The number of food stamp recipients fell over two years at 54 of 66 Illinois welfare offices analyzed by Prairie State Wire.
In all, 156,653 people left food stamp rolls in Illinois counties from January 2015 to January 2017, according to data obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. Requested in November, the information was made available in January.
Illinois welfare offices are operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services, formerly known as the Illinois Department of Public Aid.
The 7.7 percent reduction statewide saves taxpayers nearly $30 million.
The Cook County welfare office in south suburban Blue Island saw the greatest drop in the number of recipients over two years. Nearly 20 percent fewer people received SNAP benefits there in January 2017 than in 2015.
At the same time, the Wabash County office in Mount Carmel saw a 6.8 percent increase in the number of people on its rolls.
Nationwide, the downward trend in SNAP enrollment has persisted throughout the Trump administration's first year. The USDA reports that about 2 million fewer people were taking benefits in fiscal year 2017 over 2016.
Reduction in SNAP participation in Illinois counties
The table shows the total number of people receiving benefits at Illinois Department of Human Services offices in Illinois.
| Welfare Office | County | January 2017 | January 2015 | Percent change |
| Blue Island | Cook | 91,701 | 114,521 | -19.9% |
| Chicago - South Loop | Cook | 30,791 | 36,288 | -15.1% |
| Murphysboro | Jackson | 13,677 | 16,030 | -14.7% |
| Chicago - East Garfield Park | Cook | 34,283 | 39,298 | -12.8% |
| Melrose Park | Cook | 84,946 | 96,747 | -12.2% |
| Skokie | Cook | 83,900 | 95,351 | -12.0% |
| Mounds | Pulaski | 4,202 | 4,754 | -11.6% |
| Elgin | Kane | 73,230 | 82,623 | -11.4% |
| Chicago - Humboldt Park | Cook | 76,269 | 85,823 | -11.1% |
| Chicago - Englewood | Cook | 68,180 | 76,549 | -10.9% |
| Chicago -Back of the Yards | Cook | 65,219 | 72,828 | -10.4% |
| Alton | Madison | 39,824 | 44,203 | -9.9% |
| Chicago - North Lawndale | Cook | 41,677 | 46,118 | -9.6% |
| Calumet Park | Cook | 43,381 | 47,874 | -9.4% |
| East St. Louis | St. Clair | 46,402 | 51,204 | -9.4% |
| Rock Island | Rock Island | 23,573 | 25,902 | -9.0% |
| Chicago - Uptown | Cook | 24658 | 26977 | -8.6% |
| Chicago -Roseland | Cook | 43,266 | 47,284 | -8.5% |
| Woodstock | McHenry | 19,512 | 21,272 | -8.3% |
| Oregon | Ogle | 9,405 | 10,169 | -7.5% |
| Waukegan | Lake | 63,062 | 68,020 | -7.3% |
| Robinson | Crawford | 3,559 | 3,825 | -7.0% |
| Benton | Franklin | 10,006 | 10,711 | -6.6% |
| Charleston | Coles | 24,027 | 25,630 | -6.3% |
| Havana | Mason | 2,475 | 2,637 | -6.1% |
| Marion | Williamson | 12,931 | 13,759 | -6.0% |
| Beardstown | Cass | 2,998 | 3,176 | -5.6% |
| Mt. Vernon | Jefferson | 10,786 | 11,415 | -5.5% |
| Lincoln | Logan | 7,805 | 8,253 | -5.4% |
| Aurora | Kane | 83,380 | 88,072 | -5.3% |
| Centralia | Marion | 15,735 | 16,607 | -5.3% |
| Chicago - Chatham | Cook | 68,824 | 72,598 | -5.2% |
| Taylorville | Christian | 6,050 | 6,367 | -5.0% |
| Quincy | Adams | 15,362 | 16,143 | -4.8% |
| Freeport | Stephenson | 10,580 | 11,101 | -4.7% |
| Naperville | DuPage | 65,617 | 68,703 | -4.5% |
| Sycamore | DeKalb | 12,302 | 12,875 | -4.5% |
| Harrisburg | Saline | 9,801 | 10,181 | -3.7% |
| Kankakee | Kankakee | 24,753 | 25,696 | -3.7% |
| Peoria | Peoria | 38,754 | 40,173 | -3.5% |
| Jerseyville | Jersey | 6,521 | 6,759 | -3.5% |
| Springfield | Sangamon | 33,456 | 34,602 | -3.3% |
| Chicago - Woodlawn | Cook | 47,645 | 49,073 | -2.9% |
| Rockford | Winnebago | 69,091 | 71,139 | -2.9% |
| Lewistown | Fulton | 5,926 | 6,072 | -2.4% |
| Champaign | Champaign | 27,148 | 27,810 | -2.4% |
| Joliet | Will | 70,878 | 72,591 | -2.4% |
| Monmouth | Warren | 4,848 | 4,929 | -1.6% |
| Jacksonville | Morgan | 6,981 | 7,067 | -1.2% |
| Carlinville | Macoupin | 6,877 | 6,948 | -1.0% |
| Danville | Vermillion | 19,063 | 19,230 | -0.9% |
| Galesburg | Knox | 9,603 | 9,683 | -0.8% |
| Decatur | Macon | 26,728 | 26,880 | -0.6% |
| Princeton | Bureau | 6,587 | 6,598 | -0.2% |
| Metropolis | Massac | 3,913 | 3,894 | 0.5% |
| Hillsboro | Montgomery | 6,309 | 6,258 | 0.8% |
| Bloomington | McLean | 24,795 | 24,584 | 0.9% |
| Olney | Richland | 7,728 | 7,662 | 0.9% |
| Kewanee | Henry | 6,782 | 6,706 | 1.1% |
| Ottawa | LaSalle | 21,619 | 21,310 | 1.5% |
| Pekin | Tazewell | 17,645 | 17,376 | 1.5% |
| Macomb | McDonough | 4,105 | 4,008 | 2.4% |
| Sterling | Whiteside | 10,448 | 10,136 | 3.1% |
| Chester | Randolph | 6,193 | 5,933 | 4.4% |
| Anna | Union | 5,125 | 4,872 | 5.2% |
| Mount Carmel | Wabash | 4,853 | 4,546 | 6.8% |
| Total | 1,867,770 | 2,024,423 | -7.7% |
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