Federal Court Rules Missouri Violated SNAP Law and the ADA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2024
CONTACT:
- Patrick Fowler, Communications Strategist, NCLEJ | fowler@nlcej.org
- Katharine Deabler-Meadows, Staff Attorney, NCLEJ | deabler@nclej.org
- Katherine Holley, Program Director, Public Benefits Program, LSEM | kaholley@lsem.org
MISSOURI – Last night, SNAP advocates secured a major victory in their federal lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Social Services when a district court judge ruled that the State’s practices – including long call center wait times, wrongful denials of benefits, and lack of disability accommodations – violate the laws governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The decision orders the Missouri Department of Social Services to come into legal compliance and outlines steps the agency must take under the Court’s supervision. The agency must:
- Engage in a process alongside the Plaintiffs to identify specific changes DSS will make to comply with the law;
- File monthly reports with the Court containing detailed data on SNAP applications, wait times, and disability accommodations, and file that report with several members of Missouri state government outlined in the order;
- Submit a proposed plan of action and timeline of implementation “to address shortcomings in the administration of SNAP as identified” within 90 days, including a reduction in call wait times and denials based on failure to receive an interview and compliance with the ADA.
“This decision is a major vindication of the rights of Missourians,” said Katharine Deabler-Meadows, Staff Attorney at NCLEJ. ”The Court has recognized the immense harm that DSS is causing to people who depend on SNAP benefits, and we’re excited to see the implementation of steps to ensure that all Missourians can access SNAP.”
“Our clients will no longer have to face insurmountable barriers to maintain essential safety net benefits,” said Katherine Holley, Staff Attorney with the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. “We applaud the Court for this ruling, and we will continue to hold DSS accountable for coming into compliance with SNAP law and the ADA.
“We’re thrilled with this result, and we look forward to making this system more accessible to the hundreds of thousands who rely on SNAP benefits,” said Andrew Scavotto, Partner at Stinson, LLP.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in February 2022 on behalf of Empower Missouri and two low-income Missourians against Robert Knodell, the Acting Director of the State’s Department of Social Services. The lawsuit highlights how Missouri’s dysfunctional SNAP program deprives eligible Missourians of their right to SNAP benefits:
- All SNAP applicants are routed to a central call center, but the call center is drastically understaffed.
- All SNAP applicants must complete an interview to receive their benefits—using the overloaded call center.
- Call queues contain hundreds of people. Many SNAP applicants wait for hours only to be disconnected before having a chance to interview.
- As recently as May, June, and July of 2023, more than 50% of rejected applications were denied because applicants could not complete an interview.
- DSS in-person office operations are insufficient, including limited hours and limited staffing,
- The situation is even worse for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires DSS to accommodate the disabilities of individuals who need one to access SNAP, but there is no way to request such accommodation without navigating the overloaded call center.
If you are an individual or family seeking assistance, please contact Legal Services of Eastern Missouri at the Food Stamp Hotline at 314-256-8739 or send an email to foodstamps@lsem.org.
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice is a legal nonprofit organization that advances racial and economic justice for low-income families, individuals, and communities across the country through ground-breaking impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for grassroots organizing. Founded in 1965, NCLEJ fights to protect access to critical benefits like food stamps, Medicaid, and childcare, protect low-wage workers’ rights and safety, advocates for the rights of people with disabilities, and fights unlawful debt collection.
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri provides free legal services to low-income Missourians in 21 counties of eastern Missouri, in order to improve lives, promote fairness, and create opportunities for those in need.
Stinson LLP is a full-service business law firm with nearly 450 attorneys who serve clients nationwide from its 12 offices in the Midwest, Mountain West, and Southwest, and in Washington, D.C. Specifically, Stinson provides a complete range of services to clients who need to interact with government at all levels, including businesses, trade associations, nonprofits, and citizens’ groups.
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