The Food Stamp Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service, is the largest food assistance program in the country, reaching more poor individuals over the course of a year than any other public assistance program. Unlike many other public assistance programs, the Food Stamp Program has few categorical requirements for eligibility, such as the presence of children, elderly or disabled individuals in a household. As a result, the program offers assistance to a large and diverse population of needy persons, many of whom are not eligible for other forms of assistance.
The Food Stamp Program was designed primarily to increase the food purchasing power of eligible low-income households to the point where they can buy a nutritionally adequate low-cost diet. Participating households are expected to be able to devote 30 percent of their counted monthly cash income (after adjusting for various deductions) to food purchases. Food stamp benefits then make up the difference between the household’s expected contribution to its food costs and an amount judged to be sufficient to buy an adequate low-cost diet. This amount, the maximum food stamp benefit level, is derived from USDA’s lowest-cost food plan, the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP).
The Federal government is responsible for virtually all of the rules that govern the program, and, with limited variations, these rules are nationally uniform, as are the benefit levels. Nonetheless, States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, through their local welfare offices, have primary responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the program. They determine eligibility, calculate benefits, and issue food stamp allotments. The Food Stamp Act provides 100 percent federal funding of food stamp benefits. States and other jurisdictions have responsibility for about half the cost of state and local food stamp agency administration.
In addition to the regular Food Stamp Program, the Food Stamp Act authorizes alternative programs in Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. The largest of these, the Nutrition Assistance Program in Puerto Rico, had an average of 1.1 million participants in 2000, funded under a federal block grant of $1.27 billion. Unless noted otherwise, the food stamp caseload and expenditure data in this Appendix include costs for the Nutrition Assistance Program in Puerto Rico. Prior to 1982, the regular Food Stamp Program operated in Puerto Rico, under modified eligibility and benefit rules.
The Food Stamp Program has financial, employment/training-related and “categorical” tests for eligibility. The basic food stamp beneficiary unit is the “household.” Generally, individuals living together constitute a single food stamp household if they customarily purchase food and prepare meals together. Members of the same household must apply together, and their income, expenses, and assets normally are aggregated in determining food stamp eligibility and benefits. Except for households composed entirely of TANF, SSI, or general assistance recipients (who generally are automatically eligible for food stamps), monthly cash income is the primary food stamp eligibility determinant. Unless exempt, adult applicants for food stamps must register for work, typically with the welfare agency or a state employment service office. To maintain eligibility, they must accept a suitable job if offered one and fulfill any work, job search, or training requirements established by the administering welfare agencies.
Food stamp benefits are a function of a household’s size, its net monthly income, its assets, and maximum monthly benefit levels. Allotments are not taxable and food stamp purchases may not be charged sales taxes. Receipt of food stamps does not affect eligibility for or benefits provided by other welfare programs, although some programs use food stamp participation as a “trigger” for eligibility and others take into account the general availability of food stamps in deciding what level of benefits to provide.
Recent Legislative and Regulatory Changes
Title IV and Subtitle A of title VIII of the PRWORA contain major and extensive revisions to the Food Stamp Program, including strong work requirements on able-bodied adults without dependent children, restricted benefits for legal immigrants, and a reduction in maximum benefits. These three provisions, and subsequent amendments, are discussed below; their impact on program participation and expenditures begins to appear in food stamp administrative data for 1997, with the fuller impact shown in data for 1998 and beyond.
First, a new work requirement was added for able-bodied adult food stamp recipients without dependents (ABAWDs). Unless exempt, ABAWDs between the ages of 18 and 50 are not eligible for benefits for more than 3 months in every 36-month period unless they are (1) working at least 20 hours a week; (2) participating in and complying with a work program for at least 20 hours a week; or (3) participating in and complying with a workfare program. Under the original legislation, the Department of Agriculture was authorized to waive application of the work requirement to any group of individuals at the request of the state agency, if a determination is made that the area where they reside has an unemployment rate over 10 percent or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide them employment. The provision was further moderated under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33), which allowed states to exempt up to 15 percent of the ABAWD caseload (beyond those subject to waivers) and which increased funds for the food stamp employment and training program for the creation of job slots for able-bodied adults subject to time limits.
Separately, title IV of PRWORA made significant changes in the eligibility of noncitizens for food stamp benefits. As first enacted, most qualified aliens, including legal immigrants (illegal aliens were already ineligible) were barred from receiving food stamps until citizenship. Subsequently, the Agriculture Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-185) restored food stamp eligibility to certain groups of qualified aliens who were legally residing in the United States before passage of PRWORA on August 22, 1996. Specifically, the ban on food stamp eligibility was lifted for children, the disabled and people who were 65 on August 22, 1996.
Finally, the 1996 legislation restrained growth in future program expenditures by making changes in the benefit structure for eligible participants, including a reduction in the maximum food stamp allotment. Other provisions of the 1996 act disqualified from eligibility those convicted of drug-related felonies and gave states the option to disqualify individuals, both custodial and noncustodial parents, from food stamps when they do not cooperate with child support agencies or are in arrears in their child support.
Recent regulatory and legislative changes have been made to increase access to food stamps among working poor families. Regulatory changes announced in July 1999 and expanded in November 2000 allow states to reduce reporting requirements and make it easier for working families to report income changes on a semiannual basis. Under the November 2000 regulations, states also have the option of providing a three-month transitional food stamp benefit to most families leaving TANF. In addition, the Agriculture Appropriations Bill for 2001 (P.L. 106-387) provides states with the option of liberalizing the treatment of vehicle assets to align with the states’ TANF rules on vehicle eligibility. These changes were intended to address concerns that some of the decline in food stamp caseloads may be leaving poor families without nutritional assistance as they make the transition from welfare dependence to full self-sufficiency.
Food Stamp Program Data
The following six tables and accompanying figure provide information about the Food Stamp Program, including information about the Nutrition Assistance Program in Puerto Rico:
- Tables FSP 1-2 and Figure FSP 1 present national caseload and expenditure trend data on the Food Stamp Program, as discussed below;
- Table FSP 3 presents some demographic characteristics of the food stamp caseload; and
- Tables FSP 4-6 present some state-by-state trend data on the Food Stamp Program through fiscal year 2000.
Food Stamp Caseload Trends (Tables FSP 1-2). Average monthly food stamp participation (including participants in Puerto Rico’s block grant) has continued to fall from its peak of 28.9 million in an average month in 1994 to an average of 18.3 million persons in 2000. Both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the population, food stamp recipiency is lower than at any point in the past twenty years. See also Table IND 3b and Table IND 4b in Chapter II for further data on the recent decline in food stamp recipiency and participation rates.
Considerable research has demonstrated that the Food Stamp Program is responsive to economic changes, with participation increasing in times of economic downturns and decreasing in times of economic growth (see Figure FSP 1). Economic conditions alone did not explain the caseload growth in the late 1980s and early 1990s, however. A congressionally mandated study in 1990 concluded that a variety of factors contributed to this caseload growth, including expansions in Medicaid eligibility and changes in immigration laws, particularly the legalization of undocumented aliens, as well as a rise in unemployment (McConnell, 1991). Longer spells of participation also contributed to the caseload increase, according to an analysis of longitudinal data from the Survey on Income and Program Participation (Gleason, 1998).
Economic conditions were a significant factor in explaining the drop in food stamp caseload since 1994, according to an Economic Research Service review of recent research (ERS, 2000). Several econometric models suggest that economic variables explain between 25 and 44 percent of the decline in caseload. The full effect of the economy may be even higher, to the extent that some of the unexplained variation in the models reflects local economic conditions not captured in state-level economic variables.
Policy changes, most notably the enactment of the Personal Responsibility Act of 1996, have also contributed to the recent decline in food stamp caseload. The most direct impact was the elimination of eligibility for most legal immigrants and for many childless adults aged 18-50. Participation for these two groups fell sharply between 1994 and 1998 (Genser, 1999). In addition, changes in TANF policy may have affected food stamp participation, although these effects are less certain. Many studies of families leaving TANF cash assistance have found that many of these families leave the Food Stamp Program as well, despite appearing eligible for food stamp benefits. Econometric studies of the effects of specific changes in TANF policy, however, have found that only a small share of the decline in state food stamp caseloads was associated with waivers to AFDC policies. Increased stigma about welfare use and unintentional diversion from the Food Stamp Program may be additional factors affecting food stamp participation. Finally, a study of trends in Food Stamp Program participation rates (USDA, 2000) found that the program is reaching a smaller percentage of eligible individuals in 1998 than it did during the three previous years.
Food Stamp Expenditures. Total program costs, shown in Table FSP 2, have declined in recent years, along with the decline in caseloads. In fiscal year 2000, total program costs (including Puerto Rico) were $18.4 billion, reaching their lowest levels since 1980, after adjusting for inflation. (Average monthly participation in fiscal year 2000 was 18.3 million). Average monthly benefits per person have also declined in recent years after adjusting for inflation. Benefits were $73 per person in fiscal year 2000, considerably lower than the $85 per person benefit (in constant dollars) paid in 1992, but higher than the $70 per person paid in 1987.
Food Stamp Household Characteristics. As shown in Table FSP 3, the proportion of food stamp households with earnings has increased, from about 20 percent for most of the 1980s and early 1990s, to 27 percent in 2000. At the same time, the proportion of households with income from AFDC/TANF has declined, from 42 percent in 1984 to 26 percent in 2000, following the dramatic decline in AFDC/TANF caseloads. Over half of all food stamp households have children, although the proportion has declined somewhat from over 60 percent in most of the 1980s and early 1990s to 54 percent in 2000. The vast majority (89 percent) of households have incomes below the federal poverty guidelines.
Figure FSP 1. Persons Receiving Food Stamps
Note: Shaded areas are periods of recession as defined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, National Data Bank.
