Missouri
SNAP
Basics
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................ 3
Participation ............................................................................ 5
Eligibility and Benefit Levels ............................................... 6
Outreach and Awareness .................................................. 10
Certification Process............................................................12
State Options.........................................................................15
Waivers, Demonstration Projects, and Pilots.......................16
Other State Administrative Choices................................18
Expenditures .........................................................................20
Summary ................................................................................21
Appendix A. Benefit Calculation Resources ................. 22
Endnotes ................................................................................ 23
2023
22023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Abbreviations and Acronyms
ABAWD Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents
EBT Electronic Benefit Transfer
ESAP Elderly Simplified Application Project
FNS Food and Nutrition Service
FPG Federal Poverty Guidelines
FSD Family Support Division
FY Fiscal Year
MO DSS Missouri Department of Social Services
PHE Public Health Emergency
SMD Standard Medical Deduction
SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
TFP Thrifty Food Plan
USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture
Provides food
benefits for
670,000+
Missourians
Provides monthly
food benefit to
20%
of Missouri’s children
Benefits are used by only
42%
of eligible older Missourians
1 out of every 9
Missourians
Provides monthly
food benefit to
Annually provides
$1 billon+
in benefits for redemption
at Missouri food retailers
Average daily
food benefit of
$6.27
per participant
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics3
Introduction
An estimated 13.5 million U.S. households, or
over 10% of the total U.S. households, are food
insecure.
1
These households lack consistent,
dependable access to enough food for every person
in their household. Food insecurity, particularly in
households with children, is associated with many
adverse outcomes, including poor health, maternal
depression, developmental delays in early life, and
poor academic achievement.
2
Food insecurity trends
can be aected by economic changes and federal,
state, and local policies.
3
Food Insecurity in Missouri
Missouri’s food insecurity rate is 12%, slightly above
the national rate of 10%.
4
Significant disparities in food insecurity rates are
apparent. Within Missouri, the food insecurity rate
for Black Missourians is 27%, which is slightly higher
than the national rate of 24%. Among Hispanic
Missourians, the food insecurity rate is 13%,
compared with a national rate of 19%. For white, non-
Hispanic Missourians, the food insecurity rate is 9%,
which is higher than the national rate of 8%.
5
These
disparities are the result of long histories of racism
and structural oppression; the concentration of social
and economic disadvantages among people of color,
such as wealth gaps over time; and established
determinants of food insecurity, including poverty,
unemployment, incarceration, and disability.
6
Some
evidence suggests unequal access to food assistance
programs also contributes to these disparities.
7
Food insecurity rates are highest in the southeast
region of Missouri.Across counties, food insecurity
rates ranged from 8% (Osage and St. Charles
counties) to 22% (Pemiscot County).
8
Missouri’s Food Insecurity Landscape
Household Food Insecurity Rates in Missouri
and Neighboring States
9
National 10%
Arkansas 15%
Oklahoma 14%
Kentucky 12%
Missouri 12%
Tennessee 11%
Nebraska 11%
Kansas 10%
Illinois 9%
Iowa 7%
Missouri National
Black (any enthicity)
Hispanic (any race)
White non-Hispanic
9%
27%
24%
13%
8%
19%
Food Insecurity Rates by Race and
Ethnicity: Missouri Versus National
10
Food Insecurity Rates
by Missouri County
11
9–11% 12–14% 15–17% 18–20% >20%0–8%
42023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program
Stabilizing Eect of SNAP
SNAP’s dollars serve as an economic stabilizer and
help support local economies. The U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service
estimated that for every dollar spent on SNAP during
an economic downturn, the program generated
$1.50 in economic activity as the result of a strong
multiplier eect. This eect is driven by an increase
in food purchasing power as a result of receiving
SNAP benefits; these benefits facilitate additional
money being directed toward farmers, retailers, food
processors, food distributors, and employees of
these groups.
15
entirety of a household’s food costs. A household’s
benefit amount may increase or decrease as
changes within the household occur. For instance,
if a household’s income level increases, the benefit
amount will decrease.
SNAP provides benefits to all eligible individuals who
apply — with no waiting list. This funding structure
enables SNAP to respond to the needs of eligible
people during economic downturns. As more people
become income-eligible for SNAP, the program
expands to ensure anyone approved for the program
receives benefits. Similarly, benefit expenditures
contract when need for the program decreases, such
as during an economic recovery.
SNAP was previously known as the Food Stamp
program. Although the program was created in the
1930s in response to the Dust Bowl, the current
iteration of SNAP evolved from the 1964 Food Stamp
Act. Paper stamps were purchased and distributed
to expand the purchasing power of households
with low incomes. The ocial purposes of the Food
Stamp Act included “strengthening the agricultural
economy and providing improved levels of nutrition”
among households with low incomes.
16
The Food Stamp Act of 1977 created nationwide
eligibility standards for the Food Stamp program
and provided USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) the authority to regulate many aspects
of the program. States are responsible for
administering the program through actions such
as determining eligibility and issuing benefits to
approved households.
17
The federal government fully
funds the cost of SNAP benefits, while the cost of
administering the program is split evenly between
the federal government and the states.
18
The current version of the program derives its
authority from the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008,
which changed the name of the program to SNAP
to reflect that the program no longer used actual
stamps and to help fight stigma associated with the
stamps.
19
In Missouri, SNAP is administered by the Missouri
Department of Social Services (MO DSS) Family
Support Division.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) is the nation’s largest nutrition safety
net program. It represents the nation’s first line
of defense against food insecurity and hunger by
improving food access and aordability. SNAP
served over 41.2 million participants nationwide in
an average month in federal fiscal year (FY) 2022.
13
Research has shown that SNAP benefits reduce
the likelihood of food insecurity by roughly 30%.
14
Because of this rate of eectiveness, increasing
access to SNAP is a key strategy in reducing food
insecurity.
SNAP provides monthly benefits households can
use to purchase food at retailers, such as grocery
stores. Benefits are provided to households on an
electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, which looks
and operates like a debit card but can be used only
to purchase eligible food.
