The Illinois Department of Human Services announces that the April Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or better known as SNAP benefits, will be issued early to some Illinois customers.  April SNAP benefits will be loaded automatically on customers’ Link cards between April 1st and April 10th, with May benefits returning to a regular schedule.  IDHS Secretary Designate Grace Hou stated, “The federal shutdown earlier this year took a toll on Illinois families.  While we were able to maintain operations at the state lever and still provide benefits to our customers, February SNAP benefits were issued early as a result.”  This created a potential long gap in between monthly SNAP insurances.  She stated that they have created a planned to schedule April benefits early for some of their customers, so that they do not have to wait too long in between their benefits.