EBT restrictions (Illinois)

Vanessa Nason filed this request with the Department of Human Services of Illinois.
Submitted April 25, 2017
Est. Completion None
Status
No Responsive Documents

Communications

From: Vanessa Nason

Subject: Illinois Freedom of Information Act Request: EBT restrictions (Illinois)

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1 to 11), I hereby request the following records:

–Specific foods, products, or services that cannot be purchased using EBT cards
–Types of establishments that do not accept EBT cards (for example, jewelry stores, firearms dealers, etc.)

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Please note that I am a citizen of Arkansas, and am using MuckRock's services to help manage and track my request.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Nason

From: DHS.FOIAOfficer

Subject: FOIA 17-0455, Nason - Response

Email

Dear Ms. Nason:

This correspondence is in response to your request for public records pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which the Illinois Department of Human Services received on April 25, 2017. Your request seeks the following:

· Specific foods, products, or services that cannot be purchased using EBT cards

· Types of establishments that do not accept EBT cards (for example, jewelry stores, firearms dealers, etc.)

Please note that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) determines which items are eligible for SNAP and what stores are authorized to accept payment by use of EBT cards. As a result, the Illinois Department of Human Services does not have records responsive to your request. If you wish to direct your inquiry to the USDA, please send a written request to the following contact:

FOOD, NUTRITION & CONSUMER SERVICES <http://www.fns.usda.gov/foia/>
Jennifer Weatherly
FOIA/PA Officer
3010 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302
Email: FOIA@fns.usda.gov<mailto:FOIA@fns.usda.gov>

For more information about how to submit a FOIA request to the USDA, please visit https://www.dm.usda.gov/foia/.

To the extent you consider this response to be an improper denial of your FOIA request, you have a right to seek review by writing to the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at the following address:

Public Access Counselor
Office of the Attorney General
500 South 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Fax: 217-782-1396
E-Mail: publicaccess@atg.state.il.us<mailto:publicaccess@atg.state.il.us>

If you choose to file a Request for Review with the PAC, you must do so within 60 calendar days of the date of this letter. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). Please note that you must include a copy of your original FOIA request and this response when filing a Request for Review with the PAC. You also have the right to seek judicial review of this response. 5 ILCS 140/11.

Thank you for your interest in the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Sincerely,

Thomas D. Mulcrone
Associate General Counsel
Illinois Department of Human Services

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:

This electronic mail transmission, including any attachments, contains information that belongs to the sender and may be confidential or protected by attorney-client or attorney work product privilege. The information is only for the intended recipient. If you are not the named or intended recipient, please do not disclose, copy, distribute or use this information. If you have received this information in error, please promptly notify the sender of receipt of the e-mail and then destroy all copies of it. Receipt by unintended recipient does not waive any privilege or any exemption from disclosure. Any prohibited or unintended disclosure is not binding on the sender or IDHS. Thank you.

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