As indicated in SNAP’s name, the program is
intended to act as a supplement to a household’s
food budget; SNAP is not designed to cover the
In FY 2021,
one in eight
Americans
used SNAP
each month
12
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics5
Participation
Participation Trends
SNAP participation varies significantly according to
changes in economic conditions. SNAP participation
in Missouri steadily declined during the years before
the COVID-19 pandemic but sharply increased
at the onset of the pandemic, as it did across the
country. This increase is likely the result of the
pandemic’s economic eects on households’
income and temporary changes to SNAP that eased
application procedures, expanded eligibility for
certain populations, and increased benefit levels.
SNAP participation in Missouri started declining
in September 2020 and has remained near pre-
pandemic levels through 2022.
20
State policy options
and waivers can also significantly influence SNAP
participation.
Participation Rates
Many households eligible to participate in SNAP
in Missouri are not participating. For example, only
42% of eligible older adults (aged 60+) participate
in SNAP in Missouri,
21
and only 74% of working
households in Missouri that are eligible for SNAP
participate.
22, a1
Participation Across the State
When comparing dierent areas within Missouri,
the southeast part of the state has the highest
participation as a percentage of overall population.
Missouri counties with higher SNAP participation
rates also have high food insecurity rates.
Participation as a percentage of overall population
ranged from below 4% in St. Charles County to
nearly 30% in Pemiscot County.
23
a
The most recent FNS estimates of overall SNAP participation rates and
participation rates from working households are from FY 2019. The most
recent FNS participation rates for older adults (aged 60+) are from FY
2018. The estimates for eligible people include individuals in households
that pass all applicable federal SNAP income and resource tests or in
which all members receive cash public assistance. The estimates for
eligible working people with low incomes include individuals who are
eligible for SNAP and live in a household in which a member earns
income from a job.
Participation Rate Among SNAP Eligible
Missourians Versus Nation
25, 26
Missouri National
Overall 85% 82%
Working households 74% 72%
Older adults(aged 60+) 42% 42%
SNAP Participation Rates by County
27
6–10% 11–15% 16–20% 21–25% >25%0–5%
St. Charles
County
Pemiscot
County
Jan
19
Jul
19
Jan
20
Jul
20
Jan
21
Jul
21
Jan
22
Jul
22
Jan
23
800,000
400,000
600,000
200,000
0
Onset of COVID-19
Changes in Missouri’s SNAP
Participation
24
62023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Eligibility and Benefit
Levels
Eligibility
Households applying for SNAP must meet federal
eligibility standards to participate. Under these
federal rules, SNAP households must meet three
important financial tests:
28
Gross income test: Gross income refers
to a household’s income before any of
the program’s deductions are applied. A
household’s gross income must be at or
below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines
(FPG) to qualify for SNAP. A household with
an older adult (aged 60+) or a person with
disabilities does not need to meet the gross
income test and only needs to meet the net
income test.
Fiscal Year 2023 SNAP Income
Eligibility Limits
29
Family Size
Monthly Income
Gross
(130% FPG)
Net
(100% FPG)
1 $1,473 $1,133
2 $1,984 $1,526
3 $2,495 $1,920
4 $3,007 $2,313
5 $3,518 $2,706
6 $4,029 $3,100
7 $4,541 $3,493
8 $5,052 $3,886
Each additional member +$512 +$394
FY 2023 SNAP Asset Limits
30
Older adults (aged 60+) or people
with disabilities
$4,250
All other households $2,750
Net income test: Net income refers to a
household’s income after the program’s
deductions are applied. A household’s net
income must be at or below 100% of the FPG
to qualify for SNAP. For example, a family of
three with a net income of more than $1,920
a month would not qualify for SNAP under
federal rules in FY 2023.
Asset test: Assets are resources available
to the household to purchase food, such as
money in a bank account, but retirement
savings generally do not count as assets. In
FY 2023, households with a member who is
an older adult (aged 60+) or has a disability
must have assets of $4,250 or less, while all
other households must have assets of $2,750
or less to qualify.
The income and asset limits are adjusted for inflation
by the federal government each October.
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics7
Eligibility for Special Populations
Most households that meet the income and asset guidelines are eligible for SNAP, but some populations have
special considerations in SNAP.
31, 32, 33
Working Households
Households with earnings from work
receive a special 20% deduction
on their earned income. Because
these households could have
diculty going to or communicating
with the local SNAP oce during
daytime work hours, the MO DSS is
required by federal rules to establish
procedures to accommodate
and best serve these households.
However, only about three-quarters
of eligible working households end
up participating in SNAP in Missouri.
More than 42% of Missouri’s SNAP
participants are in households where
someone works.
Unemployed or
Underemployed Adults
Unemployed or underemployed
(working less than 80 hours per
month) adults aged 18–49 without
dependents are limited to three
months of SNAP benefits every
three years unless they start working
at least 80 hours per month or
participating in a MO DSS–approved
workfare or job training program.
Adults who face physical or mental
barriers to work, live with children,
provide care for someone, or meet
another exemption are not subject
to the three-month time limit.
Adults subject to this work
requirement and time limit make up
about 8% of the Missouri caseload.
See the Work Requirements section
for additional details.
Older Adults
Households with older adults (60+)
have the following considerations in
SNAP: They do not need to meet a
gross income test; they can receive
an excess medical deduction; they
have a higher asset limit; and they
may not need to recertify as often.
However, only about half of older
adults who are eligible for SNAP
end up participating. Research
in Missouri found the primary
barriers older adults face are stigma
associated with using government
assistance, diculty with the
certification process and applying
online, and a lack of awareness of
SNAP rules. Households with older
adults represent about 25% of the
Missouri caseload.
Eligible Noncitizens
In general, noncitizen immigrants
are eligible for SNAP only if they
meet special conditions (e.g., a
lawful permanent resident who
has been in qualified status for five
years, someone who meets a special
refugee status). Eligible immigrants
face obstacles to accurately
understanding and accessing the
program and may face additional
language barriers. Some eligible
immigrants also have inaccurate
concerns that participating in SNAP
will hurt their chances of becoming
an American citizen, or they believe
that receiving SNAP will have a
negative eect on their sponsor.
Eligible noncitizens make up less
than 0.3% of the Missouri caseload.