Table FSP 1. Trends in Food Stamp Caseloads, Selected Years 1962 – 2000
| Fiscal Year | Food Stamp Participants1 | Participants as a Percent of: | Child Participants As a Percent of: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Including Territories2 (in thousands) | Excluding Territories (in thousands) | Children Excld. Terr. (in thousands) | Total Population3 | All Poor Persons3 | Pre-transfer Poverty Population4 | Total Child Population3 | Children in Poverty3 | |
| 1962 | 6,554 | 6,554 | NA | 3.5 | 17.0 | NA | NA | NA |
| 1965 | 5,166 | 5,166 | NA | 2.7 | 15.5 | NA | NA | NA |
| 1970 | 8,277 | 8,277 | NA | 4.1 | 32.6 | NA | NA | NA |
| 1971 | 13,042 | 13,042 | NA | 6.3 | 51.0 | NA | NA | NA |
| 1972 | 14,102 | 14,102 | NA | 6.7 | 57.7 | NA | NA | NA |
| 1973 | 14,641 | 14,641 | NA | 6.9 | 63.7 | NA | NA | NA |
| 1974 | 14,784 | 14,765 | NA | 6.9 | 63.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| 19755 | 18,308 | 17,217 | NA | 8.0 | 66.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| 1976 | 18,240 | 16,733 | 9,126 | 7.7 | 66.7 | NA | 13.8 | 88.8 |
| 1977 | 17,014 | 15,579 | NA | 7.1 | 62.7 | NA | NA | NA |
| 1978 | 15,988 | 14,503 | NA | 6.5 | 58.9 | NA | NA | NA |
| 19796 | 17,682 | 15,976 | NA | 7.1 | 60.9 | 57.1 | NA | NA |
| 1980 | 21,082 | 19,253 | 9,876 | 8.5 | 65.5 | 60.7 | 15.5 | 85.6 |
| 1981 | 22,430 | 20,654 | 9,803 | 9.0 | 64.6 | 60.8 | 15.5 | 78.4 |
| 1982 | 22,055 | 20,392 | 9,591 | 8.8 | 59.0 | 56.3 | 15.3 | 70.3 |
| 1983 | 23,195 | 21,667 | 10,910 | 9.3 | 61.1 | 58.5 | 17.4 | 78.4 |
| 1984 | 22,384 | 20,796 | 10,492 | 8.8 | 61.7 | 58.5 | 16.8 | 78.2 |
| 1985 | 21,379 | 19,847 | 9,906 | 8.3 | 60.0 | 56.6 | 15.8 | 76.1 |
| 1986 | 20,909 | 19,381 | 9,844 | 8.1 | 59.9 | 56.2 | 15.7 | 76.5 |
| 1987 | 20,583 | 19,072 | 9,771 | 7.9 | 59.2 | 55.6 | 15.5 | 75.4 |
| 1988 | 20,095 | 18,613 | 9,351 | 7.6 | 58.6 | 55.2 | 14.8 | 75.1 |
| 1989 | 20,266 | 18,778 | 9,429 | 7.6 | 59.6 | 55.6 | 14.9 | 74.9 |
| 1990 | 21,547 | 20,038 | 10,127 | 8.0 | 59.7 | 55.7 | 15.8 | 75.4 |
| 1991 | 24,115 | 22,599 | 11,952 | 9.0 | 63.3 | 59.3 | 18.4 | 83.3 |
| 1992 | 26,886 | 25,369 | 13,349 | 9.9 | 66.7 | 64.0 | 20.2 | 87.3 |
| 1993 | 28,422 | 26,952 | 14,196 | 10.5 | 68.6 | 63.8 | 21.2 | 90.3 |
| 1994 | 28,879 | 27,434 | 14,391 | 10.5 | 72.1 | 66.8 | 21.2 | 94.1 |
| 1995 | 27,989 | 26,579 | 13,860 | 10.1 | 73.0 | 67.6 | 20.2 | 94.5 |
| 1996 | 26,872 | 25,494 | 13,189 | 9.6 | 69.8 | 64.6 | 19.1 | 91.2 |
| 1997 | 24,148 | 22,820 | 11,847 | 8.5 | 64.1 | 59.9 | 17.0 | 83.9 |
| 1998 | 20,970 | 19,746 | 10,524 | 7.3 | 57.3 | 53.8 | 15.1 | 78.1 |
| 1999 | 19,325 | 18,146 | 9,354 | 6.7 | 56.3 | 52.5 | 13.3 | 77.2 |
| 2000 | 18,267 | 17,120 | 8,765 | 6.1 | 55.0 | 51.7 | 12.1 | 75.3 |
1Total participants includes all participating states, the District of Columbia, and the territories (including Puerto Rico). The number of child participants includes only the participating states and D.C. (the territories are not included). From 1962 to 1983 the number of participants includes the Family Food Assistance Program (FFAP) which was largely replaced by the Food Stamp Program in 1975. The FFAP participants (as of December) for the seven years shown during the period from 1962 to 1974 were respectively: 6,411; 4,742; 3,977; 3,642; 3,002; 2,441; and 1,406 (all in thousands). From 1975 to 1983 the number of FFAP participants averaged only 88 thousand. The monthly average number of participants for 1970-76 is computed as an average from October of the prior calendar year to September, the span of the fiscal year since 1977.
2Participation figures in column 1 from 1982 on include enrollment in Puerto Rico’s Nutrition Assistance Program (averaging 1.1 to 1.5 million persons a month under the nutrition assistance grant and higher figures in earlier years under Food Stamps, as shown in Table FSP 5).
