PURPOSE: This rule outlines when assistance payments are due and payable to eligible claimants.

1. (1) Scope. This rule governs the delivery of benefits for the following programs:

   1. (A) The Temporary Assistance program, pursuant to section 208.040, RSMo, and Title IV-A of the Social Security Act;
   2. (B) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called Food Stamps, pursuant to 7 USC 2011-2036c;
   3. (C) The Blind Pension program, pursuant to Chapter 209, RSMo; and
   4. (D) Supplemental Payments, Supplemental Aid to the Blind, and Supplemental Nursing Care, pursuant to section 208.030, RSMo.

2. (2) Temporary Assistance (TA) benefits shall be paid monthly in advance as follows:

   1. (A) Newly-authorized TA benefits, issued for a portion of a month and not the entire month, shall be mailed, or issued electronically, within seven (7) calendar days from the date on which they were authorized; or
   2. (B) Ongoing TA benefits, or newly-authorized TA benefits being issued for an entire month, shall be mailed or issued electronically on a date that corresponds to the payee’s month of birth. Benefits that are mailed shall be mailed on the first business day following the monthly availability date, if the monthly availability date falls on a weekend or holiday.

3. (3) SNAP benefits shall be issued as follows:

   1. (A) Newly-issued or supplemental SNAP benefits shall be due and payable pursuant to 7 CFR 274.2 and other relevant federal laws and rules; and
   2. (B) Pursuant to 7 CFR 274.2(d)(1), and except as otherwise provided under 7 CFR 274.7, ongoing SNAP benefits shall be issued by way of electronic benefits transfer
4. (EBT) on a date that corresponds with the first letter of the payee’s last name and the payee’s month of birth.

5. (4) Blind Pension, Supplemental Payments, and Supplemental Aid to the Blind benefits shall be paid monthly in advance as follows:

   1. (A) Newly-authorized benefits, issued for a portion of a month and not the entire month, shall be mailed or issued electronically within seven (7) calendar days from the date on which they were authorized; or
   2. (B) Ongoing benefits, or newly-authorized benefits being issued for an entire month, are due and payable on the tenth of each month and will be mailed or issued electronically on the tenth of the month, or on the first working day after the tenth, if the tenth falls on a weekend or a holiday.

6. (5) Supplemental Nursing Care (SNC) benefits shall be paid monthly in advance as follows:

   1. (A) Newly-authorized benefits, issued for a portion of a month and not the entire month, shall be mailed or issued electronically within seven (7) calendar days from the date on which they were authorized; or
   2. (B) Ongoing benefits, or newly-authorized SNC benefits being issued for an entire month, are due and payable on the first day of each month and will be mailed or issued electronically on the first of the month, or on the first working day after the first, if the first falls on a weekend or a holiday.

7. (6) Claimants receiving payments by means of electronic benefits transfer (EBT) shall be required to use an EBT card on which there is a photographic identification of the payee for the benefits in order to gain access to the benefits. Good cause exemptions for requiring photographic identification on the electronic benefits transfer card may be allowed in the following circumstances:

   1. (A) The payee for the benefits belongs to a religion which prohibits members being photographed;
   2. (B) The payee for the benefits is housebound;
   3. (C) The payee for the benefits already possesses a valid electronic benefits transfer card issued by the division for use in the TA or SNAP program;
   4. (D) A direct deposit TA benefit has been returned by the receiving bank and a temporary EBT card is issued to allow the recipient access to the returned benefits;
   5. (E) Lives in a remote area defined as more than a two- (2-) hour round trip from home to the Department of Revenue office;
   6. (F) Unavailability of transportation; and
   7. (G) Circumstances beyond the member’s control such as, but not limited to, the inability of the division to generate the photographic identification, illness, or illness of another household member requiring the presence of the head of household.

AUTHORITY: sections 207.022 and 660.017, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Nov. 3, 1950, effective Nov. 13, 1950. Amended: Filed Feb. 27, 1974, effective March 9, 1974. Amended: Filed Feb. 6, 1975, effective Feb. 16, 1975. Amended: Filed May 1, 1996, effective Nov. 30, 1996. Amended: Filed July 19, 2018, effective March 30, 2019. *Original authority: 207.022, RSMo 2014 and 660.017, RSMo 1993, amended 1995.