In U.S., 14% Rely on Food Stamps
November 5th, 2010Via: Wall Street Journal:
A huge number of American households are still relying on government assistance to buy food as the recession continues to batter families.
Food stamp recipients ticked up in August, children consumed millions of free lunches and nearly five million low-income mothers tapped into a government nutrition program for women and young children.
Some 42,389,619 Americans received food stamps in August, a 17% rise from the same time a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which tracks the data. That number is up 58.5% from August 2007, before the recession began.
By population, Washington, D.C. had the largest share of residents receiving food stamps: More than a fifth, 21.1%, of its residents collected assistance in August. Washington was followed by Mississippi, where 20.1% of residents received food stamps, and Tennessee, where 20% tapped into the government nutrition program.
Idaho posted the largest jump in recipients in the past year. The number of people receiving food stamps climbed 38.8% but their rolls are still fairly low. Just 211,883 Idaho residents collected food stamps in August.
The average benefit size per person nationwide in August was $133.90. Per household it was $287.82.
Research Credit: dilinger
The U-6 total unemployed in the US is around ~ 17 %?
I hope the food stamp system is well supported?
Actually, most of the people on food stamps are working. In most states you can’t get food stamps for more than three months if you’re unemployed. At least, not if your single and childless. The limit if you have kids is longer, but you also have to meet the asset and income qualifications in other ways. Some states won’t approve you if you have a car worth more than a $1000, for instance. There’s also a lifetime cap on food stamps, usually two years total.
Oh, and the federal government pays for the food stamp program.