In a Nutshell

Renowned for its scenic Ozark Mountains, sweeping prairies, and iconic landmarks, Missouri embodies true Midwestern charm. And while the state enjoys a reputation for low cost of living, many residents still struggle to make ends meet.

In 2022, 13.2% of Missourians lived in poverty, well over the national average of 11.5%. These statistics underscore the ongoing financial hardships many families in the Show-Me State continue to endure.

To address these economic challenges, Missouri offers a range of financial assistance programs to support residents during tough times. These resources are vital for helping Missouri families achieve economic stability, from cash aid and nutritional support to healthcare services.

Dive into Missouri’s financial assistance programs to uncover the tools and support you need to build a secure and thriving future.

Government Assistance Programs in Missouri

Missouri offers various government assistance programs to help residents overcome financial hardships. These programs stabilize families across the state, from cash aid and healthcare services to housing.

Cash Assistance Programs

Cash assistance programs in Missouri provide financial support to low-income families, helping them navigate challenging economic times. Recipients receive cash benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which they can use to purchase food products and other essentials at participating stores.

  • Funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant
  • Offers monthly cash benefits to help families cover expenses, including clothing, utilities, and other necessities
  • Also known as the Food Stamp program
  • Provides monthly benefits to purchase food and food products, helping eligible households meet their nutritional needs

Missouri Stimulus Checks

  • No new Missouri stimulus checks are available for 2024
  • Missouri doesn’t offer a state-level Child Tax Credit (CTC) or Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC)
  • Residents can still benefit from the Missouri Working Family Tax Credit (also known as the Earned Income Tax Credit), which can reduce tax liabilities or increase tax refunds

Medical Assistance

Missouri’s medical assistance programs are a vital support, helping residents access quality healthcare services and improve their overall well-being.

  • Missouri’s Medicaid program provides healthcare coverage for parents or caretakers with children, uninsured women, seniors, and individuals with disabilities
  • Eligibility depends on specific criteria like income, age, health, and individual needs
  • Provides medical coverage to individuals without insurance from other sources like employment, Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP
  • Offers coverage to qualified enrollees under the Affordable Care Act (the ACA), commonly known as “Obamacare”
  • Plans include essential health benefits and free preventive services within the plan’s network
  • Free breast and cervical cancer screenings for uninsured women 
  • To be eligible, participants must meet age, income, and insurance guidelines

Pregnant and Single Mother Programs

Missouri offers programs to support pregnant women and single mothers, ensuring they receive essential resources and assistance for a healthy future for both moms and babies.

  • Offers supplemental food, education, health care referrals, and breastfeeding support for pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum women, and infants up to age five
  • Focuses on ensuring every baby has the chance to grow and develop into a healthy child
  • Maternal health topics include breastfeeding, postpartum care, mental health, and safe sleep practices for new moms and babies
  • Free healthcare coverage for unborn babies and their mothers
  • Services include pregnancy care and coverage for infants from birth up to one year

Child Care Services

Finding quality child care can sometimes be challenging. The state of Missouri offers a comprehensive website that provides parents with tools to find child care providers that meet their children’s needs.

  • Helps low-income families manage the cost of child care 
  • Supports families to achieve self-sufficiency, enabling them to pursue stable employment or educational opportunities
  • Missouri programs that promote child safety, health, and learning success through parent engagement, developmental screenings, and access to supportive resources

Food Assistance

Missouri’s food assistance programs support families in need, ensuring access to nutritious meals and alleviating food insecurity across the state.

  • Supplies summer nutrition and healthy food assistance for families with school-aged children
  • One-time $120 benefit per eligible child to buy nutritious food at authorized locations
  • Part of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), offering USDA-donated foods through local food pantries
  • Distributes food to summer service programs for children, disaster relief, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and food banks

Assistance for Veterans

Elderly and Disabled Adult Programs

The Missouri Department of Social Services offers a range of programs for seniors and individuals with disabilities to promote independence and enhance their quality of life within their communities. Key programs include:

  • Medicare Savings Program (MSP): Assists qualified adults over 65 or those under 65 receiving Social Security Disability benefits in paying their medical premiums
  • Nursing Home Coverage: Helps participants with the cost of room and board in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
  • Home and Community-Based (HCB) Services: Offers in-home services, such as personal care, housekeeping, and meal delivery, to help seniors remain in their homes

Utility Bill Assistance

Missouri’s utility assistance programs help residents manage high energy bills and maintain access to vital services.