Students
Students are eligible for SNAP
unless they are enrolled more than
half-time in an institution of higher
education. Students enrolled more
than half-time may still be eligible
under certain exemptions, such
as participating in work study.
While 71% of college students are
considered nontraditional in that
they are financially independent,
work full time, or have children,
college students and ocials report
being unfamiliar with or not fully
understanding SNAP’s student
eligibility rules. SNAP information
specific to students has historically
been dicult to find or interpret.
As a result, many college students
struggling with food insecurity
do not apply.
Formerly Incarcerated
Individuals
Individuals leaving incarceration
often transition into unstable
situations and lack housing and
other resources. Increasing access to
SNAP when individuals are released
can reduce hardship and recidivism.
MO DSS has received a waiver from
FNS to allow incarcerated individuals
to apply while they are incarcerated,
and their applications will be
processed when they are released.
Individuals who have been convicted
of drug felonies since August 1996
may not be eligible for SNAP or may
need to take a series of additional
steps to demonstrate they qualify for
exemptions to the drug felon ban.
The Missouri Legislature has the
option to end the ban.
82023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Deductions
Deductions play an important role in determining SNAP benefits. They acknowledge that not all of a household’s
income is available for purchasing food; some of the income must be used to meet other needs. In determining
net income, the program allows the deductions listed in “SNAP Monthly Income Deductions and Exclusions in
FY 2023” from a household’s gross monthly income. Unfortunately, because deductions can be complex, not all
SNAP applicants understand what can be deducted.
SNAP Monthly Income Deductions and Exclusions in FY 2023
34, 35
Deduction Type Description Amount
Standard deduction
Provided to all households to account for basic
unavoidable costs
Based on household size:
$193 for households of one to four people
$225 for households of five people
$258 for households of six or more people
Income deduction
Provided to households with earnings; accounts
for work expenses and payroll taxes and acts as
a work incentive
20% of gross earned income of all household
members
Dependent care
deduction
For child care or other dependent care expenses
that are necessary for a household member to
work or participate in education or training
Based on out-of-pocket costs incurred for care
of children and other dependents
Child support
payments
For any legally obligated child support that a
household member pays
At state option, child support payments may
be deducted when determining net income
or excluded when determining a household’s
gross income; Missouri excludes these
payments
Medical expenses
deduction
For households with an older adult (aged 60+)
or an individual with a disability, if they have
significant medical expenses
Out-of-pocket medical costs exceeding $35
per month; Missouri provides a $135 standard
medical deduction for households with at
least $35 in medical expenses; see Waivers,
Demonstration Projects, and Pilots for details
Excess shelter
expenses deduction
For the household’s housing costs (including
rent, mortgage payments, and utilities) that
exceed half of its net income after all other
deductions
Shelter costs greater than half of household’s
remaining net income after all other
deductions; deduction cap is $624, but no cap
for households with older adults (aged 60+) or
individuals with disabilities
Homeless shelter deduction: $166.81
Note: The standard deduction and the excess shelter deduction cap are for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. They are
adjusted for inflation by the federal government every October.
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics9
Calculating Benefits
The SNAP benefit amount provided to each
household depends on the household size,
composition, income, and deductions. In calculating
benefits for each household, SNAP expects
households to spend 30% of their net income on
food.
b
1
As a result, the SNAP benefit reduction rate is
set at 30% — benefits are reduced by 30 cents for
each additional dollar in household net income.
36
The maximum SNAP benefit a household can receive
is tied to the cost of USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan
(TFP).
37
The TFP estimates the cost of foods and
beverages that make up a healthy diet, consistent
with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, that
households with low incomes can purchase and
prepare.
c
2
The maximum monthly SNAP benefit by
household size is adjusted by the federal government
annually in October to account for inflation.
After a state agency calculates a household’s income
deductions to arrive at the household net income,
the state agency subtracts 30% of the net income
from the maximum benefit amount to arrive at the
household benefit amount. The amount of benefits
the household receives per month is called an
allotment.
Benefit Amounts
The national average SNAP benefit per person in
November 2022 was about $260 a month, or about
$2.80 per meal. In Missouri, the average SNAP
benefit per person during that same time was about
$195 a month, or about $2.09 per meal.
38
b
Before 1977, the program required certain households to purchase food
stamps, and the purchase price of up to 30% of income was deemed by
Congress to be a “reasonable investment” by participants. (Source: Food
Stamp Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 91-671, 84 Stat. 2048. Published 1971.
https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/91/671.pdf) The Food Stamp Act
of 1977 fully eliminated the need to purchase food stamps but structured
the benefit calculation such that households would still be expected to
spend 30% of their income on food. (Source: Food Stamp Act of 1977,
Pub. L. No. 95–113, 91 Stat. 913. Published 1977. https://www.govinfo.gov/
content/pkg/STATUTE-91/pdf/STATUTE-91-Pg913.pdf)
c
In August 2021, USDA announced an update to the TFP that more
accurately reflected food costs and nutritious dietary patterns, which
resulted in increased SNAP benefits. The 2018 Farm Bill required USDA
to update the TFP for FY 2022 and every five years afterward. The TFP
was created in 1976 and had not been updated since 2006.
Eligible households with one or two members qualify
for at least the minimum benefit, which is set at $23
for FY 2023 for 48 states and Washington, DC.
39
Simple Benefit Calculation Formula
Maximum benefit for that household size
– 30% of the household’s net income
= the household benefit amount
See Appendix A for detailed example
of a SNAP benefit calculation
SNAP Benefit per Person,
November 2022
41
Missouri average $195
National average $260
In response to increased hardship resulting from
the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress enacted several
provisions to benefit SNAP households. One of
those changes included emergency allotments
that increased benefits significantly for SNAP
households. These emergency allotments end when
the federal public health emergency or individual
state emergency designation ends. Missouri
decided that August 2021 would be the last month
it would provide emergency allotments.
42
As a
result, Missourians participating in SNAP have
seen significantly lower benefit allotments than the
national average since that time.