3Includes all participating states and the District of Columbia only — the territories are excluded from both numerator and denominator. Population numbers used as denominators are the resident population — see Current Population Reports, Series P25-1106. For the persons living in poverty used as denominators, see Current Population Reports, Series P60-210.
4The pretransfer poverty population used as denominator is the number of all persons in families or living alone whose income (cash income plus social insurance plus Social Security but before taxes and means-tested transfers) falls below the appropriate poverty threshold. See Appendix J, Table 20, 1992 Green Book; data for subsequent years are unpublished Congressional Budget Office tabulations.
5The first fiscal year in which food stamps were available nationwide.
6The fiscal year in which the food stamp purchase requirement was eliminated, on a phased-in basis.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, National Data Bank, the 1996 Green Book, and U.S. Bureau of the Census, “Poverty in the United States: 2000," Current Population Reports, Series P60-214 and earlier years.
Table FSP 2. Trends in Food Stamp Expenditures, Selected Years 1975 – 2000
| Fiscal Year | Total Federal Cost (Benefits + Administration) | Benefits2(Federal) [In millions] |
Administration1 | Total Program Cost [In millions] |
Average Monthly Benefit per Person | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Dollars [In millions] |
2000 Dollars3 [In millions] |
Federal [In millions] |
State & Local [In millions] |
Current Dollars | 2000 Dollars3 | |||
| 1975 | $5,037 | $15,946 | $4,798 | $238 | $180 | $5,217 | $21.50 | $68.10 |
| 1976 | 5,641 | 16,718 | 5,276 | 365 | 275 | 5,934 | 23.50 | 69.60 |
| 1977 | 5,463 | 15,072 | 5,061 | 402 | 300 | 5,775 | 24.00 | 66.20 |
| 1978 | 5,546 | 14,354 | 5,112 | 434 | 325 | 5,883 | 25.70 | 66.50 |
| 19794 | 6,965 | 16,577 | 6,450 | 515 | 388 | 7,388 | 29.90 | 71.20 |
| 1980 | 9,224 | 19,736 | 8,721 | 503 | 375 | 9,633 | 34.20 | 73.20 |
| 1981 | 11,308 | 22,000 | 10,630 | 678 | 504 | 11,906 | 39.40 | 76.70 |
| 1982 | 11,117 | 20,209 | 10,408 | 709 | 557 | 11,697 | 39.00 | 70.90 |
| 1983 | 12,708 | 22,094 | 11,930 | 778 | 612 | 13,343 | 43.00 | 74.80 |
| 1984 | 12,446 | 20,755 | 11,475 | 9715 | 805 | 13,251 | 42.70 | 71.20 |
| 1985 | 12,573 | 20,239 | 11,530 | 1,043 | 871 | 13,444 | 45.00 | 72.40 |
| 1986 | 12,510 | 19,641 | 11,397 | 1,113 | 935 | 13,445 | 45.50 | 71.40 |
| 1987 | 12,512 | 19,102 | 11,317 | 1,195 | 996 | 13,508 | 45.80 | 69.90 |
| 1988 | 13,281 | 19,478 | 11,991 | 1,290 | 1,080 | 14,361 | 49.80 | 73.00 |
| 1989 | 13,904 | 19,460 | 12,572 | 1,332 | 1,101 | 15,005 | 51.80 | 72.50 |
| 1990 | 16,503 | 22,004 | 15,081 | 1,422 | 1,174 | 17,677 | 58.90 | 78.50 |
| 1991 | 19,790 | 25,118 | 18,274 | 1,516 | 1,247 | 21,037 | 63.90 | 81.10 |
| 1992 | 23,535 | 28,992 | 21,879 | 1,656 | 1,375 | 24,910 | 68.60 | 84.50 |
| 1993 | 24,733 | 29,576 | 23,017 | 1,716 | 1,572 | 26,305 | 68.00 | 81.30 |
| 1994 | 25,587 | 29,806 | 23,798 | 1,789 | 1,643 | 27,230 | 69.00 | 80.40 |
| 1995 | 25,776 | 29,220 | 23,859 | 1,917 | 1,748 | 27,524 | 71.30 | 80.80 |
| 1996 | 25,527 | 28,152 | 23,543 | 1,984 | 1,842 | 27,369 | 73.20 | 80.70 |
| 1997 | 22,750 | 24,430 | 20,692 | 2,058 | 1,904 | 24,654 | 71.30 | 76.60 |
| 1998 | 20,224 | 21,369 | 18,055 | 2,169 | 1,988 | 22,212 | 71.10 | 75.10 |
| 1999 | 19,045 | 19,747 | 16,945 | 2,100 | 1,874 | 22,919 | 72.20 | 74.90 |
| 2000 | 18,411 | 18,411 | 16,211 | 2,200 | 1,963 | 20,374 | 72.80 | 72.80 |
1Amounts include the federal share of state administrative and employment and training costs (including administrative costs of Puerto Rico's block grant) and certain direct federal administrative costs. They do not generally include approximately $60 million in food-stamp related federal administrative costs budgeted under a separate appropriation account (although estimates prior to 1989 do include estimates of food stamp related federal administrative expenses paid out of other Agriculture Department accounts). State and local costs are estimated based on the known federal shares and represent an estimate of all administrative expenses of participating states (including Puerto Rico).
