The Illinois Department of Human Services has announced that the state has been approved to provide approximately 316,000 households with additional SNAP benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has authorized the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program which brings additional food stamps to all school-aged children in the state who are eligible for free or reduced meals. They will be issued to all SNAP households with school-aged children. These new benefits will automatically be added to family LINK cards. Those who are eligible will start recieving them this week through the end of the month. The benifits are based on missed school days in March and April.