Missouri could bring tens of millions of federal dollars to local economies if 172,000 eligible children receive food assistance
Jefferson City, MO – A bipartisan group of state senators is calling on the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) to extend its application deadline for Missourians to access a federal program, Pandemic-EBT, which helps buy food for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to DSS data, an estimated 172,000 eligible children are still not receiving this benefit. As a result, Missouri is missing out on tens of millions of federal dollars that could be put to work in the state’s economy while also feeding thousands of Missouri children.
“In addition to feeding hungry children, these benefits are a direct cash infusion into our economy at a time when we need it most. By helping families shop at area grocers, this program is protecting local jobs, supporting Missouri farmers, and generating state revenues to fund vital priorities,” said State Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, in a letter to DSS co-signed by State Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, and State Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City.
Currently, the Pandemic-EBT application deadline is July 7, 2020. Other states, including Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, have extended deadlines for the program.
In their joint letter to DSS, Senators Schupp, Hough and Williams request that DSS extend this arbitrary deadline “until Missouri schools resume in-building instruction, or until the latest possible date allowed by the USDA.”
For more information about Sen. Schupp, visit her official Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/schupp.