Missouri began distributing its 2022 summer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to families last week, one year after the payments were supposed to go out.

Thousands of Missouri families have been asking the state when they would receive the benefits, which were supposed to help them in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The promised benefits are part of a federal pandemic relief program distributed by states.

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The funds were meant to help cover food for children during the summer that normally receive free or discounted meals in school. The benefits consist of a one time payment worth $391 for each eligible child. In 2023, the payment will be $120 for each eligible child. The funds are available on an electronic benefits transfer debit card, like regular food stamps.

As of June 7, around 172,000 students had received their benefits. The number is more than half of the estimated 270,000 children that are expected to receive the funds. Some children who do not have the funds yet, had missing information in the forms they filled out for the benefits, which officials are working to fix.

Other families that have not received their benefits were missing the debit cards that the funds are released on. Those who still do not have the card, can expect the cards to be issued by Monday, July 17, a spokesperson for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education told the Missouri Independent.

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States have until July 14 to submit plans for the 2023 summer benefits, which Missouri has not filed yet, making it unclear when the $120 payments will be sent out. But states are supposed to distribute the 2023 summer funds by Sept. 30, 2023.

This summer’s distributions will be the last summer of the federally funded program, though some states will be spending their own money to help low-income families.

Original Location: Food stamps: Missouri begins distributing 2022 summer benefits to families a year later

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