Missouri could pay $150M — or make food aid even harder to keep

By Jason Hancock | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning,

Missouri’s SNAP error rate is moving in the right direction. That may not be enough.

A new federal cost-sharing rule means states with payment error rates above 6% could soon be required to cover part of their food-benefit costs. For Missouri, where the latest rate remains above that line, the potential price tag is roughly $150 million.

That sounds like a budget story. It is. But it is also an access story.

Steph Quinn reports that payment error rates measure whether benefits were calculated correctly — but they do not measure fraud. And as Missouri tries to avoid a new cost, advocates are warning the effort to fix one problem could create another for people trying to keep food assistance.

by Steph Quinn

Missouri’s SNAP error rate has improved, but it remains high enough to trigger a possible $150 million state cost. Advocates worry the fix could mean more paperwork for eligible recipients.

by Jonathan Shorman

Mamoun Benmamoun argues Trump’s move toward a deal with Iran was driven less by retreat than by economic pressure — from oil prices to fertilizer costs to Missouri agriculture.

by Mamoun Benmamoun

A professor of international business at Saint Louis University argues Trump’s move toward a deal with Iran was driven less by retreat than by economic pressure — from oil prices to fertilizer costs to Missouri agriculture.

Thanks for reading The Daily Independent. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.