The income limit is the most important food stamps (SNAP) eligibility requirement in Missouri. In this post, In this post, we are going to walk you through the 2023 income limit for Missouri food stamps, including how to calculate how much you will receive in SNAP benefits if approved.
Additionally, we will provide information on how to apply for food stamps in Missouri.
Lastly, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about SNAP benefits in Missouri.
Table of Contents:
- Food Stamps in Missouri
- Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Missouri
- 2023 Income Limit for Missouri Food Stamps
- How to Apply for Food Stamps in Missouri
- Food Stamps in Missouri FAQs
Food Stamps in Missouri
SNAP (also known as food stamps) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families in Missouri.
In Missouri, the SNAP program is run by the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS).
Once you are approved, SNAP benefits are provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, that is used as a debit card.
EBT cards are accepted at most grocery stores, some farmers’ markets, convenience, big box stores, and some online stores, like Walmart and Amazon.
SNAP benefits generally cannot be used to buy prepared foods, vitamins, alcohol/tobacco, and non-food items (like soap or toothpaste).
Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Missouri?
To be eligible for SNAP in Missouri, a household must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be a citizen or legal immigrant
- Must be a Missouri resident
- Your household income must be less than the food stamps income limits for your household size (see chart below)
- With some exceptions, you must work or participate in an employment and training program
- For most households, resources must be under $2,750 to qualify for SNAP or $4,250 in countable resources if at least one member of the household is age 60 or older, or is disabled
Senior SNAP
If you are age 60 and older, you may be eligible for Senior SNAP in Missouri.
Click here to access the Senior SNAP page to learn more about this program.
2023 Income Limit for Missouri Food Stamps
To qualify for SNAP in Missouri, your household income must not exceed 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
You can find out if you may qualify by using the 2023/2024 table below.
Income limits vary according to household size.
Households that contain no elderly or disabled individuals must meet both the gross (income before deduction) and the net income (income after allowable deductions) limits.
However, households that contain an elderly (age 60 or over) individual or a disabled individual must meet only the net income limits.
See the table below for both the net and gross income limits according to household size.
| Missouri SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2024 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 | ||
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income (130% of FPL) |
Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL) |
| 1 | $1,580 | $1,215 |
| 2 | $2,137 | $1,644 |
| 3 | $2,694 | $2,072 |
| 4 | $3,250 | $2,500 |
| 5 | $3,807 | $2,929 |
| 6 | $4,364 | $3,357 |
| 7 | $4,921 | $3,785 |
| 8 | $5,478 | $4,214 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $557 | $429 |
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Missouri
There are multiple ways you can apply for food stamps in Missouri.
Option 1 – Apply Online
The easiest way to apply for SNAP benefits is online through the Missouri mydss.mo.gov portal.
Visit https://mydss.mo.gov/ to begin the online application.
For help in creating a mydss.mo.gov portal account, see our post on How to Create a mydss.mo.gov Portal Account.
If you are having trouble logging into your mydss.mo.gov portal account, see our guide on
mydss.mo.gov portal Login Help.
Option 2 – Apply by Mail or Fax an Application
To apply by mail or fax, download the SNAP application here.
Once you have completed the application, you can submit it by mail or fax.
Instructions on how to do so are included in the application.
Also, you can request an application to be mailed to you by calling 1-855-373-4636.
Option 3 – Apply in Person
If you are unable to apply online or by mail, the DSS has Local Resource Centers statewide to assist you with the application process.
Click here to schedule an appointment at your local office.
Food Stamps in Missouri FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Missouri Food Stamps:
What is the Phone Number for Missouri Food Stamps?
If you need help applying for food stamps in Missouri or have further questions about how the SNAP program works, call Customer Call Center at 1-855-373-4636.
How Much Will I Receive in Missouri Food Stamps?
If you are approved for food stamps in Missouri, how much in benefits you get partly depends on the:
- Number of people in your household,
- The total amount of your household’s income, and
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan.
The Thrifty Food Plan is a government estimate of how much it costs to provide a household with nutritious, low-cost meals.
In Missouri, the average monthly SNAP amount per person is approximately $250.
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Fiscal Year 2024 | |
| Effective October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $291 |
| 2 | $535 |
| 3 | $766 |
| 4 | $973 |
| 5 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $1,751 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $219 |
To find out how much you are likely to get in Missouri SNAP if approved, use the calculator below.
In the example provided below, we are using a family of 6 to demonstrate how to calculate your food stamps amount.
How Missouri Food Stamps Calculator
Here’s how to calculate how much a family of 6 will get in SNAP benefits.
First, we need to start with the household income.
If you have a countable net income, multiply your net monthly income by 0.3 (30 percent).
Round up this amount to the nearest dollar.
Next, take this amount and subtract it from the maximum benefit level for a household of your size.
From the table above, the maximum a household of 6 could receive in food stamps is $1,339
The result is the monthly food stamps benefits for a family of 6.
Here’s an example:
Example: Lisa and her family of six (6) have $2,060 in net income after allowable deductions.
To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $2,060) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:
$2,060 Net Income for Lisa’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$618 Countable Income
$1,386 Maximum SNAP for 6 persons
-$618 Countable income (round up)
$768 Monthly SNAP benefits for Lisa’s family
When are Missouri EBT benefits deposited?
