022, the waiver approval expands to two additional correctional facilities: Graham Correctional Center in Montgomery County and Murphysboro Life Skills Re-Entry Center in Jackson County.

SNAP Applications for Graham Correctional Center and Murphysboro Life Skills Re-Entry Center in Jackson County

Effective 07/05/2022, individuals incarcerated in Graham Correctional Center in Montgomery County and Murphysboro Life Skills Re-Entry Center in Jackson County may now apply for SNAP benefits within 10 days prior to their discharge date. The waiver allows an individual with a pending release date to gain approval and have access to SNAP benefits and food resources upon their release. SNAP Applications for Individuals Being Released from Logan Correctional Center - PILOT, published 08/05/2020, introducing the Prisoner Pre-Release Pilot Program and System Changes to Accommodate Applications Received Prior to an Individual's Release from Certain Department of Correction or State Mental Health Facilities - Phase 1, published on 10/20/2021, provide further guidance on Phase 1 changes in IES and how to accommodate SNAP applications prior to discharge.

FCRC Action:

FCRC staff should continue to follow IES application processing procedures when an application for SNAP benefits is received from one of these approved facilities.

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Forms Reference: