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As Jobs Vanish and Prices Rise, Food Stamp Use Nears Record
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| Parent(s) |
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| Contributor | Servo |
| Last Edited | Servo Mar 31, 2008 03:47pm |
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| Category | News |
| Media | Newspaper - New York Times |
| News Date | Monday, March 31, 2008 09:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Driven by a painful mix of layoffs and rising food and fuel prices, the number of Americans receiving food stamps is projected to reach 28 million in the coming year, the highest level since the aid program began in the 1960s.
The number of recipients, who must have near-poverty incomes to qualify for benefits averaging $100 a month per family member, has fluctuated over the years along with economic conditions, eligibility rules, enlistment drives and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which led to a spike in the South.
But recent rises in many states appear to be resulting mainly from the economic slowdown, officials and experts say, as well as inflation in prices of basic goods that leave more families feeling pinched. Citing expected growth in unemployment, the Congressional Budget Office this month projected a continued increase in the monthly number of recipients in the next fiscal year, starting Oct. 1 — to 28 million, up from 27.8 million in 2008, and 26.5 million in 2007.
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