Transferring SNAP (Food Stamps) from Maine to Illinois
Food benefits stay with the state that issued the case, not with you. Leaving Maine means ending that case and starting over with Illinois SNAP. Apply immediately after arriving — the 30-day approval clock runs from your filing date, not your arrival date.
Income limits differ in the wrong direction here: Maine 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 Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Family Independence you are moving out of state
Report your move to OFI through My Maine Connection or 1-800-442-6003 and ask to close your Food Supplement case before applying in your new state — no SNAP in two states in the same month.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Family Independence ↗
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.
Maine vs Illinois: the numbers that decide it
| Maine (old state) | Illinois (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Food Supplement Program | Illinois SNAP |
| Agency | Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Family Independence | 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: Maine vs Illinois
| Household size | Maine | 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: Maine · 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 Maine → Illinois checklistCommon questions
Will my EBT card from Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine case for the month you leave, then apply in Illinois. If Maine 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 Maine SNAP
- SNAP in Maine: leaving or arriving
- SNAP in Illinois: leaving or arriving
- Moving with SNAP: every state
- Maine to Wyoming SNAP
- Maine to Virginia SNAP
- Maine to Delaware SNAP
- Maine to Arkansas SNAP
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: Maine to Illinois
- WIC: Maine to Illinois
- Unemployment: Maine to Illinois
- TANF: Maine 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 .
- Maine DHHS Food Supplement Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNS BBCE state chart — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNS SNAP State Directory — Maine — accessed 2026-08-08
- IL DHS SNAP — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNS SNAP State Directory — Illinois — accessed 2026-08-08