Walmart, Amazon and CPS top list of employers where Illinois workers still need SNAP benefits

Illinois Employers Where Workers Still Need SNAP Benefits Include Chicago Public Schools, Amazon, Walmart

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides food assistance to millions of low-income households across the US. But for workers in Illinois employed by certain large corporations and public bodies, SNAP benefits remain a necessity.

Chicago Public Schools, which employs over 60,000 people, tops the list of employers where its workers still need SNAP benefits, along with Jewel-Osco grocery chain, Casey's convenience store chain, home care agencies like Help At Home, and Walgreens. The Chicago Public Schools' workforce is split into full-time, part-time, seasonal and hourly workers, many of whom are CPS parents.

The state had previously received a waiver because its unemployment rate was above the national average, but now Illinois is one of only 45 states to expand work rules for SNAP recipients, meaning most able-bodied adults must now work at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits. This expansion will lead to about 400,000 Illinois residents losing their benefits by May.

Amazon, Walmart and McDonald's also appear on the list of employers where workers still need SNAP benefits. Amazon employs over 39,500 full-time and part-time employees across Illinois, with around 3,400 workers reporting that they receive SNAP benefits. While Amazon says its pay is among the best in the industry, former employee Ash'Shura Brooks claims she was let go while trying to organize her workplace.

The lowest-paid workers at CPS are typically those who don't have access to full-time employment, such as lunchroom workers. For Amy Mendez, a 35-year-old CPS lunchroom porter and single mother of one, the struggle is real. Despite working full-time, she still relies on $100 monthly SNAP benefits to feed her son.

Mendez's situation highlights the need for better pay and more stable employment schedules among CPS workers. When asked about her income, Mendez replied, "The money is not enough and I need more money to eat." She dreams of one day saving enough to buy her own home so her son can have a backyard and run his own daycare.

SNAP recipients like Mendez often face the challenge of balancing work schedules with childcare responsibilities. According to experts, this can lead to a vicious cycle where workers struggle to find stable employment, only to be pushed into temporary or part-time work that leaves them unable to afford basic necessities.

For many Illinois residents relying on SNAP benefits, the expansion of work rules will exacerbate these challenges, pushing even more people into poverty.

it's crazy to think that in 2025, a lot of Illinois workers still need help putting food on the table. i mean, chicago public schools and companies like amazon and walmart should be able to afford better pay for their employees. these jobs can't just provide enough income for people to survive, let alone thrive.

and it's not just about money - it's about stability too. CPS workers like amy mendez are stuck in this vicious cycle of working full-time but still struggling to make ends meet because they can't find affordable childcare. this is a huge issue that needs to be addressed ASAP.

i think we need to reevaluate what's fair and sustainable for our employers. shouldn't they be able to provide enough support for their employees to live decent lives? it's time for some real change in illinois, and i hope more people start talking about this issue soon!

I feel so bad for these CPS workers, they're already struggling to make ends meet and now Amazon's gonna be like "you gotta put in 80 hours" lol what if you have a kid at home? They need better pay and scheduling so they can plan ahead. It's not fair that some people are working full time but still struggling because of the lack of affordable childcare. We should be supporting these families, not pushing them further into poverty

The struggles of low-wage workers are just getting worse it's heartbreaking to think about Amy Mendez and her son living paycheck to paycheck because of a system that's supposed to be in place to help those in need. Amazon, CPS, Walmart - they're all profiting off the backs of their employees who can't afford even basic necessities.

It's not just about the money; it's about dignity and respect for workers' rights. If these big corporations are making bank, why can't their employees afford a decent life? The 80-hour work rule is just another example of how they're trying to squeeze every last bit out of people who need help the most.

We need systemic change here - not just tweaks to the system that benefit the powerful few. We need living wages, affordable childcare options, and more stable employment schedules for workers like Amy Mendez. Anything less is just a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound

Wow - 400k ppl losin their snappy benefits? That's harsh! Interesting how companies like Amazon & Walmart still gotta offer snacks for their workers I mean, can't pay 'em enough to afford basic necessities or what? These CPS workers already strugglin', and now they gotta worry 'bout gettin' fired for tryin' to organize

I'm seeing this and it's just heartbreaking . I mean, you'd think with all the big companies like Amazon and Walmart on that list, they would be paying their employees a living wage, but clearly that's not the case. And Chicago Public Schools is a public body, shouldn't they be providing better pay and benefits to their workers? It just goes to show that even in places where you'd think there would be more support for working families, poverty still exists.

And what's with the 80-hour work rule? Is that really realistic for most people? I can see how it could exacerbate the problems of balancing work and childcare responsibilities. It feels like we're just pushing people into a cycle of poverty again, rather than trying to help them get out of it.

I feel like Amazon is trying to save a buck by letting its employees get their groceries at Jewel-Osco. I mean, who needs a decent pay when you can have a discount on your bread, right? They should just raise the minimum wage to like, $50 an hour or something and be done with it. It's not like workers are asking for much... a living wage and some stability would be nice too . But honestly, I'm kinda impressed that Ash'Shura Brooks was able to organize her workplace while on SNAP benefits. She's like the superhero of Amazon employees .

