PM 22-01-01-m: Expunged Benefits

WAG 22-01-01-m

revised manual textExpunged Benefits Due to Account Inactivity

  • The customer's Illinois Link card has separate accounts for Cash and Food Assistance (SNAP/State Food) benefits. The customer's use of Illinois Link benefits is tracked by the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Unit. Food assistance (SNAP/State Food) benefits and cash assistance benefit use are tracked separately for customers who have both accounts. 
  • Cash and/or Food Assistance (SNAP/State Food) benefits are expunged (removed) for non-use once two conditions are met:
    • Benefits have been available to the customer for at least 274 days (9 months) from the availability date; and
    • No purchase EBT transaction has been made with that type of benefit for 274 days (9 months) from the last transaction date.
  • If the customer receives both Cash and Food Assistance (SNAP/State Food) benefits and only uses one of the accounts, benefits in the unused account are expunged if no activity has occurred within 274 days (9 months).
  • Balance inquiries and benefit deposits do not count as benefit use. Benefits will not be removed if a purchase is made within the time frame. A purchase for any amount will start the counter over for the 274 day time frame.
  • Customers need to access benefits by the 274th day or the benefits will be expunged from their account. Benefits that have been expunged are no longer available to the customer and cannot be reissued. 
  • If there is an outstanding overpayment claim, the amount of benefits expunged will be credited toward the claim. Cash benefits will be credited for a cash overpayment. Food assistance (SNAP/State Food) benefits will be credited for a food assistance overpayment.

new manual textNotice of Expunged Benefits

No later than 30 days prior to expunging benefits, the EBT Unit will send Notice of a Change to your Illinois Link Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Account to the applicable Cash and/or Food Assistance (SNAP/State Food) household who has not accessed their benefits within the time frame. The notice informs the household of the benefit type and the amount that will be expunged unless a purchase is made by the date listed on the notice. The entire balance does not need to be spent. A purchase for any amount will start the counter over for the 274 day time frame.

new manual textExpunged Benefits Due to Death

  • The EBT Unit will systematically remove Cash and/or Food Assistance (SNAP/State Food) benefits from the Illinois Link EBT Account on the next workday following the cancellation of a case whose only member is deceased and the death has been verified.
  • If information from a source, including a Death Crossmatch is received and has not been reported by the household, the FCRC will send Verification Checklist and allow the household 10 calendar days to respond before taking a negative action against benefits.
    • A household with more than one member may confirm with the FCRC if the information is accurate and their statement is sufficient verification.
    • For a household with only one member, if the Verification Checklist is returned as undeliverable or the household does not respond, the Notice of Decison is sent to the last known address with the appropriate cancellation reason.
    • Once verified, the FCRC will process the cancellation due to the person's death. IES will send a Notice of Decision with the appropriate cancellation reason.
  •  Any remaining Cash and/or Food Assistance (SNAP/State Food) benefits in the Illinois Link EBT Account will be removed from the account on the next workday after the cancellation has been certified

Summer EBT Expunged Benefits

Summer EBT benefits are expunged 122 days after the availability date. Households that receive Summer EBT will need to access the benefit by the 122nd day or the benefits will be expunged.  Expunged Summer EBT benefits are no longer available to the customer and cannot be reissued. Households that are issued Summer EBT benefits and also receive SNAP and/or State Food will have the Summer EBT issuances deducted from the Illinois Link card account first due to the 122 day expungement.