The government shutdown has not had an immediate impact on Missouri’s Social Services up to this point. Assistance programs like Women Infants and Children, or WIC, could eventually be affected along with Meals on Wheels for senior citizens. State Budget Director, Linda Luebbering, says they’re okay for now but if the shutdown continues then the money that the state does have right now will be in jeopardy.
“Right now, we have enough federal funds to continue making payments to those types of programs. Ultimately would they be impacted if this continues...Yes,” Luebbering said. Luebbering said the situation is still fluid, and she is still receiving new information from federal agencies.
Social services such as the Women Infant and Children program, also known as WIC, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are all readily available for the time being. Luebbering doesn’t know if that will change in the near future.
Luebbering stated that there are a couple smaller programs in Health and Senior Services that may be affected more quickly than the big ones like WIC and SNAP.
“We are continuing to receive new and changing information from federal agencies. So i think there’s still some flux in what is or isn't going to happen,” Luebbering said.
