CHART - Food Stamp Use Jumps To Record 46 Million Americans - 15% Of U.S. Population (1970 To 2011)
Aug 9, 2011 at 12:47 AM
DailyBail in POVERTY, chart, charts and graphs, economy, food stamps, poverty

Most interesting about the longer term chart (1970-2011) is the fact that the program is hard to escape.  Once a family starts on food stamps, the chance of getting off the program is slim.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Nearly 15% of the U.S. population relied on food stamps in May, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

The number of Americans using the government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- more commonly referred to as food stamps -- shot to an all-time high of 45.8 million in May, the USDA reported. That's up 12% from a year ago, and 34% higher than two years ago.

To qualify for food stamps, an individual's income can't exceed $1,174 a month or $14,088 a year -- an amount that is 130% of the national poverty level.

The average food stamp benefit was $133.80 per person and $283.65 per household in May.

Continue reading...

---

Related stories:

Time Lapse Video - Food Stamps Are The New Normal

 

WSJ Interactive Map - Food Stamp Use By State

 

J.P. Morgan's Food Stamp Monopoly: The More Americans That Fall Into Poverty The More Money Jamie Dimon Makes

 

 

 

Article originally appeared on The Daily Bail (http://dailybail.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.