I feel so bad for those CPS workers , they're working full-time but still can't make ends meet. It's like they're stuck in a cycle where no matter how hard they try, they just can't get ahead . I mean, it's not fair that some big companies like Amazon and Walmart don't have to follow the same rules . And what about those low-paid workers who are basically running the lunchroom? They deserve better pay and benefits . It's just not right that people like Amy Mendez have to rely on $100 a month for food . We need to do something about this, it's not cool that millions of people are struggling .

I'm like totally concerned about all these low-income workers in Illinois who still need SNAP benefits . It's crazy that Chicago Public Schools, Amazon, and Walmart are still hiring people who can't even afford basic necessities. I mean, how are they supposed to make ends meet with an 80-hour work month? And what about the single moms like Amy Mendez who are working full-time but still need help feeding their families? It's just not fair that she has to rely on $100 monthly benefits to get by . We need better pay and more stable employment schedules for these workers ASAP . Can't we just provide a living wage so people don't have to struggle like this?

Man, it's just crazy how some big corps like Amazon and Walmart can still be employing people who need food assistance . I mean, we know they're making bank off our hard work, but is that really enough to get by? It feels like these companies are taking advantage of the system while not giving their employees a fair shot at stable wages and benefits.

And it's not just about the money – it's about having some semblance of security in your life. I mean, Amy Mendez is literally working full-time but still can't afford to feed her kid because she needs an extra $100 a month from SNAP. That's heartbreaking.

I think this is where we need to rethink our whole approach to job creation and workforce development. We need more support for workers who are struggling, not just handouts that might disappear when new rules kick in. It's time to prioritize people over profits .

Man, it's like, you see this and you think, wow, big corporations can't even get their act together, right? But then I start thinking, what's really going on here? We're talking about people who are working full-time, but still can't make ends meet because the pay is so low. It's not just the companies' fault, it's a systemic issue. Like, we need to rethink our whole approach to minimum wage and worker benefits. These 400k people losing their SNAP benefits? That's not just an inconvenience, that's a poverty trap. We gotta recognize that work isn't always enough, and that sometimes you need a safety net to get by.

It's really sad to see ppl in IL who work full time but still need $100/month from SNAP just to feed their kids I feel for Amy Mendez and others like her who are just trying to make ends meet Her story highlights how hard it is for low-income workers to find stable jobs with decent pay The expansion of work rules will only make things worse, pushing more people into poverty We need better solutions than just expecting ppl to work more hours without a raise or support

this is so messed up i mean chicago public schools employs over 60k ppl and its workers still need snap benefits like what even is that lol amazon and walmart are on the list too but lets be real those companies can afford to pay their employees a living wage so why do they have to rely on snap benefits anyway its not just about the benjamins it's about stability and being able to provide for your family

I'm really worried about all these workers who still need SNAP benefits despite having full-time jobs Amazon's supposed to have great pay, but it doesn't seem to be enough for its employees Like Amy Mendez's situation is super relatable - she works full-time but can barely make ends meet And the thing that gets me is that these workers are already juggling childcare responsibilities with their jobs It's so unfair that they're being pushed into temporary or part-time work that leaves them struggling to afford basic necessities

I'm telling you, it's like they're trying to make life even harder for ppl who are already struggling . I mean, Amazon's got 39k employees in IL and they're still relying on SNAP? That's just not right . And what really gets me is that ppl like Amy Mendez are working full-time but can't afford basic necessities because the pay is too low. It's like they're getting lost in a system that's supposed to help ppl get back on their feet .

And I don't even get why CPS is still giving out SNAP to its employees. Don't they know who their employees are? Like, these people are the backbone of the school system and yet they can't afford basic food for themselves and their families? It's just not right. We need to do better for our ppl .

I think we're missing the point here. It's not about working hard enough or being lazy. It's about making sure everyone's got access to decent pay and benefits. That's how we get out of poverty, not by pushing more people into temporary work that barely covers their needs .

I'm so worried about these CPS workers they're barely scraping by and have to rely on $100 a month for food it's just not fair that they can't afford to feed their families properly. And to make matters worse, Amazon is making all this money but they still don't pay their employees enough to get off the SNAP program Amy Mendez's story broke my heart, she deserves so much better than this

400k ppl in il losing snap? that's crazy! i mean amazon and walmart are big companies but they gotta help out their low-wage workers too amazon pays good or so they say lol ash'Shura brooks says diff tho gotta feel for cps lunchroom workers, $100 a month is like, not enough fam

I'm telling you, it's just not right that some big corporations and public bodies like Chicago Public Schools still gotta help their employees out with SNAP benefits. I mean, Amazon is one of the biggest employers in Illinois, but they're still giving their workers a hand up? It's just not fair to those who are already struggling.

And what really gets me is that these people are working full-time jobs, but still can't make ends meet . Amy Mendez's story, she's got one kid, and she's still gotta rely on $100 a month from SNAP to feed him? That's just devastating. And don't even get me started on the childcare thing - it's like they're stuck in this cycle of poverty that's hard to break.

I know we've talked about this before, but some people might think, "Hey, if you're not working full-time, why should I help you out?" But let me tell you, it's just not that simple. People need stability and a fair living wage to take care of their families, and if the system isn't there for them, they'll suffer.

I'm all for people getting back on their feet and becoming self-sufficient, but not at the expense of those who are already struggling . We need to make sure everyone's got access to a living wage and some basic support so they can thrive, not just survive.