Maximum SNAP Benefits
by Household Size, FY 2023
40
Household Size
Maximum Monthly SNAP
Benefit Amount
1 $281
2 $516
3 $740
4 $939
5 $1,116
6 $1,339
7 $1,480
8 $1,691
Each additional member +$211
102023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Outreach and Awareness
Awareness
Households eligible for SNAP might not apply for
assistance because they are unaware of the program
or they hold a false belief that the program is not
for them. Older adults (aged 60+), postsecondary
students, and eligible immigrants are examples
of groups that may have limited information on
eligibility or how to apply.
For instance, some older adults (aged 60+) do
not have easy access to or understanding of the
technology that would help them apply online for
SNAP. Others may incorrectly believe that receiving
SNAP will aect other benefits they receive or
that SNAP is made up of a limited pool of funds.
44
Postsecondary students and college ocials report
being unfamiliar with or not fully understanding
SNAP’s student eligibility rules. Historically, it has
What $23 Can Buy
43
As of FY 2023, the minimum benefit a household of
one or two people can receive is $23. Some people
who are eligible for SNAP believe that $23 in benefits
is not enough to warrant applying for SNAP. However,
$23 can assist a household in purchasing several
modest meals, increasing the variety of food they
consume, or obtaining pantry staples. With $23, a
household could buy:
Food Item Cost
1 4-pound whole chicken $7.23
1 pound of ground beef $4.74
1 gallon of milk $4.18
1 loaf of (white) bread $1.78
1 pound of rice $0.93
1 pound of bananas $0.59
1 pound of oranges $1.66
1 pound of tomatoes $1.96
Total $23.07
FNS Priority Areas
for SNAP Outreach
FNS provides guidance and recommendations for
states as they develop their SNAP outreach plans. For
FY 2023, FNS identified the following priority areas:
Supporting participants in the return to
normal program operations after the
COVID-19 public health emergency ends
Veterans
Students at institutions of higher education
Immigrant communities and mixed-status
households
Older adults (aged 60+)
Collaborating with community-based
organizations to advance racial equity
47
been dicult for students to find and interpret SNAP
information specific to them.
45
Eligible immigrants
face similar obstacles to accurately understanding
and accessing the program. They may face additional
barriers if they understand complex information
best in a language other than English. Some eligible
immigrants also have inaccurate concerns that
participating in SNAP will hurt their chances of
becoming an American citizen or that receiving
SNAP will have a negative eect on their sponsor.
46
Outreach
Under SNAP, state agencies may apply to FNS
to receive up to 50% reimbursement of the
administrative costs for SNAP outreach activities.
The activities should target people who do not
already receive SNAP and who have low incomes.
Allowable outreach activities can include eligibility
prescreening; application assistance; translation
of materials and bilingual accommodations; and
dissemination of information via face-to-face
interactions, printed materials, or social media.
Outreach plans can also include assistance for mid-
certification and recertification processes. Outreach
expenses may not be used for television, radio, and
billboard advertisements to promote SNAP.
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics11
Outreach and Awareness
in Missouri
MO DSS contracts with Feeding Missouri and the
University of Missouri Extension to provide SNAP
outreach. Feeding Missouri incorporates its network
of member food banks to execute its outreach
activities. The University of Missouri and Feeding
Missouri also partner to oer SNAP outreach
throughout the state.
Missouri’s SNAP Outreach Plan includes the
following initiatives:
Expansion of SNAP outreach in coordination
with the Department of Corrections
Training for community organizations
and partner agencies to assist with SNAP
applications and referrals
Payment for Google ads to help connect
Missourians searching online for SNAP
assistance to local food banks for application
assistance
Work with colleges to conduct outreach and
support students in applying for SNAP
Prescreenings and application assistance with
a focus on counties with higher rates of food
insecurity
Dissemination of paper SNAP outreach
materials at various community sites and
operate a toll-free information line (separate
from the statewide helpline)
MO DSS provides information about SNAP through
the department’s social media channels, such as
Facebook (see “MO DSS SNAP-Related Facebook
Post”) and Instagram. The department’s website
provides general information, links to resources,
frequently asked questions, tutorial videos, and more
to help households and individuals learn more about
the program. Some resources available on the MO
DSS website have been translated into Spanish.
MO DSS SNAP-Related
Facebook Post
48
122023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Certification Process
MO DSS determines whether households are eligible
for SNAP through a process known as certification.
Federal rules outline the certification steps, but each
SNAP state agency has many options for conducting
the certification process as long as the state
complies with federal rules.
Certification Steps
1 Application
All households wishing to participate in SNAP must
file an application. Missouri oers a joint SNAP/
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
application that can be completed online or via a
paper application that is mailed, faxed, or dropped
o at a local SNAP oce. The joint SNAP/TANF
online application in Missouri takes an average
of about 40 minutes to complete and involves 59
dierent screens.
49
Missouri provides an opportunity
to complete the online application on a smartphone,
and household members can take pictures of
required documents and upload them from their
smartphones, easing the client burden.
2 Interview
All households applying for SNAP must also
complete an in-person or phone interview with MO
DSS eligibility sta. The purpose of the interview is
to explore the household’s financial and nonfinancial
circumstances, review the application details, and
screen household members for eligibility criteria and
exemptions. The interview is also an opportunity to
provide information, request remaining verification
documents, and explain the program. If a household
is unable to complete the interview, they may be
denied SNAP benefits.
3 Verification
MO DSS is required by federal rules to verify certain
household circumstances, such as gross income,
utility expenses, medical expenses, and Social
Security numbers. If some items still need to be
verified after MO DSS receives the application and
conducts the interview, MO DSS asks the applicant
to provide verification, typically in the form of
written documentation. If an applicant does not
provide requested verification, they may be denied
SNAP benefits.
4 Eligibility and Benefit Determination
Federal rules require MO DSS to make an eligibility
determination and give eligible households an
opportunity to participate within 30 days of filing the
application. This time frame includes determining
which household members are eligible and the
benefit allotment. In Missouri, households are
typically certified for a period of 12 months, but
certain households with older adults (aged 60+) or
persons with disabilities are certified for 24 months.
5 Mid-Certification
Midway through the certification period, SNAP
households must complete a mid-certification
periodic report form. For households certified for
12 months, this process occurs during the sixth
month, and for those certified for 24 months, this
process occurs during the 12th month. On the
form, households must report certain changes
in circumstances, such as noting if anyone has
moved in or out of the household, earned income
has increased by at least $125 per month, or the
household’s assets now exceed the asset limit. If
the household fails to file a complete report, the
household will become ineligible and lose benefits.
