Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals: No Injunction on Missouri SNAP Implementation

• The Eighth Circuit lifted an injunction on Missouri's SNAP implementation, allowing the state to continue its current method of vetting families for benefits.
• A three-judge panel found that the lower court erred in granting summary judgment and injunction to remedy systemic SNAP failures.
• The appeals court upheld the denial of SNAP benefits to individuals who do not meet specific requirements, potentially affecting thousands of low-income households.

“Because we determined that Congress did not intend to create a federal right in the SNAP Act, plaintiffs cannot maintain an independent cause of action under the SNAP Act either.”

A three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has lifted an injunction imposed on Missouri's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) implementation, effectively allowing the state to continue its current method of vetting families for benefits. The injunction was put in place by Senior U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool in May 2025, following a lawsuit filed by three individual plaintiffs and Empower Missouri, an advocacy group. The plaintiffs claimed that Missouri's SNAP program systematically failed them, resulting in denials of benefits based on missed interviews and issues reaching the state's resource center. However, the Eighth Circuit panel found that the lower court erred in granting summary judgment and injunction to remedy the state's systemic SNAP failures.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally funded program overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, providing low-income households with a monthly benefit to purchase food. To be eligible for SNAP benefits, applicants must meet specific requirements, including attending an interview and resolving any issues related to their application. The Eighth Circuit's decision highlights the importance of federal standing requirements in determining whether plaintiffs can maintain an independent cause of action under federal law. In this case, the appeals court found that Congress did not intend to create a federal right in the SNAP Act, making it impossible for the plaintiffs to enforce their claims through § 1983.

The Eighth Circuit's decision has significant implications for individuals and organizations seeking to challenge Missouri's SNAP implementation. Lawyers advising clients in Missouri should be aware that the appeals court has upheld the denial of SNAP benefits to those who do not meet specific requirements, potentially affecting thousands of low-income households. The ruling also underscores the importance of understanding federal standing requirements and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claims in navigating complex legal issues related to social services programs.

Lawyers advising clients in Missouri should be aware that the Eighth Circuit has upheld the denial of SNAP benefits to individuals who do not meet specific requirements, and may need to advise their clients on how to navigate this new precedent.

Source: Original reporting via Courthouse News