  • Financial assistance to help low-income households cover their home energy bills
  • Offers an Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) that provides emergency support for those facing utility disconnection or critical energy shortages
  • Reduces heating and cooling costs by improving home energy efficiency
  • Provides home improvements like insulation, air sealing, and energy-efficient lighting to help lower utility bills
  • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers rental assistance to individuals struggling to pay rent, preventing eviction, and finding affordable housing options

Assistance for Unemployment

Unemployment assistance programs in Missouri support individuals who have lost their jobs, helping them navigate the path to re-employment.

  • Available to those who lost their job through no fault of their own, are affected by natural disasters, or quit for good cause related to their work
  • Provides up to 20 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for eligible claimants

Brad Reichert, founder and managing director of Reichert Asset Management LLC, explains how Missouri's unemployment insurance benefits are estimated:

“The maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA) for unemployment insurance claims in Missouri is currently $320/week, which averages out to about $1,387/month. Your WBA will be 4 percent of the average of your two highest-earning quarters in the base period preceding your becoming unemployed.”

Reichert further explains, “Your base period is the four most recent full calendar quarters that you worked before becoming unemployed. You must have earned a minimum income (before taxes) to qualify for the lowest WBA benefit of $40/week”.

  • Supports Temporary Assistance (TA) recipients in preparing for employment through personalized plans and community-based services
  • Assists with career planning, job training, and employment support, as well as access to additional resources like childcare and housing
  • Offers SNAP recipients free assistance with skills training, job placement, and employer connections to help them find employment
  • Services include personalized coaching, covering work-related expenses, and connecting participants with resources like childcare, housing, and transportation

Housing and Homelessness Assistance

  • Missouri Tenant Help provides free tools and resources to assist tenants facing eviction or other housing challenges  
  • Missouri’s homeless shelter directory offers a range of temporary housing options and transitional support for individuals experiencing homelessness

Transportation Assistance

  • MO HealthNet’s Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) program offers free rides for covered healthcare services
  • MO Rides is a free service that connects individuals with local transportation providers to help with various needs, including medical appointments, employment, and daily errands

Divorce and Other Legal Assistance

Four key Legal Services Corporation programs in Missouri offer free legal assistance to low-income residents. These programs include:

  1. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Provides legal assistance in housing, consumer, immigration, guardianship, and domestic violence matters
  2. Mid-Missouri Legal Services: Offers legal support in housing, consumer, family, and elder law
  3. Legal Services of Southern Missouri: Focuses on consumer law, domestic/sexual violence, elder law, family law, and housing
  4. Legal Aid of Western Missouri: Provides a range of services, including divorce, guardianship, bankruptcy, and consumer matters

Nonprofit Assistance Programs in Missouri

From helping families in need with food and shelter to providing educational resources, privately funded nonprofit organizations are dedicated to uplifting communities and improving lives across the Show-Me State.

  • Supports student success by providing guidance, academic support, and work-based learning, boosting high school graduation and employment rates
  • Focuses on students with academic potential who face barriers such as poverty, difficult family situations, or personal trauma
  • A coalition of six food banks working together to provide hunger relief through more than 1,500 feeding programs
  • Over 1,000 food pantries across the state distribute local food assistance to those in need
  • Comprehensive short-term and long-term care through programs like food pantries, rent and utility assistance, homeless shelters, and disaster relief
  • Additional services include job training, life skills, after-school programs, and assistance for veterans and the aging population
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How Do You Get Financial Help in Missouri?

Missouri offers several financial assistance programs to help residents manage their expenses and improve their economic wellness. From state-sponsored cash aid to housing and healthcare, these programs can provide critical relief.

However, these programs might not fully address your needs if you’re struggling with unsustainable unsecured debts, such as high credit card balances or mounting medical bills.

TurboDebt specializes in effective debt relief programs for Missouri residents seeking substantial debt reduction. In 2023, we helped thousands of clients save an average of 54% of their total enrolled debt (before fees).

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