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Missouri Ag News Headlines |
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March P-SNAP Approval Marks Year of Maximized Benefits
Missouri Ag Connection - 02/25/2021
Nearly one year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food, and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved Missouri's request to provide Pandemic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (P-SNAP) or Food Stamp benefits to Missourians. The approval of March 2021 P-SNAP benefits to maximize the amount each household receives based on household's size means Missouri has continuously provided P-SNAP for an entire year.
Last month, the USDA announced the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 increased SNAP benefits by 15 percent for every Missouri household through June.
Maximum Monthly SNAP Benefit Through June 30, 2021:
Household Size -- Maximum Benefit
1 -- $234
2 -- $430
3 -- $616
4 -- $782
5 -- $929
6 -- $1,114
7 -- $1,232
8 -- $1,408
Add $176 for each additional person.
"Looking back, I doubt any of us would have predicted P-SNAP would still be in place a year later, said Jennifer Tidball, Acting Director, Department of Social Services. "Recognizing it has been one year of P-SNAP underscores the ongoing challenges low-income Missouri families have faced and still face as the state works towards recovery. And to help SNAP participants remain safe and healthy while Missouri's COVID-19 vaccine progress continues, I remind them an EBT card can be used to purchase groceries online at ALDI, Amazon, Walmart, and Woods Supermarket."
Although new SNAP applicants are required to do an interview, current SNAP recipients should note the Family Support Division has suspended SNAP recertification interviews through June 2021.
The Missouri Services Navigator has information on over 2,800 programs and services available in the state. Missourians in need of information on SNAP, Medicaid, Child Care Subsidy, LIHEAP, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefit programs can visit dss.mo.gov. Missourians can also apply for those services 24/7 online by visiting MyDSS.mo.gov, or sending completed applications and verification documents by email to FSD.Documents@dss.mo.gov, or by fax to 573-526-9400. Missourians who have questions not specific to an individual's case can use the DSS Virtual Assistant to get immediate answers to basic questions 24 hours a day. Phone assistance is also available Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call 855-FSD-INFO or 855-373-4636.
The Department of Social Services is committed to the "Show Me Strong" Recovery Plan and serving the needs of Missouri citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. SkillUp and Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) are free programs available to all SNAP and TA recipients that help low-income Missourians with career planning, overcoming challenges to work, as well as getting and keeping a job. Information regarding the department's response to the pandemic is available online https://dss.mo.gov/covid-19. DSS also encourages Missourians to visit MOStopsCOVID.com to view the latest vaccine updates, find out when they are eligible for the vaccine, and locate available vaccinators in their area.
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