New work requirements for SNAP took effect February 2026. Adults ages 18-64 must now work or volunteer 80 hours per month. Exemptions exist for caregivers of children under 14, people with disabilities, and students. If your benefits changed or stopped, you have the right to appeal.
Log in to your ABE account to check your SNAP status, upload documents, or report changes. If you don't have an account, you can create one and apply online. Available in English and Spanish.
Find a food pantry near you. The Greater Chicago Food Depository's network serves all of Cook County. Call (773) 247-3663 for help in English or Spanish.
Information about SNAP changes, how to apply, and where to get help. Available in 7 languages.
If your benefits were reduced or cut, you can request a fair hearing within 90 days. Call the DHS helpline at 1-800-843-6154 (TTY: 1-800-447-6404). You do not need a lawyer. You do not need to speak English. Interpreter services are available.
Maria works the 6am shift at the warehouse. By the time she gets off, the food pantry on 18th Street is closed. Her kids eat lunch at school, but dinner is a gap she fills with whatever's cheapest at the corner store. She qualifies for SNAP but she's never applied — the form was in English the one time she tried, and she didn't know what documents to bring. She left and didn't go back.
Everything below exists because someone like Maria shouldn't have to figure this out alone.
Maria is a composite — but her situation is real, and it's common. If you recognize any part of her story, these tools are for you.Find food near you. Compare nutrition. Plan meals. Scan barcodes. Works on any phone, works without internet. No account needed.
Preserve food safely when it's cheap and in season. Science-based, three skill levels.
Search by zip code to find food banks and pantries near you. Over 200 member food banks nationwide.
Check if you qualify for SNAP food assistance. Covers all 50 states. Available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. No data collected — your answers stay on your device.
USDA nutrition guidance — meal plans, recipes, food group information. Free to use and share. Available in 20+ languages.
Official Colorado WIC video — what the program covers, how to apply, what to bring. Also available in Spanish.
💬 Discuss food & benefits →Health information from the National Institutes of Health. Search any condition, medication, or procedure. Plain language. Available in 60+ languages. No account needed.
Find substance use and mental health treatment facilities near you. Confidential. Run by SAMHSA.
Find health insurance plans and check if you qualify for Medicaid or subsidized coverage. Open enrollment and special enrollment periods.
NAMI — what it looks like when someone you love needs help, and where to start.
💬 Discuss health resources →Emergency preparedness from FEMA. What to do before, during, and after disasters. All materials free to use and share.
FEMA PSA — making a family emergency plan and actually practicing it before you need it.
💬 Discuss emergency prep →Maria found food for tonight. But her landlord just raised the rent and she doesn't know if that's legal. The check-cashing place takes $12 from every paycheck. The systems around her work for people who understand them — and against people who don't.
What does Maria need to know? →Every resource on this page is free. No account. No data collected.