6 Recertification
At the end of the certification period, each SNAP
household must recertify to continue receiving
benefits and start a new certification period. Unlike
the process in place when households initially apply
for SNAP, MO DSS does not provide an online or a
smartphone option at recertification. Households
recertifying also need to complete an interview
and provide verification documents, similar to the
process required with the initial application, before
MO DSS can make an eligibility determination.
Expedited Service
Households with little income or few resources
are required by federal rules to receive expedited
processing and benefits within seven days, instead of
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics13
30 days, if they are found eligible. MO DSS screens
households to see if they meet the criteria for
expedited service and processes cases more quickly
for households that meet those criteria. However, in
such cases the state must still conduct an interview
with the household within this condensed time
frame. If the household eligible for expedited service
needs to provide further verification, MO DSS
approves the case with verification postponed to
give the household food assistance during its dicult
circumstances while granting the household more
time to provide documents.
Client Communications
During each step of the certification process, MO
DSS must communicate with the household to
ensure household members know what actions
they need to take. MO DSS generally communicates
this information through written notices, which
are letters from MO DSS mailed to the household.
The notices inform the household about which
verification documents are needed and what
changes the household must report. MO DSS must
also provide materials in appropriate languages
and have bilingual sta available in certain areas.
Communicating eectively and ensuring clients
understand what they need to do can increase the
percentage of households that comply with the
process and reduce the percentage of households
denied SNAP benefits for procedural reasons. Clear
communication helps households receive needed
food assistance while lightening state sta workload
by reducing the number of people who reapply or
call to ask questions.
Using SNAP Benefits
After a household has been certified for SNAP, they
receive an EBT card that can be used to purchase
eligible food items at an approved food retailer.
Federal rules define eligible food items that can be
purchased with SNAP benefits. Eligible food items
include fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and bread.
Households can also use SNAP benefits to buy seeds
and plants that produce food for the household. They
cannot use SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods or
foods prepared for onsite consumption,
d
3
vitamins,
medicines, supplements, alcohol, tobacco products,
or pet foods.
51
d
States can oer a restaurant meal program that allows older adults
(aged 60+), persons with disabilies, or persons facing homelessness
to purchase prepared meals at certain restaurants. Missouri does not
currently oer this program.
Challenges Clients Face When Certifying for SNAP
MO DSS does not schedule interviews with households at initial application
or at recertification. Instead, under a waiver from FNS, an eligibility worker is
required to call the household to complete the interview. An eligibility worker
may also call a household about missing information on their application.
When households receive the call, they report a relatively straightforward
process. However, when households miss the call and need to contact the call
center, households report hours-long wait times and dropped calls. As a result,
a high number of households in Missouri are denied because they cannot
complete their interview or provide missing information. MO DSS has identified
steps to reduce the number of inbound calls by improving the application and
interview process, streamlining verification policies, and improving notices.
50
MO DSS does not yet allow households to recertify online or with their
smartphone, which means clients must often locate a copy machine or
fax machine to complete the recertification process. Notices regarding
recertification look similar to other notices that require no response, and
as a result, participants often fail to take the necessary action. The current
recertification application form has complex language and a design that
applicants may find dicult to understand. If clients cannot complete the
steps to recertify but are still eligible, they often reapply shortly afterward. This
problem, known as churn, means households go without benefits until the new
application is processed, and it also means state sta must do more work to
process a new application and field repeat calls for status updates.
142023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Work Requirements
Federal law imposes work requirements on certain
adults in SNAP. One of the most important work
requirements is known as the able-bodied adults
without dependents (ABAWD) work requirement.
Under this requirement, individuals aged 18 to 49
who do not live with a dependent must work or
participate in a work program at least 80 hours per
month or comply with a workfare program to receive
more than three months of SNAP benefits in a three-
year period. Exemptions from the ABAWD work
requirement and three-month time limit include
facing physical or mental barriers to work, living
with children, being pregnant, or providing care for
someone.
e
4
States can request FNS approval to temporarily
waive the ABAWD three-month time limit statewide
or in specific areas with high unemployment or a
lack of jobs. Missouri enacted a state law in 2015
that eliminated the state’s ABAWD time limit waiver
on January 1, 2016,
52
and the state has not requested
a waiver since.
e
For more information on SNAP work requirements and exemptions, see
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/work-requirements.
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics15
State Options
Even though SNAP has federal eligibility standards
and is federally regulated, each state agency
administering SNAP is given explicit authority under
federal law and regulations to choose from a host of
state policy options. As a result, Missouri can elect
policy options it believes will best suit the state and
Missourians who are food insecure.
State Options Missouri Has
Elected to Use
1 Simplified Reporting
Simplified Reporting is a state option that requires
households to report fewer changes during the
certification period, rather than reporting a host of
small changes as they occur. In Simplified Reporting,
households must complete a mid-certification form
halfway through their certification period to notify
MO DSS of certain changes in income, assets, or
people living in the household. Outside of the mid-
certification, households need to report only if their
income goes above 130% of the FPG, the number of
weekly work hours for a household member subject
to the ABAWD work requirement falls below 20,
or a household member wins a lottery or gambling
amount at or above the SNAP asset limit for older
adults (aged 60+). In general, Simplified Reporting
reduces the amount of paperwork for the household
and the state. Missouri has chosen to use Simplified
Reporting for its entire caseload. According to the
most recent published survey of states, 52 of the 53
SNAP state agencies use Simplified Reporting for at
least part of the caseload, and 26 state agencies use
Simplified Reporting for the entire caseload.
53
2 Certification Period Length
States have flexibility in how long they certify
households for benefits. States may assign
certification periods of up to 24 months for
households with older adults (aged 60+) or
persons with disabilities and up to 12 months for
all other households. Missouri has elected the
state option to assign a 24-month certification
period for households with older adults (aged 60+)
or persons with disabilities and up to 12 months
for all other households. According to the most
recently published survey of states, 16 SNAP state
agencies use these certification periods of 12 and 24
months.
54
3 Telephone Interviews
Missouri has elected the state option to use
telephone interviews broadly for SNAP applicants.
