Record 31.8 million on food stamps

[babylonsister]

Record 31.8 million on food stamps
Government shows increase of 700,000 food stamp recipients in a single month.

March 5, 2009: 4:00 PM ET


WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- A record 31.8 million Americans received food stamps at the latest count, an increase of 700,000 people in one month with the United States in recession, government figures showed Thursday.

Food stamps, which help poor people buy groceries, are the major U.S. anti-hunger program, forecast to cost at least $51 billion in this fiscal year ending Sept. 30, up $10 billion from fiscal 2008.

"A weakened economy means that many more individuals are turning to SNAP/food stamps," said the Food Research and Action Center. Last summer food stamps were renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The average food stamp benefit is $115 a month for individuals and $255 a month per household.

more...

http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/05/news/economy/foodstamps.reut/index.htm?section=money_latest

[Captain Hilts]

1. That people who work full-time are on foodstamps is a huge subsidy to business.

Especially retail.

[kestrel91316]

2. Question: What happens when people run out of their alloted time on

food stamps? Do we just let them starve? This is an awful lot of people who whon't necessarily be in an improved financial condition in a year.

[OhioChick]

4. That was my first thought, as well. n/t

[Mabus]

10. What about the people who have already run out of time?

They aren't included in this total but they should have a pretty good idea how many of them there are. Neither their numbers nor the fact that there is a time limit to the program is are mentioned in this article. This recession was, especially in some areas of the country, was already happening last year and starting to hit those most in need. A lot of people and families will be running of help before long. As the article notes the previous record for food stamp enrollment was 31.6 million in September of 2008, and "included "disaster" stamps for states hit by hurricanes and floods."

[madrchsod]

3. this does`t factor in the WIC program

this does`t include the people who make just a dollar to much to qualify.

it`s not pretty out there

[babylonsister]

5. .

[Gabi Hayes]

6. this record will last about as long as Ben Johnson's 100m record

[Toucano]

7. 10 percent of the population, more or less.

But 31.8 million probably represents recipients, or households, not individuals.

[tangent90]

9. If that's the case the number of individuals is much higher, yes?

:shrug:

[Mabus]

8. Wow.

Incredible. Just incredible.