- TO:
- ALL FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION OFFICES
- FROM:
- PATRICK LUEBBERING, ACTING DIRECTOR
- SUBJECT:
- 2017 SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER FOR CHILDREN (SEBTC) PROJECT
DISCUSSION:
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) a demonstration grant to allow DSS to continue and expand the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (SEBTC) project. Income Maintenance Memorandum IM-#5, dated January 21, 2011, introduced the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (SEBTC) demonstration grant. Memorandum IM-#90, dated 11/16/2012, provides a summary of the 2012 SEBTC Demonstration Project. Memorandum #51, dated May 24, 2013, discussed the 2013 Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (SEBTC) demonstration project and Memorandum IM-# 47 dated 05/20/15 expanded the project into Mississippi County in 2015. The project expanded to include Shannon County and the city of Ferguson in 2016, introduced in Memorandum IM-#31.
2017 Eligibility
The children in Kansas City (Center School District, Hickman Mills C-I School District, and Kansas City Public School District) and St Louis Public School District who received SEBTC benefits in 2016 will be eligible to receive benefits in 2017, as long as they:
- attended school during the 2016-2017 school year,
- are still eligible for free/reduced meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and
- still reside in the project area.
Siblings of these children who met the requirements above will also be eligible to receive benefits in 2017.
In Mississippi County, all children in Charleston R-1 School District and all children who received free and reduced school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in East Prairie R-II School District are eligible to receive SEBTC benefits.
Children who attend school in the Ferguson-Florissant School District and receive Food Stamp benefits are eligible to receive SEBTC benefits.
2017 Expansion
In 2017, the SEBTC project is expanded to include school districts that serve Shannon County children, New Madrid County, Carter County, and Ripley County.
Seven school districts that serve Shannon County children, even if the building(s) is not in Shannon County, are included in this year’s expansion. The districts are:
- Mountain View Birch Tree R-III School District;
- Oak Hill R-I School District;
- Southern Reynolds County R-II School District;
- Bunker R-III School District;
- Summersville R-II School District;
- Winona R-III School District; and
- Eminence R-1School District
NOTE: Children in the Eminence R-I School District who also receive Food Stamp benefits are eligible to receive SEBTC benefits. Children in the other school districts are eligible if they receive free or reduced school lunches.
The New Madrid County school districts are:
- Risco R-III School District;
- Portageville School District;
- New Madrid County R-I School District; and
- Gideon School District.
NOTE: Children in the Gideon School District who also receive Food Stamp benefits are eligible to receive SEBTC benefits. Children in the other school districts are eligible if they receive free or reduced school lunches.
The Carter County school districts are:
- East Carter County R-II School District and
- Van Buren R-I School District.
NOTE: The children who are listed on DESE’s direct certification file are eligible to receive SEBTC benefits.
The Ripley County school districts are:
- Naylor R-II School District;
- Doniphan R-I School District;
- Ripley County R-IV School District; and
- Ripley County R-III School District.
NOTE: The children who are listed on DESE’s direct certification file are eligible to receive SEBTC benefits.
FAMIS Screens
With the exception of payroll types for Mississippi County (SFM) added in 2015, Shannon County (SFS) and Ferguson (SFF) added in 2016, and New Madrid (SFN) no additional changes were made to FAMIS screens. Benefits issued for Carter County and Ripley County children will have the Shannon County (SFS) payroll type. See detailed information provided in Memorandum IM-#25, dated 03/15/2012 about FAMIS screens related to SEBTC.
SEBTC Benefit Issuance
The additional summer benefit provides qualifying children (eligible for free or reduced-price school meals) with additional funds to use for their nutritional needs during the summertime. On May 23, 2017 the first payroll for SEBTC will run. Households will receive for each eligible child the below issuances:
- $45 per child for May – June 2017, available on June 1, 2017
- $45 per child for July – August 2017, available on July 1, 2017
SEBTC benefits that have not been used will be removed at 11:59 p.m. on August 14, 2017. Once the SEBTC benefits are removed, they cannot be restored.
EBT Cards
SEBTC benefits that are lost due to household misfortune or a lost/stolen EBT card cannot be reissued.
If an SEBTC-only household no longer has an EBT card, they may call either 1-800-997-7777 or the community partner/county office number for their region below. If the household needs to report an address change, the household should call the community partner/county office associated with the target geographical area:
ARCHS 1-314-289-5631 (for St. Louis)
LINC 1-816-410-8367 (for Kansas City)
MCCC 1-573-683-7551 (for Mississippi County)
FSD 1-573-226-3295, Ext. 0 (for Shannon, Carter, and Ripley Counties)
UL 1-314-261-7880 (for Ferguson)
FSD 1-573-521-9153 (for New Madrid County)
Priority SEBTC Benefits
SEBTC benefits are priority benefits in 2017. This means that the SEBTC benefits can be accessed and used before the Food Stamp benefits, even if there are still Food Stamp benefits available on the card. Families who prefer to save Food Stamp benefits will no longer have to spend the Food Stamp benefits before they access the SEBTC benefits. This allows households to utilize the SEBTC benefits by August 14, 2017, and still save the Food Stamp benefits.
NECESSARY ACTION:
Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
PL/rt