SNAP/Food Stamps

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in Missouri

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Agency on Aging

Older Adult Food
Insecurity

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application

The SNAP (previously Food Stamps) application can be found here. Applicants can submit the application online or print a copy to complete and submit via mail. Applicants can also obtain and submit a paper application at their local resource center.

Barriers to SNAP Participation Faced by Older Adults

According to Missouri Foundation for Health Missouri SNAP Basics 2023, only 42% of eligible older adults (aged 60+) participate in SNAP in Missouri.1 Some common barriers older adults face to participating in SNAP include difficulty completing the application, feeling stigma about receiving government benefits or not wanting to ask for help, lack of access to technology to complete the application, mobility and transportation barriers to applying or recertifying in person, not believing the amount of benefit is worth it, and not knowing they are eligible for SNAP.2 Each of these barriers has unique solutions.

Difficulty Completing the Application

Feeling like they don't Need Help or others Need it More

  • SNAP benefits can increase an older adult’s access to nutritious food, which can improve health and decrease medical costs.
  • SNAP is available to anyone who qualifies. One person accepting benefits does not mean that another person who qualifies can’t receive benefits.

Feeling Stigma about Receiving Government Benefits or Not Wanting to Ask for Help

  • The SNAP EBT card is more discrete and widely accepted than previous food stamp methods. Many stores also accept SNAP payments online.
  • According to Food Research and Action Center, each dollar in federally funded SNAP benefits generates $1.79 in economic activity.
  • Building rapport with older adults can increase their willingness to apply for and use assistance.
  • Providing assistance with the application and talking about available assistance in private can also increase and older adult's willingness to use assistance.

Lack of Access to Technology to Complete the Application

Mobility and Transportation Barriers to Applying in Person

Not Believing the Amount of Benefit is Worth It

  • Many older adults underestimate the amount they will receive in SNAP benefits. Using a SNAP calculator can help them better estimate their benefit. This also allows older adults to better understand why specific information is asked about and how it impacts their possible benefit.
  • The minimum SNAP benefit for a 1-2 person household is now $23. When this is multiplied over 12 months, this is $276 for the year. Looking at the annual amount may help older adults see the value. NCOA also provides four examples of what a participant might be able to purchase with $23.
  • Double up Food Bucks allows SNAP participants to get additional money for fresh produce at participating farmers’ markets and grocery stores.
  • Receiving SNAP benefits can make it easier to qualify for additional assistance programs such as energy assistance and cellphone assistance.

Not knowing they are Eligible for SNAP

  • Because older adults have different requirements and additional deductions, an older adult who was not eligible for SNAP benefits before they were 60+ may be eligible for SNAP benefits as an older adult. Households with older adults (60+) do not need to meet a gross income test, can receive an excess medical deduction, have a higher asset limit, and may not need to recertify as often. A SNAP calculator can help older adults find out if they are eligible for SNAP benefits.

1 Missouri SNAP Basics 2023

2 Closing the Senior SNAP Gaps and Lifting Barriers to SNAP: Real Stories from Older Adults