2Benefit costs include the Food Stamp Program and Puerto Rico's nutritional assistance program and are based on unpublished data from the USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, National Data Bank (see Table FSP 4).
3Constant dollar adjustments to 2000 level were made using a CPI-U-X1 fiscal year average price index.
4The fiscal year in which the food stamp purchase requirement was eliminated, on a phased-in basis.
5Beginning 1984 USDA took over from DHHS the administrative cost of certifying public assistance households for food stamps.
Note: Total federal cost includes food stamps in Puerto Rico (1975-1981) and funding for Puerto Rico's nutrition assistance grant (1982-present). Average benefit figures, however, do not reflect the lower benefits in Puerto Rico under either the Food Stamp Program from 1975 to 1981 or its nutrition assistance program since 1982.
Source: USDA, Food and Nutrition Service unpublished data from the National Data Bank; and the 2000 Green Book.
Table FSP 3. Characteristics of Food Stamp Households, 1980 - 2000 [In percent]
| Year1 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1990 | 1992 | 1994 | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
| With Gross Monthly Income: | ||||||||||
|
87 | 93 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 90 | 91 | 90 | 89 | 89 |
|
10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
|
2 | 1 | * | * | * | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| With Earnings | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
| With Public Assistance Income2 | 65 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 66 | 69 | 67 | 65 | 63 | 63 |
|
NA | 42 | 42 | 43 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 31 | 27 | 26 |
|
18 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
| With Children | 60 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 58 | 56 | 54 |
|
NA | 47 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 50 | 47 | 46 | 44 |
|
NA | NA | 39 | 37 | 44 | 43 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 38 |
| With Elderly Members3 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 |
|
NA | 16 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 11 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Average Household Size | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
1Data were gathered in August in the years 1980-84 and during the summer in the years from 1986 to 1994. Reports from 1995 to the present are based on fiscal year averages.
2Public assistance income includes AFDC, SSI, and general assistance.
3Elderly members and heads of household include those of age 60 or older.
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Analysis, Nutrition, and Evaluation, Characteristics of Food Stamp Households, Fiscal Year 2000 and earlier years.
Table FSP 4. Value of Food Stamps Issued by State, Selected Fiscal Years 1975 – 2000 [Millions of dollars]
| State | 1975 | 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $4,798 | $8,721 | $11,530 | $15,081 | $23,859 | $18,055 | $16,945 | $16,211 |
| Alabama | $108 | $246 | $318 | $328 | $441 | $357 | $346 | $344 |
| Alaska | 7 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 46 |
| Arizona | 45 | 97 | 121 | 239 | 414 | 253 | 233 | 240 |
| Arkansas | 78 | 122 | 126 | 155 | 212 | 206 | 210 | 206 |
| California | 374 | 530 | 639 | 968 | 2,473 | 2,020 | 1,796 | 1,639 |
| Colorado | 48 | 71 | 94 | 156 | 217 | 157 | 145 | 127 |
| Connecticut | 38 | 59 | 62 | 72 | 169 | 161 | 150 | 138 |
| Delaware | 8 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 34 | 32 | 31 |
| Dist. of Columbia | 32 | 41 | 40 | 43 | 92 | 85 | 82 | 77 |
