SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

Schools in the U.S. serve almost 30 million lunches every day. But rising food costs, regulations and cuts to food assistance mean school kitchens have to do more with less.

As of Oct. 1, Missouri's Department of Social Services will now review documentation of housing costs, childcare expenses and assets in applications for SNAP benefits.

A Kansas City Medicaid enrollee is among several plaintiffs suing over policy changes that would require medically frail people to prove their condition significantly impairs their ability to work. Plus: Massive restrictions on federal food benefits are being felt especially hard in rural areas, where food insecurity is on par with urban centers.

More than 5 million people are no longer getting food aid in the wake of a slew of cuts and changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. As changes to the program continue to unfold, rural Americans face unique problems.

Missouri SNAP applicants will face new documentation requirements in October for housing, child care and financial resources. Some advocates warn the extra hurdles may cost some eligible recipients their benefits.

Federal law requires states to attain error rates below 6% or face paying a percentage of the state’s SNAP benefits. Kansas still has an error rate of 7.8%, down significantly since 2023.

The One Big Beautiful Bill requires states to pay for some food assistance under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program based on error rates. Kansas had a rate of 9.4%, while Missouri’s error rate is 8.7%. Advocacy groups want the penalties delayed to avoid service cuts.

Many states face a fast approaching deadline to lower their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payment error rates or shoulder some of the federal program’s benefit costs. Food security groups worry this and other changes brought on by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could result in people losing aid.

A federal judge blocked five states from banning the use of SNAP benefits for junk food purchases. Missouri has a similar plan, but it was not included in the decision.

Congressional lawmakers are looking to add rotisserie chicken to the list of foods people can purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Currently, the program excludes hot and pre-prepared foods.

The change comes via an executive order from Gov. Mike Kehoe directing the state to discourage the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to buy "foods that are high in sugar and ultra-processed" and incentivize healthy eating.

Beginning in November, SNAP retailers across the U.S. will be required to stock more healthy foods. But experts say the change will ultimately leave federal food aid users with fewer options — especially in rural areas.