FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 11, 2019

Missourians to get February Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits a month early due to partial federal government shutdown

Jefferson City, MO—Missourians who are eligible for Food Stamp benefits will receive their February Food Stamp benefit by January 20, 2019. The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Food Stamp program, informed states that payments for the February Food Stamp or SNAP benefit must be issued early due to the partial federal government shutdown.

Missourians will be notified of this change and must be aware that this is an early payment of the February Food Stamp benefit. “It’s important for families to understand that they will not get a Food Stamp benefit again in February, and we caution them to not immediately spend the benefit because it must feed their family for both months,” said Steve Corsi, Director, Department of Social Services

Food Stamp benefits are 100 percent federally funded and are not appropriated through the Missouri state budget. In December 2018, the Food Stamp program served 327,740 Missouri families or 703,365 individuals and the average benefit per household was $256.81 or $119.66 per person. Each month, Missouri receives approximately $84.2 million in Food Stamp benefits from the federal government.

Although the Department of Social Services, Family Support Division continues to accept and process Food Stamp applications, FNS does not guarantee eligible applicants will receive Food Stamp benefits while the partial federal shutdown is in effect.

If a Missourian has a pending Food Stamp verification they must submit their verification to this special email address SNAP@dss.mo.gov or deliver it to an FSD Resource Center by 11:59 a.m. on Tuesday, January 15th. Failure to submit the necessary verification by that deadline means the Food Stamp participant will not get a February benefit.

"The Department of Social Services will relay the latest information as it is received from the federal government regarding the Food Stamp program so that all Missourians remain informed," said Corsi. "This is an evolving situation and we encourage impacted Missourians to be vigilant of future updates as new information becomes available." New information will be updated on the Department’s website, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Missourians who have questions or who need information can go to the DSS website , visit their nearest FSD Resource Center , or call the FSD Info Center: 1-855-FSD-INFO (855-373-4636).

###