States Reject Federal Food Aid for Low-Income Children, Endangering Pandemic-era Benefits

Missouri has decided not to participate in a federal program that would provide $120 in benefits to each eligible low-income child, citing administrative hurdles. The state struggled to administer the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program (P-EBT) last year, leading to delays in getting the funds to qualified families. This decision means Missouri will forgo tens of millions of dollars in federal aid, potentially impacting around 356,000 students who qualified for free or reduced lunch. Other states, including Alaska, Mississippi, Texas, and Idaho, have also chosen not to participate in the program for various reasons.