The Illinois Department of Human Services announced on Tuesday that more than 450,000 Illinois households will receive additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits beginning this week. All who are eligible for the additional benefits should receive them by April 20th. The additional funds are intended to help Illinoisans obtain food and support for their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The maximum SNAP benefit amounts will be implemented for April and May. Increased benefits will be automatically loaded onto SNAP recipients’ Link cards, and there is no need for anyone to re-apply, visit an office, or call. The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act gives states the option to provide SNAP households with the maximum SNAP allotment, which is based on household size. SNAP households which are not currently receiving the maximum allotment will receive additional SNAP benefits which bring their allotment amount to the maximum. Households already receiving the maximum benefit will not receive additional benefits. Maximum amounts per household size are as follows: