April 2021 Missouri Benefit Numbers Released
The worst news: the suffering is only going to increase.
The Missouri Department of Social Services released the April 2021 Monthly Management Report for the Family Support Division and MO HealthNet Division.
The latest numbers reflect the on-going campaign by the state to prevent citizens from getting benefits which would help them. The system remains understaffed, most technology in use is obsolete, and the governor refuses to let the workers have union representation.
Unfortunately, by the time the July report is released (about August 20th) we’ll look back at these as the “good ole days” before the effective end of unemployment benefits and the implosion of case handling. You see, even if the state doesn’t actually expand Medicaid tens of thousands of people who are – legally – now eligible will clog the system with applications beginning July 1, 2021. Plus, a lack of unemployment payments will increase demand for food stamps. Meanwhile, the DSS 2022 budget (effective 7/1/21) plans for 200 fewer DSS employees to handle the workload.
Remember, food stamp use soared during the 2008 Great Recession. Using March 2020 as a starting point, one might expect the food stamp totals to be similar to November 2009, or, 13 months into the crisis.
Ha-Ha.
Food Stamp Total Recipients
November 2009 April 2021
931,933 693,263
As I’ve said before, I think the state ought to now have around 1,000,000 citizens on food stamps.
Missouri April Benefits
2021 2019
Temporary Assistance
Children 12,162 16,417
Adults 3,358 4,779
TOTAL 15,520 21,196
Benefits $1,490,325 $2,060,499
Per Family $ 218.04 $ 221.15
Per Day $ 7.27 $ 7.37
MO HealthNet [Medicaid]
Enrolled 1,071,060 881,022
Covered 1,072,120 921,252
Cost $918,601,652 $748,838,081
Per Patient $ 856.81 $ 812.85
Managed Care 808,961 647,888
Per Patient $ 265.25 $ 248.78
Food Stamps [SNAP]
Participants 693,263 684,676
Benefits $157,881,936 $81,677,114
Per Person $ 227.74 $ 119.29
Per Meal $ 2.53 $ 1.32
April 2021 County Recipient Totals
St. Louis Co. 106,467
Jackson Co. 97,648
St. Louis City 67,942
Greene Co. 33,869
Jefferson Co. 18,346
Top Five Counties: 324,272
Bottom 110 Counties: 368,991
As of now, the food stamp bonus benefit levels are expected to continue till at least September.
BTW: I suspect that the 160,000 patient increase in the Managed Care total from 2019 to 2021 is due in large part to all the now unemployed/underemployed workers – and their kids – who have endured their income dropping to poverty levels.
Glenn