A telephone call, rather than an oce visit, can
provide a convenient and customer-friendly way
to conduct interviews, especially for working
households. However, when call centers lack stang
capacity and resources to provide sucient access
to telephone interviews, long wait times or dropped
calls may occur, as documented in Missouri.
f
5
This
situation can hinder successful implementation of
this state option.
4 Drug Felony Disqualifications
Under SNAP rules, state legislatures have explicit
authority to remove or modify the lifetime ban from
SNAP on anyone convicted of a state or federal
drug felony after August 22, 1996. While Missouri
has modified its ban to allow some exemptions,
individuals must take several steps to demonstrate
they meet the exemption, including submitting
themselves to drug testing. Because this process
represents additional burdens for the state agency
and individuals who have long ago moved past any
criminal activity, 25 state legislatures have decided
to remove the ban completely, including Arkansas,
Iowa, and Oklahoma.
55
f
In February 2022, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court
for the Western District of Missouri claiming MO DSS’s call center
operations have resulted in erroneous SNAP denials and present barriers
to SNAP access.
162023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Waivers, Demonstration
Projects, and Pilots
States may request waivers of certain provisions of
the federal regulations or the Food and Nutrition Act
that may increase program eciency and improve
SNAP benefit delivery.
56
States request waivers by
submitting a request and any necessary explanatory
information in writing to FNS. Necessary explanatory
information for demonstration projects may include
demonstrating the cost neutrality of a project. FNS
reviews these requests as they are submitted and
approves, conditionally approves, or denies the
request. States can receive technical assistance
from FNS while writing or developing waivers,
demonstration projects, and pilots. States must often
submit detailed annual reports to FNS with data
showing the impact of the waiver, demonstration, or
pilot after it is approved.
Standard Medical Deduction
In Missouri, the standard medical deduction (SMD)
is an example of a demonstration project the state
has elected to improve program eciency. The
SMD is intended to streamline the process of
claiming medical deductions for SNAP household
members who are older adults (aged 60+) or living
with a disability. For states without an SMD, each
out-of-pocket medical expense must be documented
by the applicant and verified individually by the
caseworker. After an applicant verifies the first $35
of out-of-pocket medical expenses, caseworkers
can use the SMD for additional expenses until the
expenses exceed the SMD amount. In Missouri, the
SMD amount is $135.
57
Any expenses exceeding the
SMD amount must also be verified and processed
individually.
Online Purchasing Pilot
The Online Purchasing Pilot allows SNAP
participants to place orders for and purchase food
electronically from approved online retailers. Prior
to the authorization of the online pilot program in
the 2014 Farm Bill, food could only be purchased
with SNAP benefits in person. The aim of the Online
Purchasing Pilot is to improve access to healthy
food for SNAP participants, including people who
do not live near grocery stores, people who lack
transportation, and people with a disability.
58
Missouri’s request to participate in the pilot program
was approved in April 2020.
59
States’ requests to
provide online purchasing of food are subject to
preliminary systems testing and require coordination
with the state’s EBT processor and approved
retailers. Missouri has 21 approved retailers
accepting SNAP food orders online.
60
Waivers, Demonstration Projects,
and Pilots in Missouri
and Neighboring States
State SMD
Online
Purchasing
Pilot
f
Arkansas l
a
l
Illinois l
b
l
Iowa l
c
l
Kansas l
d
l
Missouri l
e
l
Nebraska
l
Oklahoma
l
Tennessee
l
Note: SMD = standard medical deduction
a
Source: Arkansas Department of Human Services. SNAP Certifica-
tion Manual — Section 6000. Published 2021. https://humanservices.
arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Recent-Rules-Filing-SNAP-6000-
Deductions.pdf
b
Source: Illinois Department of Human Services. MR #11.13: SNAP
Medical Standard Demonstration Project. Published 2020. https://www.
dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx/?item=55984&postdate=9/15/2022&approv-
al=4&newsitemid=146224&getpreviousnews=true&newssidebar=4107
c
Source: Iowa Department of Human Services. Title VII, Chapter 65:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Administration. Published
2022. https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/441.65.pdf
d Source: Kansas Department of Children and Families. Kansas Econom-
ic and Employment Services Manual: 7000 Budgeting. Published 2022.
https://content.dcf.ks.gov/EES/KEESM/Current/keesm7220.htm
e
Source: Missouri Department of Social Services. 1115.035.15.05
Amount of Medical Deduction. https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/food-stam
ps/1115-000-00/1115-035-00/1115-035-15/1115-035-15-05/
f
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.
Stores Accepting SNAP Online. Published 2022. https://www.fns.usda.
gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics17
COVID-19 Special Flexibilities
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting significant rise in households eligible for SNAP, legislation
and administrative action gave states the ability to temporarily modify how they operated SNAP and enhanced
benefit levels. These actions were intended to make receiving or applying for SNAP easier for both households and
states. Missouri, along with all other states, took advantage of administrative flexibilities and benefit enhancements.
61
To remain eligible for some of these flexibilities, states needed to confirm their state public health emergency
declaration remained in eect. Missouri’s COVID-19 related state of emergency expired December 31, 2021.
62
MO DSS chose to implement the following COVID-19 special flexibilities:
Extend certification periods for up to six months for households with certifications expiring or periodic reports
due on or before June 20, 2021
Use periodic reporting procedures to recertify households with recertification periods set to expire on or
before December 31, 2021
Waive initial and recertification interviews through June 30, 2021
Issue Emergency Allotments to provide the maximum monthly SNAP benefit to all households through
August 2021
63
Congress also made changes to eligibility nationwide. These following changes will last until the end of the federal
COVID-19 public health emergency, which is scheduled to end in May 2023:
Partial suspension of the ABAWD time limit: During the suspension, the three-month time limit cannot be
applied to individuals unless their state oers them a bona fide slot in a work program
Additional exemptions for certain college students enrolled more than half-time to become SNAP eligible
182023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Other State
Administrative Choices
As long as states remain compliant with SNAP
federal rules and regulations, states have flexibility
in how they administer the program. States take
many factors into consideration when making
administrative choices for the program. These
choices may include budget, stang experience,
training capacity, system limitations, political
environment, and client accessibility. The state
administrative choices aect equity and equal
access to SNAP by improving the process for clients
or creating more barriers for those who may fall
into particular subgroups (e.g., older adults, eligible
immigrants, veterans, households with dependents,
working adults).
