Legal permanent residents are eligible if they are under 18 years of age, have lived in the United States for at least five years or are currently receiving disability assistance. Furthermore, spouses and dependents of legal permanent residents are eligible if the legal permanent resident is on active duty in the military, or is a veteran with an honorable discharge.

Household status is the most common claim status. Illinois defines a household as one or more persons “who customarily purchase and prepare their meals together.” Household members do not have to be related, but parents and children must be calculated as a single household if they live in the same living space. Family members who live in separate apartments in the same building are considered separate households.

Illinois defines an elderly claim status as a person aged 60 and over who is disabled and therefore can not purchase and prepare his own meals. An elderly person’s spouse may also receive benefits. The elderly may receive separate assistance even if they are part of a household that already receives its own assistance.

Students are considered a separate claim status in Illinois. In order to be eligible, they must be between the ages of 18 and 50. They have to be enrolled in an institution of learning above the high school level, and matriculate at least half time. Furthermore, they must be employed part time in a work-study program. Students who have children between the ages of six and twelve are eligible if there is no one else in the household who can provide child care. Students who are enrolled through the federal government’s Job Training Partnership Act are also eligible.

Certain individuals are automatically eligible for food assistance, and their claim status is listed to reflect this. Individuals who receive supplemental security income (SSI) are automatically eligible, as are those currently receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) benefits. Disabled individuals are also automatically eligible.