Food Stamp Use Continues To Grow

According to the Food and Nutrition Service ("FNS") of the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"), a total of 47,710,324 Americans used the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP") in September.

This 47,710,324 figure is an all-time record, up roughly 608,000 from the previous all-time record that was set in August.

A total of 22,973,698 households utilized the food stamp program in September, up from 22,684,463 in the previous month.

The total cost of the program to taxpayers in September was $6,407,024,211, which was up roughly $125 million from August.

The average benefit per person in September was $134.29, while the average benefit per household was $278.89.

Let's compare the numbers from October 2008 (which was the height of the financial meltdown) to the numbers from September of this year:

October 2008

Total enrolment - 30,841,790
Total Households Enrolled - 13,900,815
Total Cost - $3,697,627,592
Average Monthly Benefit Per Person - $119.89
Average Monthly Benefit Per Household - $266.00

September 2012

Total enrolment - 47,710,324
Total Households Enrolled - 22,973,698
Total Cost - $6,407,024,211
Average Monthly Benefit Per Person - $134.29
Average Monthly Benefit Per Household - $278.89

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The United States currently has a population of approximately 311,591,917, which means that roughly 15% of the American population utilized food stamps in September.

Source: FNS.USDA.GOV - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

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