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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in Missouri won't have to re-certify in April and will receive more benefits.
Federal authorities have approved a waiver that allows the Missouri Department of Social Services to waive re-certifications for recipients of Food Stamp/SNAP benefits for six months.
The waivers apply to people whose re-certifications were to come due in March, April and May.
DSS is also waiving all work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents through the end of the federal emergency the president has declared concerning COVID-19.
SNAP was formerly known as food stamps. It is a program intended to provide nutritious food for people who qualify.
Missouri will issue "Pandemic Food Stamp/SNAP" or P-SNAP benefits. All households that currently receive SNAP benefits will receive the maximum amount for the household size.
The P-SNAP benefit increase will automatically be added on the normal date the recipient receives their SNAP benefit for April, according to a DSS news release.
It will affect more than 310,000 households (including more than 660,000 people).
In January, Missouri SNAP benefits amounted to just less than $80 million, said Melissa Wolf, deputy director of the DSS Family Support Division. It is estimated P-SNAP will require just less than another $60 million monthly, she said.
"Needs will be growing every day," Wolf said. "We just have to be responsible and flexible."
Nearly daily changes from federal partners cause staff to scramble, Wolf said.
"Family support staff have risen to the occasion for this uncharted territory and done what needs to be done - finding those resources," she continued.
For a household of three, the maximum benefit is $509. For a household of four, the maximum benefit is $646.
Additionally, families with children who receive free or reduced-price lunches in all Missouri school districts that close at least five consecutive days will get a Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer card benefit for March, April and May. The federal government is to determine the amount. The amount is to equal the value for the missed meals. That value will also be automatically added to the Food Stamp/SNAP recipients EBT card.
About 421,000 Missouri public schools students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, Wolf said. They represent about 50 percent of public schools' students, according to a DSS news release.
A little less than half of those students do not also qualify for SNAP benefits, Wolf said.
DSS and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will collaborate to identify and reach out to families who do not receive food stamp benefits but qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.
"We at Family Support Division intend to work with DESE to engage school districts," Wolf said. "We are receiving guidance from federal partners almost daily, and we may do some other outreach."
Any low-income individual or family who is now in need of food stamps or other benefits should reach out to the Family Support Division for help. Missourians can apply for services 24/7 by visiting mydss.mo.gov or by sending completed applications and verification documents by email to [email protected] or by fax to 573-526-9400. Missourians can also apply for Family Medicaid over the phone by calling 1-855-373-9994 during business hours, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The situation continues to evolve, and the department will continue to evaluate ways to streamline access to essential services. For updated information on program accommodations and policy guidance visit dss.mo.gov/covid-19. MO HealthNet providers can find additional information at dss.mo.gov/mhd/providers/pages/provtips.htm.
Changes to MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program, have come in waves.
They include:
- Waiving the requirement that physicians must have an established relationship with the patient before providing services via telehealth.
- Waiving the co-payment for any services provided by means of telehealth.
- Allowing quarantined providers to provide telehealth services from their homes.
- Waiving the requirement that, to treat patients in this state through the use of telemedicine or telehealth, health care providers shall be fully licensed to practice in this state. Providers to bill for telehealth services as long as they are licensed in the state in which they practice.
- Eligibility for any Medicaid participant will not be terminated unless the individual requests a voluntary termination of eligibility or the individual ceases to be a resident of the state through the end of the COVID-19 federal emergency.
- Extending 90 days of MO HealthNet coverage to Missourians ages 19-64 who test positive for COVID-19 and meet the income and resource eligibility guidelines.
- Relaxing requirements related to prescription refills and prior authorizations to ensure participants have access to essential medications.
- Expediting new provider enrollment applications and waiving certain enrollment requirements such as application fees and on-site visits to enable providers to serve Medicaid participants.