| Florida | 236 | 421 | 368 | 609 | 1,307 | 845 | 813 | 773 |
| Georgia | 144 | 264 | 290 | 382 | 700 | 538 | 514 | 489 |
| Guam | 3 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 24 | 34 | 31 | 36 |
| Hawaii | 26 | 60 | 93 | 81 | 177 | 178 | 180 | 166 |
| Idaho | 12 | 29 | 36 | 40 | 59 | 47 | 45 | 46 |
| Illinois | 259 | 394 | 713 | 835 | 1,056 | 844 | 767 | 777 |
| Indiana | 64 | 154 | 242 | 226 | 382 | 263 | 255 | 268 |
| Iowa | 29 | 54 | 107 | 109 | 142 | 109 | 103 | 100 |
| Kansas | 13 | 38 | 64 | 96 | 144 | 83 | 80 | 83 |
| Kentucky | 138 | 211 | 332 | 334 | 413 | 345 | 337 | 337 |
| Louisiana | 149 | 243 | 365 | 549 | 629 | 467 | 463 | 448 |
| Maine | 36 | 60 | 62 | 63 | 112 | 100 | 89 | 81 |
| Maryland | 79 | 140 | 171 | 203 | 365 | 282 | 237 | 199 |
| Massachusetts | 104 | 171 | 173 | 207 | 315 | 222 | 205 | 182 |
| Michigan | 132 | 263 | 541 | 663 | 806 | 588 | 515 | 457 |
| Minnesota | 43 | 62 | 105 | 165 | 240 | 181 | 172 | 165 |
| Mississippi | 115 | 199 | 264 | 352 | 383 | 254 | 232 | 226 |
| Missouri | 85 | 142 | 212 | 312 | 488 | 345 | 348 | 358 |
| Montana | 11 | 18 | 31 | 41 | 57 | 52 | 52 | 51 |
| Nebraska | 12 | 25 | 44 | 59 | 77 | 68 | 66 | 61 |
| Nevada | 11 | 15 | 22 | 41 | 91 | 63 | 56 | 57 |
| New Hampshire | 14 | 22 | 15 | 20 | 44 | 30 | 31 | 28 |
| New Jersey | 136 | 226 | 260 | 289 | 506 | 384 | 346 | 304 |
| New Mexico | 49 | 81 | 88 | 117 | 196 | 144 | 144 | 140 |
| New York | 233 | 726 | 938 | 1,086 | 2,065 | 1,505 | 1,464 | 1,361 |
| North Carolina | 139 | 234 | 237 | 282 | 495 | 421 | 435 | 403 |
| North Dakota | 5 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 32 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
| Ohio | 268 | 382 | 697 | 861 | 1,017 | 613 | 535 | 520 |
| Oklahoma | 40 | 73 | 134 | 186 | 315 | 231 | 221 | 208 |
| Oregon | 58 | 80 | 142 | 168 | 254 | 198 | 190 | 198 |
| Pennsylvania | 190 | 373 | 547 | 661 | 1,006 | 764 | 704 | 656 |
| Puerto Rico | 366 | 828 | 786 | 894 | 1,095 | 1,166 | 1,190 | 1,226 |
| Rhode Island | 19 | 31 | 35 | 42 | 82 | 57 | 61 | 59 |
| South Carolina | 126 | 181 | 194 | 240 | 297 | 264 | 251 | 249 |
| South Dakota | 8 | 18 | 26 | 35 | 40 | 37 | 37 | 37 |
| Tennessee | 126 | 282 | 280 | 372 | 554 | 437 | 425 | 415 |
| Texas | 319 | 514 | 701 | 1,429 | 2,246 | 1,425 | 1,255 | 1,215 |
| Utah | 13 | 22 | 40 | 71 | 90 | 75 | 73 | 68 |
| Vermont | 10 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 46 | 34 | 34 | 32 |
| Virgin Islands | 9 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
| Virginia | 70 | 158 | 189 | 247 | 450 | 307 | 282 | 263 |
| Washington | 71 | 90 | 140 | 229 | 417 | 308 | 260 | 241 |
| West Virginia | 57 | 87 | 159 | 192 | 253 | 224 | 208 | 185 |
| Wisconsin | 33 | 68 | 148 | 180 | 220 | 130 | 124 | 129 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 28 | 21 | 19 | 19 |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished data from the Food Stamp National Data Bank.
Table FSP 5. Average Number of Food Stamp Recipients by State, Selected Fiscal Years 1977 – 2000 [In thousands]
|
State |
Percent Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1981 | 1985 | 1989 | 1994 | 1996 | 1998 | 2000 | 1989-94 | 1994-00 | |
| United States | 17,014 | 22,430 | 21,379 | 20,266 | 28,879 | 26,872 | 20,970 | 18,267 | 42 | -33 |
| Alabama | 316 | 605 | 588 | 436 | 545 | 509 | 427 | 396 | 25 | -27 |
| Alaska | 11 | 32 | 22 | 26 | 46 | 46 | 42 | 38 | 76 | -18 |
| Arizona | 140 | 210 | 206 | 264 | 512 | 427 | 296 | 259 | 94 | -49 |
| Arkansas | 213 | 305 | 253 | 227 | 283 | 274 | 256 | 247 | 24 | -13 |
| California | 1,345 | 1,605 | 1,615 | 1,776 | 3,155 | 3,143 | 2,259 | 1,832 | 78 | -42 |
