The Illinois LINK card allows food stamp recipients to receive this benefit electronically, via the use of a card that looks like a credit card as pictured on the left. Every month a pre-set amount of funds are available to the eligible individual or family via the Illinois LINK card.

Getting access to the funds is similar to the way someone uses a credit card or ATM card. The Illinois LINK card holder swipes the card through a machine at the grocery store and enters his or her PIN (personal identification number). As the LINK card is used, the amount of the purchase spent on food is deducted from the card holder’s account. Of course the purchasing limit of the Illinois LINK card is the amount of credit available in the card holder’s account.

There are benefits to this system including the money saved by eliminating paper food stamp coupons. There also may be some real benefits to the LINK card recipient such as no more lost or stolen food stamps (of course recipients will have to keep the card safe). Also, since every recipient has their own personal identification number, it should make unauthorized use of LINK card more difficult.

The LINK card even allows for flexible use of the benefits, such as using fewer benefits in October in order to have a little extra money for Thanksgiving. However, the LINK card must be used at least once every 60 days or so, even for a small purchase, because the Department of Human Services (or DHS) will put a “hold” on accounts not accessed regularly.

Many senior adults have been very reluctant or have downright refused to use paper food stamp coupons because of embarrassment even though they are in need of the benefits. The Illinois LINK card should help alleviate this embarrassment as the LINK card is a more low profile way to use benefits.

All Illinois LINK card recipients receive training in the use of the LINK card. The recipient chooses his or her own PIN number at the training site using a PIN number that is easy for the recipient to remember. Homebound LINK card recipients can send someone else to the training, but their proxy will have to attend training in order for the homebound LINK card recipient to receive the card.

Every time the account is used, the recipient gets a receipt which lists the amount left in the recipient’s LINK card account and a there is a toll-free number that recipients can use to check their account balance.

For more information ...

Contact the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) 24-Hour Telephone hotline at:

1. 1.800.843.6154
2. 1.800.447.6404 (TTY)
3. DHS website for information about Illinois LINK, and your LINK balance.
4. Apply online for the Illinois LINK card.
5. Find a DHS office near you.
6. Illinois LINK card eligibility guidelines.

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