LINK Program

While in Chicago, March 1st was a day of enthusiasm for the women at the shelter. Some were going to get a check on that day and some would get LINK. Back in the luxury of free internet access, I researched what LINK is and how it is used.

"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.

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.

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." - http://egyptianaaa.org/IllinoisIL-Link.htm