Basic Needs Guides
STATE BENEFITS
Are you or someone you know needing help to support and maintain your family's financial stability? State benefits may be able to help you or your family with SNAP (food stamps), health care and other needs.
Misouri has a pre-eligibility screening tool that can help determine if you qualify for Child Care Subsidy; Food Stamps; Temporary Assistance; MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (MHABD); and MO HealthNet for Families and Children (MAGI).
SNAP/EBT/Food Stamps
The Food Stamp Program helps low-income individuals buy food and food products including seeds and plants to grow food.
Anyone can apply for Food Stamps, however there are elibility requirements.
*Both KS and MO participate in the Double Up Bucks program which allows you to match your SNAP dollars at farmers markets and certain grocery stores.
MO HealthNet (Medicaid)
MO HealthNet covers qualified medical expenses for individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements; usually families, kids, pregnant or uninsured women, older adults and people with disabilities.
Find out more about MO HealthNet programs and benefits on the MyDSS MO HealthNet page.
Health Coverage for Pregnant Women
Missouri has two programs that provide health coverage for pregnant women: MO HealthNet for Pregnant Women (MPW) and Show-Me Healthy Babies (SMHB).
MPW provides healthcare coverage, including sixty-day postpartum coverage, for pregnant women with family income below 196% of Federal Poverty Level (see poverty guidelines tab above).
SMHB provides similar coverage for pregnant women who have applied for and are not eligible for MO HealthNet programs with income up to 300% of Federal Poverty Level (see poverty guidelines tab above) and don't have access to private insurance. A social security number and/or proof of citizenship is not required for SMHB.
Temporary Assistance (previously TANF)
Temporary Assistance provides cash benefits to low-income families for the household’s children for basic needs. If approved for Temporary Assistance, most recipients are required to participate in employment and training activities.
Find out more about Temporary Assistance requirements and benefits on the MyDSS Temporary Assistance page.
Other services such as Child Support, Blind Services and Child Care Assistance are also available through the Missouri MyDSS page.
Kansas has a two combined sites that allow people to check eligibility, apply and access benefits for state programs: the Dept for Children and Families Non-Medical Self-Service Portal and the Medical Self-Service Portal.
Food Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps)
The Food Assistance Program provides qualifying low-income households with food benefits, access to a healthy diet and education on food preparation and nutrition.
Find more information about eligibilty and how the program works in the Food Assistance FAQ's.
*Both KS and MO participate in the Double Up Bucks program which allows you to match your SNAP dollars at farmers markets and certain grocery stores.
KanCare (Medicaid)
KanCare offers covers qualified medical expenses for individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements; usually children, pregnant women, families with children, elderly, adults with disabilities and children with disabilities.
SOBRA is a health care program for persons who do not meet citizenship rules and covers life-threatening emergency care costs and baby deliveries only, which is also available through KanCare.
Find out more about MO HealthNet programs and benefits on the MyDSS MO HealthNet page.
Cash Assistance (previously TANF)
The Kansas Cash Assistance program is called Successful Families, and offers employment services and support services which may include cash assistance to parents and relative caregivers of children.
Find out more about Cash Assistance requirements and benefits on the Successful Families page.
Other services such as Child Care Assistance, Refugee Assistance, LIEAP, Work Programs, Adoption Assistance, and Youth Independent Living Services are also available through the DCF Non-Medical Portal.