Illinois at risk of losing $700M in SNAP funding from high error rate

By Josh Bandoch

02/17/2026

Illinois must cut its error rate nearly in half to avoid penalties.

Government benefit system traps 710,000 Illinoisans

By Dylan Sharkey

08/14/2025

Benefit programs in Illinois punish people for hard work. An estimated 710,000 Illinoisans have intentionally held themselves back financially to avoid losing government benefits.

710k Illinoisans avoid work advancement to keep welfare benefits

By Sachi Gaonkar

07/17/2025

Welfare programs are structured poorly and punish people for working to climb out of poverty. An estimated 710,000 Illinoisans have intentionally hurt their own economic advancement to keep welfare benefits.

TAGS: welfare

Medicaid enrollment, spending soar in Illinois as Congress weighs cuts

By Chris Coffey

03/27/2025

Expansions to Medicaid because of the Affordable Care Act and COVID-19 have increased the program in Illinois as Congress considers potential cuts or work requirements.

How public programs can penalize workers earning more

By Aayush Goodpaty

06/25/2024

Families trying to escape poverty are sometimes worse off with greater incomes because of benefits cliffs hidden in public programs.

Utah makes life easier for job seekers; Illinois can, too

By Chris Coffey

06/21/2024

Utah consolidated and integrated government job and social services into a one-stop shop. Illinois can follow that example and efficiently pull more people out of poverty and into the working world.

TAGS: employment

Report: Low-income scholarship students score better than public school peers

By Hannah Schmid

03/08/2024

A report shows low-income students receiving Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarships were more proficient in reading and math in nearly every grade in 2023 than low-income students in Illinois public schools. Their high school reading bested statewide scores.

TAGS: Invest in Kids