social services

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.

Caseloads have surged in parts of Missouri, and workers say new requirements for consultation, checklists and supervisory review are making cases harder and slower to resolve.

Children’s Division Director Sara Smith wants to have investigators take on more specialized responsibilities at the agency.

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.

More than 300,000 Missouri residents lost Medicaid coverage within the course of the year, and 92% were because of "procedural" terminations due to missing forms, incomplete information or other issues. A new rule proposed by the federal government could add even more paperwork.

The "Money Follows the Person" program was set to restart this summer, offering more ways for people to live independently. But Kansas pulled back out of fear that the federal funding was disappearing. Now, social service agencies wonder what will happen to those people.

The Missouri Department of Social Services applied last year for federal permission to prohibit purchases of candy, prepared desserts and sugary drinks with SNAP and SuN Bucks. But supermarkets aren't yet clear what qualifies.

Research from Washington University shows two-thirds of Missouri Medicaid recipients are employed. Others who didn’t work cited disability, illness, caregiving or retirement as reasons. The study comes as many adults on Medicaid will soon need to prove they work.

Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed dozens of bills, but Republicans overrode a majority to force the measures into law — including restrictions on student protesters, funding for anti-abortion centers, and more power for landlords.

A federal judge ruled last year Missouri’s food aid system was “overwhelmed,” had wrongly denied assistance to applicants, and had caused many to go hungry. A new bill signed by President Trump will cut SNAP funding and add work requirements, which will likely worsen the problems.

Researchers surveyed low-wage workers and found many report administrative burdens in signing up and keeping vital Medicaid and SNAP coverage.

Refugees and asylum grantees are among those who can no longer qualify for federal nutrition support until five years after obtaining green cards, because of new restrictions in President Trump's budget bill.