Illinois House Bill HB4199

Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/25/23
• Refer: 10/25/23

Caption

SNAP-AFTER-TAX INCOME

Impact

The proposed changes are expected to provide a fairer assessment of income for households seeking food assistance. By enabling the DHS to disregard any increases in monthly earned income due to minimum wage hikes effective from January 1, 2023, the bill aims to safeguard the SNAP eligibility of individuals who might otherwise lose benefits due to increases in their income. This could help maintain food security for many vulnerable families, particularly in times of economic fluctuation.

Summary

House Bill 4199 proposes an amendment to the Illinois Public Aid Code that changes how earned income is calculated for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. Specifically, the bill mandates that the Department of Human Services (DHS) must consider only the monthly after-tax income of a household when determining SNAP eligibility. This is a significant shift from previous calculations that may have included gross income figures, thereby potentially affecting the benefits received by low-income households.

Contention

Notably, there may be discussions around the implications of these changes. Supporters of the bill argue that this approach will alleviate poverty and ensure that those in need can access essential resources without being penalized for earning slightly more due to wage increases. Critically, this measure hinges on federal approval, which may complicate the implementation if federal guidelines diverge from the state’s proposed policies. The bill may therefore face scrutiny regarding federal compliance and alignment with existing public aid regulations.