Transferring SNAP (Food Stamps) from Connecticut to Illinois
One state pays per month, so a move means closing in Connecticut and reapplying in Illinois. Contact Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) before you leave, then file with Illinois Department of Human Services on arrival. Your EBT card keeps working through the transition wherever SNAP is accepted.
Income limits differ in the wrong direction here: Connecticut allows gross income up to 200% of the federal poverty level, while Illinois cuts off at 165% of the federal poverty level. Most households with income between the two will lose SNAP after the move; a household with a member 60 or older or disabled is judged on the net-income test instead and may still qualify.
Official Illinois SNAP agency: Illinois Department of Human Services ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Tell Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) you are moving out of state
Report your move to Connecticut DSS (via ConneCT or the benefits center) and ask to close your case before applying in your new state — no SNAP in two states in the same month.
Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) ↗
Moving week
- 2
Keep your EBT card — the balance still works
Benefits already on your EBT card remain yours and the card works at SNAP retailers in any state. Spend-down is not required before moving.
After you arrive
- 3
Apply with Illinois Department of Human Services right away
File the day you arrive if you can — approval can take up to 30 days. If your old state already issued SNAP for the month you move, your new benefits begin the following month; if not, the first month is prorated from your application date, not your arrival date. Stated processing: up to 30 days.
Online application ↗ - 4
Ask about expedited SNAP
If you have very low cash and resources after the move, federal rules require expedited service — benefits within 7 days.
Connecticut vs Illinois: the numbers that decide it
| Connecticut (old state) | Illinois (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Connecticut SNAP | Illinois SNAP |
| Agency | Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) | Illinois Department of Human Services |
| Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility | Yes | Yes |
| Gross income limit | 200% of the federal poverty level | 165% of the federal poverty level |
Monthly income limits by household size: Connecticut vs Illinois
| Household size | Connecticut | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $2,660 | $2,195 |
| 2 people | $3,607 | $2,976 |
| 3 people | $4,554 | $3,757 |
| 4 people | $5,500 | $4,538 |
| 5 people | $6,447 | $5,319 |
| 6 people | $7,394 | $6,100 |
SNAP gross limits for October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027, computed from each state's % of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines the way USDA computes its tables. Each state's own chart controls. Full tables: Connecticut · Illinois · 2026 poverty guidelines.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full Connecticut → Illinois checklistCommon questions
Will my EBT card from Connecticut work in Illinois?
Yes. EBT is interoperable nationwide, so any balance already issued spends normally at SNAP retailers in Illinois. The card keeps working until the balance is used, even after your Connecticut case closes.
Can I get SNAP in both states during the moving month?
No — receiving SNAP from two states in the same month is a program violation. Close the Connecticut case for the month you leave, then apply in Illinois. If Connecticut already issued your benefits for the month you move, Illinois cannot pay that month too, so your Illinois benefits begin the following month; if not, Illinois prorates your first month from the day you apply.
How fast can Illinois approve my new SNAP case?
Federal rules give Illinois Department of Human Services up to 30 days, or 7 days for expedited service if your household has very low cash and resources after the move. Stated timing: up to 30 days.
Where do I actually apply in Illinois?
Through Illinois Department of Human Services (online application linked above). Official SNAP pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Illinois to Connecticut SNAP
- SNAP in Connecticut: leaving or arriving
- SNAP in Illinois: leaving or arriving
- Moving with SNAP: every state
- Connecticut to Wyoming SNAP
- Connecticut to Arkansas SNAP
- Connecticut to Tennessee SNAP
- Connecticut to Virginia SNAP
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: Connecticut to Illinois
- WIC: Connecticut to Illinois
- Unemployment: Connecticut to Illinois
- TANF: Connecticut to Illinois
Terms on this page: Federal poverty level (FPL) · Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) · Expedited SNAP · EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer)
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified .
- USDA FNA SNAP State Directory — Connecticut — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA BBCE state chart (June 2026) — accessed 2026-08-08
- CT DSS SNAP — accessed 2026-08-08
- IL DHS SNAP — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNS SNAP State Directory — Illinois — accessed 2026-08-08