| Colorado | 147 | 175 | 170 | 211 | 268 | 244 | 191 | 156 | 27 | -42 |
| Connecticut | 178 | 175 | 145 | 114 | 223 | 223 | 196 | 165 | 96 | -26 |
| Delaware | 26 | 56 | 40 | 30 | 59 | 58 | 46 | 32 | 99 | -46 |
| Dist. of Columbia | 98 | 101 | 72 | 58 | 91 | 93 | 85 | 81 | 55 | -11 |
| Florida | 728 | 957 | 630 | 668 | 1,474 | 1,371 | 991 | 882 | 121 | -40 |
| Georgia | 459 | 654 | 567 | 485 | 830 | 793 | 632 | 559 | 71 | -33 |
| Guam | 22 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 46 |
| Hawaii | 108 | 104 | 99 | 78 | 115 | 130 | 122 | 118 | 47 | 3 |
| Idaho | 33 | 64 | 59 | 61 | 82 | 80 | 62 | 58 | 34 | -29 |
| Illinois | 922 | 984 | 1,110 | 990 | 1,189 | 1,105 | 923 | 779 | 20 | -34 |
| Indiana | 196 | 405 | 406 | 285 | 518 | 390 | 313 | 300 | 82 | -42 |
| Iowa | 108 | 163 | 203 | 168 | 196 | 177 | 141 | 123 | 16 | -37 |
| Kansas | 62 | 108 | 119 | 128 | 192 | 172 | 119 | 117 | 50 | -39 |
| Kentucky | 394 | 519 | 560 | 447 | 522 | 486 | 412 | 403 | 17 | -23 |
| Louisiana | 425 | 574 | 644 | 725 | 756 | 670 | 537 | 500 | 4 | -34 |
| Maine | 101 | 140 | 114 | 84 | 136 | 131 | 115 | 102 | 61 | -25 |
| Maryland | 255 | 346 | 287 | 249 | 390 | 375 | 323 | 219 | 57 | -44 |
| Massachusetts | 579 | 437 | 337 | 314 | 442 | 374 | 293 | 232 | 40 | -48 |
| Michigan | 635 | 942 | 985 | 874 | 1,031 | 935 | 772 | 603 | 18 | -42 |
| Minnesota | 158 | 202 | 228 | 245 | 318 | 295 | 220 | 196 | 30 | -38 |
| Mississippi | 333 | 514 | 495 | 493 | 511 | 457 | 329 | 276 | 4 | -46 |
| Missouri | 221 | 378 | 362 | 404 | 593 | 554 | 411 | 423 | 47 | -29 |
| Montana | 27 | 47 | 58 | 56 | 71 | 71 | 62 | 59 | 28 | -17 |
| Nebraska | 40 | 75 | 94 | 92 | 111 | 102 | 95 | 82 | 20 | -26 |
| Nevada | 18 | 37 | 32 | 41 | 97 | 97 | 72 | 61 | 134 | -37 |
| New Hampshire | 44 | 54 | 28 | 22 | 62 | 53 | 40 | 36 | 182 | -41 |
| New Jersey | 493 | 608 | 464 | 353 | 545 | 540 | 425 | 345 | 54 | -37 |
| New Mexico | 118 | 183 | 157 | 151 | 244 | 235 | 175 | 169 | 62 | -31 |
| New York | 1,646 | 1,851 | 1,834 | 1,463 | 2,154 | 2,099 | 1,627 | 1,439 | 47 | -33 |
| North Carolina | 428 | 605 | 474 | 390 | 630 | 631 | 528 | 488 | 61 | -22 |
| North Dakota | 15 | 29 | 33 | 39 | 45 | 40 | 34 | 32 | 17 | -30 |
| Ohio | 803 | 976 | 1,133 | 1,068 | 1,245 | 1,045 | 734 | 610 | 17 | -51 |
| Oklahoma | 158 | 206 | 263 | 261 | 376 | 354 | 288 | 253 | 44 | -33 |
| Oregon | 153 | 232 | 228 | 213 | 286 | 288 | 238 | 234 | 34 | -18 |
| Pennsylvania | 843 | 1,071 | 1,032 | 916 | 1,208 | 1,124 | 907 | 777 | 32 | -36 |
| Puerto Rico | 1,472 | 1,805 | 1,480 | 1,460 | 1,410 | 1,330 | 1,181 | 1,109 | -3 | -21 |
| Rhode Island | 79 | 88 | 69 | 57 | 94 | 91 | 72 | 74 | 65 | -21 |
| South Carolina | 280 | 443 | 373 | 272 | 385 | 358 | 333 | 295 | 42 | -23 |
| South Dakota | 26 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 53 | 49 | 45 | 43 | 6 | -20 |
| Tennessee | 392 | 677 | 518 | 500 | 735 | 638 | 538 | 496 | 47 | -32 |
| Texas | 823 | 1,226 | 1,263 | 1,634 | 2,726 | 2,372 | 1,636 | 1,333 | 67 | -51 |
| Utah | 36 | 65 | 75 | 95 | 128 | 110 | 92 | 82 | 34 | -36 |
| Vermont | 46 | 48 | 44 | 34 | 65 | 56 | 46 | 41 | 90 | -37 |
| Virgin Islands | 25 | 34 | 32 | 16 | 20 | 31 | 17 | 16 | 23 | -21 |
| Virginia | 240 | 432 | 360 | 333 | 547 | 538 | 397 | 336 | 65 | -39 |
| Washington | 212 | 271 | 281 | 321 | 468 | 478 | 364 | 295 | 46 | -37 |
| West Virginia | 199 | 252 | 278 | 259 | 321 | 300 | 269 | 227 | 24 | -29 |
| Wisconsin | 175 | 269 | 363 | 291 | 330 | 283 | 193 | 193 | 13 | -41 |
| Wyoming | 9 | 15 | 27 | 27 | 34 | 33 | 25 | 22 | 25 | -34 |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished data from the National Data Bank.
