SPRINGFIELD – To help families shop more safely during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, SNAP recipients in Illinois will be able to use their benefits to purchase groceries online beginning June 2, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) announced Thursday.

“Being able to order groceries online is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this new function will allow SNAP recipients to shop safely and conveniently for years to come,” said Fine. “I’m glad to see our benefits programs responding not only to current events, but to the changing times.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps, currently serves 1.8 million Illinoisans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Online implementation plan, an initiative from the Illinois Department of Human Services which gives SNAP customers the ability to enter their Personal Identification Number to order groceries online.

All SNAP recipients in Illinois will be able to participate in the program, and Link cardholders will be alerted when they can use the card to order groceries online. Customers will not need to call or visit an office, and traditional SNAP purchasing will continue.

“Families shouldn’t have to risk their health to access affordable food,” said Fine. “I’m glad to see that households receiving SNAP benefits will have the same options as any other household to maintain social distancing and keep themselves safe.”

Walmart and Amazon have agreed to accept online orders in Illinois when the program site launches. Any additional grocery retailers interested in joining the EBT Online program can find more information and apply at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot.

GLENVIEW – To protect employees and consumers from the spread of COVID-19 as businesses begin reopening, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is calling attention to new guidelines to help employers ensure their workplaces and businesses are safe.

“As businesses across the state begin to reopen, it’s important that people are able to work and shop without putting their health and safety at risk,” said Fine. “By following these guidelines, employers can be certain they’re operating responsibly.”

At the end of April, Gov. Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-32 to provide specific regulations for businesses and workplaces. All employers with workers physically reporting to a worksite must post this guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General regarding workplace safety during the COVID-19 emergency.

As businesses begin to reopen, employers will be required to provide face masks for employees who are unable to adhere to social distancing requirements. Businesses must also observe other measures, like limiting occupancy and staggering shifts to ensure workers can maintain six feet of social distancing.

Other requirements and guidelines for employers to help limit the spread of COVID-19 can be found in this FAQ, issued by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

If your place of work is not adhering to these new guidelines, please report violations to a certified local health department or IDPH. The Office of the Illinois Attorney General is also accepting complaints through their Workplace Rights Bureau at 844-740-5076 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Up-to-date information and resources related to the status of COVID-19 in Illinois can be found at coronavirus.illinois.gov. Fine’s office is currently closed, but her staff is working remotely and responding to calls and emails. With questions or concerns, call 847-998-1717 or visit senatorfine.com/contact.

GLENVIEW – To secure adequate federal funding for local roads, schools, hospitals and more, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) urged North Shore residents to fill out the 2020 Census.

“Now more than ever, many of us are relying on local resources—from health departments to food banks—to keep us safe, healthy and informed,” said Fine. “Responding to the census is the best way to make sure our community continues to receive the support it needs from the federal government.”

Response rates for the 2020 Census are below target levels. In 2010, 80.3% of Glenview residents responded to the census, but only 73.6% of residents have responded so far in 2020.

Fine also pointed out that when more individuals respond to the census on their own, fewer census workers must visit households in-person. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that means less risk to the health of census workers and their families.

The fastest way to respond to the census is by filling it out online at www.my2020census.gov. However, individuals can also respond over the phone or by filling out the form they receive in the mail.

“If you’ve already completed the census, call a family member or neighbor to make sure they’ve been counted, too,” said Fine. “Now is the time to come together to ensure our community is accurately represented.”

Individuals can find additional information about the census at www.2020census.gov. To see local responses rates across Illinois and the entire nation, visit www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us.

GLENVIEW – Ahead of the launch of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is encouraging contract and gig economy workers to apply for and be denied regular unemployment benefits as soon as possible to speed up the claims process.

“The PUA program may be able to provide some relief to Illinoisans who aren’t eligible for regular state unemployment benefits,” said Fine. “If you’re one of these workers, you can get a jump on the claims process by applying and getting denied before the PUA program launches.”

If claimants apply for unemployment benefits through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and receive an eligibility determination of $0, they can then submit a claim for PUA benefits. Claimants who have already applied for and been denied regular benefits can submit a claim through the new PUA portal when it opens.

PUA provides up to 39 weeks of federally funded unemployment benefits for individuals who are unemployed for specified COVID-19-related reasons and are not eligible for the state’s regular unemployment insurance program. Independent contractors and sole proprietors are newly eligible for benefits under this program.

PUA claims will be backdated to a claimant’s first week of unemployment, but no earlier than Feb. 2, 2020, and will continue for as long as the individual remains unemployed as a result of COVID-19, but no later than the week ending Dec. 26, 2020.

IDES is contracting with Deloitte to run the online PUA program. The department expects the program to launch Monday, May 11, 2020.

IDES processed over a million initial unemployment claims between March 1 and May 2, nearly 12 times the number of claims the department processed over the same period last year. The number of initial claims has slightly declined over the last two weeks, but the department expects to experience an increase when the PUA program launches.

“For many unemployed Illinoisans, these benefits can’t come soon enough,” said Fine. “If you think you may be eligible for benefits under the PUA program, I urge you to apply as soon as possible and get your information in the system to speed up the process.”

For more information and to apply, visit the IDES website.