Use of Call Centers
Missouri uses a call center to conduct interviews and
provide information about cases and the program.
Call centers can be an appealing option for states
to reduce in-person wait times and the time local
certification oces spend on the phone. Call centers
oer a centralized outlet for clients to receive SNAP
information, application updates, and benefit status;
complete certification interviews or report changes;
and share feedback about the program. However, call
centers can also be a source of frustration for clients
when call wait times are long or call center sta
have limited ability to make case changes. Of the
states surrounding Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky also
use call centers.
64
Case Management
MO DSS uses casebanking, sometimes called task-
based case management, to manage SNAP cases.
65
With casebanking, SNAP cases are addressed by
the next available caseworker according to the
task needing completion. Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Kansas also use some
form of casebanking.
66
Missouri also provides self-service case
management options for clients and applicants.
These self-service options are available through the
MO DSS website and include the ability to check
the status of benefits, report changes, and upload
documents.
SNAP Employment and Training
Program Options
SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) programs
are intended to help SNAP recipients gain skills,
training, work, or experience that will increase
their ability to obtain regular employment. Each
state agency, including MO DSS, must operate an
E&T program, though the agency has significant
flexibility in determining clients to serve through
its E&T program, activities to provide, and program
locations. States may also choose to contract and
partner with community colleges, community-based
organizations, and/or local workforce development
agencies.
67
MO DSS’s SNAP E&T program is called SkillUP and is
a voluntary program for all SNAP recipients. SkillUP
connects SNAP recipients to community colleges,
community-based organizations, and local workforce
development agencies. SkillUP participants are
provided with job coaches and given additional
resources, such as training and child care support, to
help them find work. SNAP customers subject to the
ABAWD work requirement and three-month time
limit can participate in SkillUP to help meet their
work requirement and continue receiving SNAP.
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics19
Disaster SNAP and Other Disaster
Response Options
Disaster SNAP, commonly referred to as D-SNAP,
provides benefits to non-SNAP households that
require temporary food assistance as a result
of a disaster. States must ask FNS to operate a
D-SNAP in response to a particular disaster, and
the area aected must receive a special disaster
declaration that includes individual assistance. If
a state is approved to operate a D-SNAP, the state
typically provides one month of benefits to approved
households, which are equal to the maximum SNAP
benefit amount for the household’s size. As part of
a D-SNAP, states may provide disaster supplements
to ongoing SNAP households in the disaster-aected
area to ensure they receive the maximum benefit
amount for their household size.
SNAP state agencies can respond to a disaster
in a variety of ways. In addition to operating a
D-SNAP and issuing supplements to ongoing SNAP
households, state agencies may take the following
actions:
Request waivers from FNS to reissue SNAP
benefits in mass to help replace food
purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost
or spoiled as a result of a disaster.
Extend the time frame in which SNAP
households can request replacement benefits
for food purchased with benefits that were
lost or spoiled as a result of a disaster.
Allow participants to use their SNAP benefits
to purchase hot foods.
68
202023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Expenditures
SNAP benefit costs are federally funded, and SNAP
state administrative costs are split 50/50 between
the federal government and state governments.
In FY 2022, spending in the United States on
SNAP benefits totaled about $113.7 billion,
71
and
state administrative expenses were about $11
billion.
72
Benefit costs represent the vast majority
of total federal expenditures in SNAP, and all other
federal costs (including the federal share of state
administrative expenses) represent a relatively
steady and small amount compared with overall
costs.
73
Benefit Costs
National SNAP benefit costs were declining steadily
over the first seven years of the last decade, and
then began increasing sharply in 2020 in response
to the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding
economic recession. In FY 2022, Missouri issued
about $1.3 billion in SNAP benefits.
74
State Administrative Costs
About 5% of SNAP spending in 2022 went to state
administrative costs. COVID-19 relief legislation
provided more than $1 billion in additional funding
for state administrative expenses. That funding
became available in 2021 and will last several years.
75
Missouri received $3.4 million in FY 2021 and $6.2
million in FY 2022 and FY 2023 in additional funding
$120
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
Billions
2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Benefit costs
Total federal costs
All other federal costs
Federal SNAP Expenditures
69
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
$1,061,334,229
$996,212,141
$1,324,976,208
$1,734,889,161
$1,298,301,743
SNAP Benefits Issued in Missouri
70
212023 Missouri SNAP Basics
for state administrative expenses as part of the
COVID-19 relief legislation.
76
Missouri’s share of state administrative
expenses for FY 2020 was about $37.5
million.
77
Missouri’s administrative costs per case were
$21.41 in FY 2020, which was well below the
national average of $34.85.
78
Summary
SNAP plays a critical role in helping alleviate hunger
for families with children, older adults, people with
disabilities, and working adults across Missouri.
Food-insecure households face increased risks in
adverse health outcomes and higher health care
costs.
79
SNAP benefits reduce the likelihood of food
insecurity by supplementing a household’s food
budget to aord more nutritious foods. SNAP also
supports local economies. More than 4,800 large,
medium, and small businesses across Missouri had
about $1.8 billion in SNAP benefits redeemed at their
stores by SNAP households in FY 2021.
80
Over 600,000 Missourians depend on SNAP to put
food on the table.
81
With Missouri’s food insecurity
rate above the national average, policymakers
must consider options, waivers, and administrative
choices to help increase access to SNAP to help
reduce hunger in the state. Understanding the
basics of SNAP is an important step to address food
insecurity in Missouri.
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics22
Appendix A. Benefit Calculation Resources
Missouri SNAP Benefit Calculation Example
Example: Mom (37) with two children (3 and 7) and grandmother (68). Salary of $1,500 a month (working just over
30 hours a week at Missouri minimum wage of $11.15) plus $1,500 in Social Security a month. Child care costs of
$1,000 a month. Medical costs of $175 a month. Rent costs of $1,200 a month.
