NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The use of food stamps has increased dramatically in the U.S., as the federal government ramps up basic assistance to meet the demands of an increasingly desperate population.

The number of food stamp recipients increased 16% over last year. This means that 14% of the population is now living on food stamps. That's about 43 million people, or about one out of every seven Americans.
n some states, like Tennessee, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oregon, one in five people are receiving food stamps. Washington, D.C. leads the nation, with 21.5% of the population on food stamps.

"The high unemployment rate caused the high participation rate," said Dottie Rosenbaum from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank.

But it's not just the nation's stubbornly high unemployment rate of 9.8% that's driving the increase in food stamp use. Some states are expanding their definitions of poverty to include more people.

At the same time, the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act boosted annual funding to the nationwide food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, by $10 billion.

The average recipient receives $133 in food stamps per month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That amount varies from state to state; in Hawaii the average is $216, while it's $116 in Wisconsin.

But the Recovery Act funding increased the maximum food stamp benefit by 13.6%, which translates to about $20-24 dollars per person per month.

The U.S. government considers food stamps to be effective stimulus for the economy, because the recipients usually spend them right away.

Idaho saw the biggest increase in its food stamp program, with a spike of 39% compared to last year, followed by Nevada, at 29%, and New Jersey, at 27%.
New Jersey's food stamp program expanded at least in part because the state raised its poverty level in April, according to Nicole Brossoie of the state Department of Human Services. That let the state add 35,000 people to its food stamp rolls, an increase of 5%.

Also, Brossoie said that program has been made more accessible to poverty-stricken residents.

"Through newsletters, posters, counseling and other outreach, the stigma associated with food stamps has diminished and more individuals and families are seeking assistance," she said.
What happens when the jobless give up?

The government is also beefing up unemployment benefits. The unemployed will get a 13-month extension to file for additional unemployment benefits, which can last as long as 99 weeks in states hit hardest by job loss.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/21/news/economy/food_stamps/index.htm
As the job market continues to dog the economy, the increase in food stamp funding is set to remain in place for nearly three years.

Dottie Rosenbaum said the hike in food stamp benefits is set to expire Nov. 1, 2013. Typically, food stamp funding increases every year to match inflation. But if Congress does not extend the stimulus funding beyond the 2013 cutoff, then food stamp benefits will revert to their original levels, but still be adjusted for inflation.

She said the budget office is forecasting a potential drop of $49 a month in food stamp benefits for a family of three, or $59 for a family of four, if the stimulus program is not continued.

President Obama, while signing a child nutrition bill on Dec. 13, said he was working with members of Congress to extend the food stamp funding.

that sounds fairly accurate

just men alone in america have a 20percent unemployment rate

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/25/unemployment-job-skills-training/

I imagine when you throw in the single moms doing it on their own and not employed


1 in 7 people needing help to eat sounds accurate

To me it shows we are failing.

Failing to provide good paying jobs so people can take pride in standing on their own.

The employment issue causes this.

I agree. I wish more of the political climate would involve talking about bringing back JOBS for americans,,,

Whoever starts talking about their plans to bring jobs back will probably win the election.

Hussein promised to save and create jobs.
He did make it easier for Illegals to work.

HPIW. (Husseins Plan Isn't Woring)
MPWW either. (Mitt Plan Won't Work)

We are screwed from all sides and we won't even get a kiss, flowers of dinner.

It is one thing to talk, it is quite another to discuss your actual plans.

If you really feel this way, why are you pushing entitlement programs?....Did the money tree in Michelles "garden" finally take root?

did you notice who started a job creation thread ?

Is how the entitlement, welfare-addict mentality feel about the Tax Payer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tV8P-vib5n8

although its something called 'satire'

Im sure there are those exceptions that exist

but you would have to ask them how they feel,,,,,

You consider that an answer?

what was the question? because I correct false information about 'entitlements' doesnt mean I am 'pushing' them

the fact is,, if there are more OPPORTUNITIES for people to earn a living, fewer people require the assistance that 'entitlements' provide

you cant look at one issue without addressing the other,,,

cant look down the nose at those who need help and never address what might help them or WHY they need help,,,

Why must you always play the victim card?...I am not looking down anyones nose Harmony....I feel entitlements are raging out of control under the current administration....It's not about you or others currently on welfare.....It's about Obama's mismanagement of entitlement programs.....

Im not playing a victim. Im being realistic about the economic climate and trying to discuss the possible solutions to improving it so there wont be so many that 'need' those entitlements.

entitlements are 'out of control' because we had an economic collapse, when people are unable to WORK, they need help

I don't know. Given the state of the economy causing such hardships how can they be raging out of control? I am not for entitlements, but they have a time and place and it seems to be now.

Look at the context of this administrations spending!!!...It is very easy to say "The recession is not Obama's fault, rationalize it all you want to Hippie....He has made a mess of things and continues to...Big government will kill our country if we let it......Entitlements have always had a time and a place, indiscriminate handouts are a different matter...

Well I don't think they should keep extending unemployment forever. I can see where they could do partial payments if you worked a low paying job though.

indiscriminate handouts such as.....?

they wont, they havent

that was right after the bottom fell out and jobs were still being LOST Every month,,,they havent done another extension since they started adding jobs instead