Table FSP 6. Food Stamp Recipiency Rates by State, Selected Fiscal Years 1977 – 2000 [In percent]
|
State |
Percent Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1981 | 1985 | 1989 | 1994 | 1996 | 1998 | 2000 | 1989-94 | 1994-00 | |
| United States | 7.1 | 9.0 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 10.5 | 9.6 | 7.3 | 6.1 | 39 | -42 |
| Alabama | 8.4 | 15.4 | 14.8 | 10.8 | 12.9 | 11.9 | 9.8 | 8.9 | 19 | -31 |
| Alaska | 2.7 | 7.7 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 6.9 | 6.0 | 60 | -22 |
| Arizona | 5.8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 7.3 | 12.3 | 9.6 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 69 | -59 |
| Arkansas | 9.7 | 13.3 | 10.9 | 9.7 | 11.5 | 10.9 | 10.1 | 9.2 | 19 | -20 |
| California | 6.0 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 10.1 | 9.9 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 66 | -47 |
| Colorado | 5.5 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 7.3 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 3.6 | 14 | -51 |
| Connecticut | 5.8 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 4.8 | 97 | -29 |
| Delaware | 4.5 | 9.3 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 6.1 | 4.1 | 85 | -51 |
| Dist. of Columbia | 14.5 | 15.9 | 11.4 | 9.4 | 16.0 | 17.2 | 16.4 | 14.1 | 71 | -12 |
| Florida | 8.2 | 9.4 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 10.6 | 9.5 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 100 | -48 |
| Georgia | 8.8 | 11.7 | 9.5 | 7.6 | 11.8 | 10.8 | 8.3 | 6.8 | 56 | -42 |
| Hawaii | 11.8 | 10.6 | 9.5 | 7.1 | 9.8 | 11.0 | 10.3 | 9.7 | 37 | -0 |
| Idaho | 3.8 | 6.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 17 | -38 |
| Illinois | 8.1 | 8.6 | 9.7 | 8.7 | 10.1 | 9.3 | 7.6 | 6.3 | 16 | -38 |
| Indiana | 3.6 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 5.2 | 9.0 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 75 | -45 |
| Iowa | 3.7 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 6.2 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 14 | -39 |
| Kansas | 2.7 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 7.5 | 6.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 44 | -42 |
| Kentucky | 11.0 | 14.2 | 15.2 | 12.1 | 13.7 | 12.3 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 13 | -27 |
| Louisiana | 10.6 | 13.4 | 14.6 | 17.0 | 17.6 | 15.4 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 3 | -36 |
| Maine | 9.2 | 12.4 | 9.8 | 6.9 | 11.0 | 10.6 | 9.2 | 8.0 | 59 | -27 |
| Maryland | 6.1 | 8.1 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 49 | -47 |
| Massachusetts | 10.1 | 7.6 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 7.3 | 6.1 | 4.8 | 3.6 | 40 | -50 |
| Michigan | 6.9 | 10.2 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 10.8 | 9.6 | 7.9 | 6.1 | 14 | -44 |
| Minnesota | 4.0 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 6.3 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 23 | -43 |
| Mississippi | 13.5 | 20.3 | 19.1 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 16.9 | 12.0 | 9.7 | 0 | -49 |
| Missouri | 4.5 | 7.7 | 7.2 | 7.9 | 11.2 | 10.3 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 42 | -33 |
| Montana | 3.6 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 20 | -21 |
| Nebraska | 2.6 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 4.8 | 17 | -30 |
| Nevada | 2.7 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 6.6 | 6.0 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 83 | -55 |
| New Hampshire | 5.1 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 174 | -46 |
| New Jersey | 6.7 | 8.2 | 6.1 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 51 | -41 |
| New Mexico | 9.7 | 13.7 | 10.9 | 10.0 | 14.7 | 13.8 | 10.1 | 9.3 | 47 | -37 |
| New York | 9.2 | 10.5 | 10.3 | 8.1 | 11.9 | 11.6 | 9.0 | 7.6 | 46 | -36 |
| North Carolina | 7.5 | 10.2 | 7.6 | 5.9 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 50 | -32 |
| North Dakota | 2.4 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 6.0 | 7.1 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 19 | -30 |
| Ohio | 7.5 | 9.1 | 10.6 | 9.9 | 11.2 | 9.4 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 14 | -52 |
| Oklahoma | 5.5 | 6.7 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 11.6 | 10.7 | 8.6 | 7.3 | 40 | -37 |
| Oregon | 6.3 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 7.6 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 21 | -26 |
| Pennsylvania | 7.1 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 7.6 | 6.3 | 30 | -37 |
| Rhode Island | 8.3 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 5.7 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 66 | -25 |
| South Carolina | 9.4 | 13.9 | 11.3 | 7.9 | 10.5 | 9.6 | 8.7 | 7.3 | 34 | -30 |
| South Dakota | 3.8 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 2 | -23 |
| Tennessee | 8.9 | 14.6 | 11.0 | 10.3 | 14.2 | 12.0 | 9.9 | 8.7 | 38 | -39 |
| Texas | 6.2 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 9.7 | 14.8 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 6.4 | 53 | -57 |
| Utah | 2.7 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 19 | -45 |
| Vermont | 9.4 | 9.4 | 8.2 | 6.1 | 11.1 | 9.6 | 7.7 | 6.7 | 83 | -40 |
| Virginia | 4.6 | 7.9 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 5.8 | 4.7 | 54 | -43 |
| Washington | 5.6 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 6.4 | 5.0 | 30 | -43 |
| West Virginia | 10.4 | 12.9 | 14.6 | 14.3 | 17.7 | 16.5 | 14.9 | 12.6 | 23 | -29 |
| Wisconsin | 3.8 | 5.7 | 7.6 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 8 | -44 |
| Wyoming | 2.1 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 20 | -37 |
Note: Recipiency rate refers to the average monthly number of food stamp recipients in each state during the particular fiscal year expressed as a percent of the total resident population as of July 1 of that year. The numerator is from Table A-18.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, unpublished data from the National Data Bank and U.S. Bureau of the Census (resident population by state available online at http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/state/).
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