Step Description Calculations Based on Example
1
Calculate gross monthly income
$1,500 earned income
+ $1,500 Social Security
$3,000 gross income
Note: In Missouri, child support that a SNAP household member is legally
obligated to pay would be excluded when calculating gross income
2
Apply gross income test
Because this household includes an older adult, it does not need to meet
the gross income test (if it had to meet this test, $3,000 is less than the
$3,007 allowed for a four-person household, so it would have met the
test)
3
Subtract 20% earned income
deduction
$3,000 gross income
- $300 (20% of $1,500 earned income)
$2,700
4
Subtract standard deduction
$2,700
- $193 (standard deduction for a household size of 4)
$2,507
5
Subtract dependent care deduction
$2,507
- $1,000 (household’s child care costs)
$1,507
6
Subtract medical costs over $35
for individuals who are older (aged
60+) or have disabilities, if any
$1,507
- $140 ($175 monthly medical costs minus $35)
$1,367
7.a
For shelter deduction: Determine
half of adjusted income (rounded
up to nearest dollar)
$1,367 adjusted income
÷ 2
$684 (rounded up from $683.50)
7.b
For shelter deduction: Determine if
shelter costs are more than half of
adjusted income
$1,200 (household’s total shelter cost)
- $684 (from Step 7.a)
$516 excess shelter cost
8
Subtract excess amount, but not
more than the limit, from adjusted
income to find net monthly income
$1,367 (adjusted income from Step 6)
- $516 (excess shelter from Step 7.b)
$851 net monthly income
9
Apply net income test
Because the $851 net monthly income is less than $2,313 allowed for a family
of four, the household has met the net income test
10
Multiply net income by 30%
(rounded up to nearest dollar)
$851 (net monthly income from Step 8)
X.30
$256 (rounded up from $255.30)
11
Subtract resulting amount from
maximum allotment for household
size
$939 (maximum allotment for a household size of four)
- $256 (30% of net income from Step 10)
$683SNAP allotmentfor a full month
Note: Dollar amounts are based on FY 2023 SNAP Cost of Living Adjustments by FNS.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Information. Published 2022.
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/COLA
232023 Missouri SNAP Basics
Endnotes
1
Coleman-Jensen A, Rabbitt M, Gregory C, Singh A. Household Food Security in the United States in 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Services. Published 2022. https://ers.usda.gov/webdocs/
publications/104656/err-309.pdf?v=6372.7
2
Sun J, Knowles M, Patel F, Frank D, Heeren T, Chilton M. Childhood Adversity and Adult Reports of Food Insecurity
Among Households with Children. American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Published 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
amepre.2015.09.024
3
Coleman-Jensen A, Rabbitt M, Gregory C, Singh A. Household Food Security in the United States in 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Services. Published 2022. https://ers.usda.gov/webdocs/
publications/104656/err-309.pdf?v=6372.7
4
Coleman-Jensen A, Rabbitt M, Gregory C, Singh A. Household Food Security in the United States in 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Services. Published 2022. https://ers.usda.gov/webdocs/
publications/104656/err-309.pdf?v=6372.7
5
Gundersen C, Strayer M, Dewey A, Hake M, Engelhard E. Map the Meal Gap 2022: An Analysis of County and
Congressional District Food Insecurity and County Food Cost in the United States in 2020. Feeding America. Published
2022. https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/Map%20the%20Meal%20Gap%202022%20
Report.pdf
6
Odoms-Young A, Bruce M. Examining the Impact of Structural Racism on Food Insecurity: Implications for Addressing
Racial/Ethnic Disparities. Family & Community Health. Published 2018. https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0000000000000183
7
Marriott J, Fiechtner L, Birk N, Taitelbaum D, Odoms-Young A, Wilson N, Clay L, Zack R. Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Food
Pantry Use and Barriers in Massachusetts during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nutrients. Published 2022.
https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fnu14122531
8
Gundersen C, Strayer M, Dewey A, Hake M, Engelhard E. Map the Meal Gap 2022: An Analysis of County and
Congressional District Food Insecurity and County Food Cost in the United States in 2020. Feeding America. Published
2022. https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/Map%20the%20Meal%20Gap%202022%20
Report.pdf
9
Coleman-Jensen A, Rabbitt M, Gregory C, Singh A. Household Food Security in the United States in 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Services. Published 2022. https://ers.usda.gov/webdocs/
publications/104656/err-309.pdf?v=6372.7
10
Gundersen C, Strayer M, Dewey A, Hake M, Engelhard E. Map the Meal Gap 2022: An Analysis of County and
Congressional District Food Insecurity and County Food Cost in the United States in 2020. Feeding America. Published
2022. https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/Map%20the%20Meal%20Gap%202022%20
Report.pdf
11
Feeding America. Map the Meal Gap: Food Insecurity among Overall (all ages) Population in Missouri. https://map.
feedingamerica.org/county/2020/overall/missouri
12
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. USDA Modernizes the Thrifty Food Plan, Updates SNAP
Benefits. Published 2021. https://www.fns.usda.gov/news-item/usda-0179.21
13
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Data Tables. https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/
supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
14
Ratclie C, McKernan S-M, Zhang S. How Much Does the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reduce Food
Insecurity? American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Published 2014. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajae/aar026
2023 Missouri SNAP Basics24
15
Economic Research Service. Economic Linkages: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Linkages with the
General Economy. Published 2021. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-
assistance-program-snap/economic-linkages
16
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. A Short History of SNAP. Published 2018. https://www.fns.
usda.gov/snap/short-history-snap
17
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. FNS-101: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Published 2021. https://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-101-snap
18
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Policy Basics: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Published
2022. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/the-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
19
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. A Short History of SNAP. Published 2018. https://www.fns.
usda.gov/snap/short-history-snap
20
Missouri Department of Social Services. Monthly Management Reports. 2021-2022. https://dss.mo.gov/re/fsd_mhdmr.
htm
21
Cunnyngham K. Reaching Those in Need: Estimates of State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation
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SNAP agencies may request to waive the statutory definition of “food” under § 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act
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Assistance Act, Pub. L. No. 93–288, as amended, Title I, § 101(b)(2) https://www.fema.gov/disaster/staord-act
272023 Missouri SNAP Basics
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