Missouri food stamps benefits are deposited on your MO EBT Card on your scheduled deposit day. Missouri EBT Deposit Dates are sent out during the first 22 days of each month.
The day your Missouri food stamp benefits are deposited depends on your birth month and the first letter of your last name.
Food Stamp benefits will be made available in your Missouri EBT Card account by 6am on your scheduled deposit day.
Here is the Missouri SNAP EBT Deposit Schedule for 2023:
| If your birth month and the first letter of your last name is: | SNAP Benefits are available on the: |
| January and last name begins with A-K | 1st day of the month |
| January and last name begins with L-Z | 2nd day of the month |
| February and last name begins with A-K | 3rd day of the month |
| February and last name begins with L-Z | 4th day of the month |
| March and last name begins with A-K | 5th day of the month |
| March and last name begins with L-Z | 6th day the month |
| April and last name begins with A-Z | 7th day of the month |
| May and last name begins with A-K | 8th day of the month |
| May and last name begins with L-Z | 9th day of the month |
| June and last name begins with A-K | 10th day of the month |
| June and last name begins with L-Z | 11th day of the month |
| July and last name begins with A-K | 12th day of the month |
| July and last name begins with L-Z | 13th day of the month |
| August and last name begins with A-K | 14th day of the month |
| August and last name begins with L-Z | 15th day of the month |
| September and last name begins with A-K | 16th day of the month |
| September and last name begins with L-Z | 17th day of the month |
| October and last name begins with A-K | 18th day of the month |
| October and last name begins with L-Z | 19th day of the month |
| November and last name begins with A-K | 20th day of the month |
| November and last name begins with L-Z | 21st day of the month |
| December and last name begins with A-Z | 22nd day of the month |
How Many People are on Food Stamps in Missouri?
| Number of People on Food Stamps in Missouri | |||
| As of September 2022 | |||
| September 2021 | September 2022 | Change | |
| Number of People | 683,546 | 670,276 | -1.9% |
| Number of Households | 332,700 | 329,243 | -1.0% |
| Total Benefits ($) | $106,205,074.00 | $111,230,084.00 | 4.7% |
United States Food Stamps Statistics for January 2023:
| Number of People on Food Stamps in The United States | |||
| As of September 2022 | |||
| September 2021 | September 2022 | Change | |
| Number of People | 40,846,833 | 41,665,296 | 2.0% |
| Number of Households | 21,402,558 | 21,907,553 | 2.4% |
| Total Benefits ($) | $9,117,810,630.00 | $9,338,989,005.00 | 2.4% |
What does Missouri EBT not cover?
Your Missouri EBT Card can not be used to purchase any hot or prepared food item, as well as any non-food items.
Here is a list of items that your MO EBT does not cover:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Soaps, paper products, cosmetics, grooming items
- Pet food (for example, dog food, cat food, etc.)
- Vitamins or medicines
- Food that will be eaten in the store
- Hot foods
Other Items you cannot buy with your MO EBT Card include:
- Charcoal
- Cod liver oil
- Cough drops
- Crabs (cooked and hot)
- Diapers
- Dietary Supplements (for example, GNC, and most protein powders)
- Dry ice
- Energy drinks with Supplement Information labels (for example, 5-Hour Energy)
- Fertilizer and insecticides
- Flax oil
- Fountain Drinks
- Gift baskets (if the food part of the gift basket is less than 50% of the total price)
- Ice cream cone/sundae
- Livestock (for example, live animals or birds)
- Cakes (that are more than 50% non-edible)
- Toilet paper
What stores accept Missouri EBT online for delivery?
Currently, there are 24 stores that accept Missouri EBT Cards online as payment.
You can use your MO EBT Card and food stamp benefits to purchase approved grocery items and have it delivered directly to your door.
However, your Missouri SNAP benefits cannot be use to pay for delivery fees.
Currently, the following stores accept Missouri food stamps and EBT Cards online:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- Blue Parkway Sun Fresh
- Bratcher’s Market
- Cameron Market
- Country Mart
- County Market (Niemann Foods)
- FavTrip Independence
- FavTrip KCMO
- Harps Food Stores
- Harter House
- Hays Supermarket
- Kroger
- Price Cutter
- Pyramid Foods
- Sam’s Club Scan & Go
- Schnuck’s Market
- Sliced Bread Market
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Sweet Springs Market
- Target
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
- Woods Supermarket
Income Limit for Missouri Food Stamps Summary
We hope this article on Income Limit for Missouri Food Stamps was helpful.
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If you have additional questions about the Missouri SNAP or EBT, please leave those in the comments section below. We are here to help you!
Be sure to check out our other articles about Missouri Food Stamps and EBT, including:
- How to Check Missouri EBT Card Balance
- Missouri EBT Card Discounts & Free Admissions
- Farmers Markets In Missouri that Double Your EBT Money
- How to Buy Groceries Online with Missouri EBT
- Grocery Stores that Accept EBT online
- How to Get 50% off Amazon Prime with EBT
- Eligible Food Stamps Items