Record 47 million Americans On Food Stamps
According
to the latest U.S. Department of Agricultural report released on
November 9, 2012, the number of U.S. participants in the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or
also referred to as Food Stamps) has hit an all-time record high of 47,102,780 for the month of August 2012, with an average per person benefit of $133.42 per month.
Nearly
421,000 new participants were added in just one month from the July
2012 figure of 46,681,917. Almost 2 million more participants were
added in the last year when compared to the August 2011 figure of 45,794,474. There were about 32 million
Americans on Food Stamps when President Barack Obama took office in
January 2009.
The
U.S. Monthly Data report is typically issued at the end of the
following month, or pushed slightly into next week if there is a weekend
or holiday at the end of the month. For example, July 2012's numbers were released on September 28, 2012 (See below). However, the August 2012 report was released unusually late on November 9, 2012, well after the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election had taken place.
Food Stamp enrollment was a central issue in the Presidential race. Newt Gingrich made headlines when he called President Barack Obama "the food stamp President." The Mitt Romney campaign website had a comparison tool under "Florida" which said
that there are 1,617,176 more people on Food Stamps in the Sunshine State since Obama
took office.
AUGUST 2012 DATA:
| SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | |||||
| ( Data as of November 9, 2012) | |||||
| Fiscal | PARTICIPATION | BENEFIT | AVERAGE MONTHLY BENEFIT | ||
| Year | Persons | Households | COSTS | Per Person | Per Household |
| ANNUAL SUMMARY | |||||
| FY 2011 | 44,708,726 | 21,072,113 | 71,810,991,227 | 133.85 | 283.99 |
| FY 2010 | 40,301,878 | 18,618,436 | 64,702,164,628 | 133.79 | 289.60 |
| FY 2009 | 33,489,975 | 15,232,115 | 50,359,918,853 | 125.31 | 275.51 |
| MONTHLY DATA | |||||
| FY 2009 | |||||
| Oct 2008 | 30,841,790 | 13,900,815 | 3,697,627,592 | 119.89 | 266.00 |
| Nov 2008 | 30,884,729 | 13,963,078 | 3,561,221,137 | 115.31 | 255.05 |
| Dec 2008 | 31,567,037 | 14,284,026 | 3,648,865,577 | 115.59 | 255.45 |
| Jan 2009 | 31,983,716 | 14,499,693 | 3,633,188,682 | 113.60 | 250.57 |
| Feb 2009 | 32,332,622 | 14,677,736 | 3,703,673,185 | 114.55 | 252.33 |
| Mar 2009 | 32,928,433 | 14,982,155 | 3,776,012,112 | 114.67 | 252.03 |
| Apr 2009 | 33,524,074 | 15,269,505 | 4,499,420,746 | 134.21 | 294.67 |
| May 2009 | 34,171,518 | 15,578,702 | 4,596,287,457 | 134.51 | 295.04 |
| Jun 2009 | 34,882,031 | 15,916,305 | 4,675,153,673 | 134.03 | 293.73 |
| Jul 2009 | 35,602,939 | 16,259,749 | 4,779,583,794 | 134.25 | 293.95 |
| Aug 2009 | 36,241,857 | 16,560,753 | 4,851,584,542 | 133.87 | 292.96 |
| Sep 2009 | 36,918,948 | 16,892,857 | 4,937,300,356 | 133.73 | 292.27 |
| FY 2010 | |||||
| Oct 2009 | 37,672,818 | 17,253,466 | 5,070,583,056 | 134.60 | 293.89 |
| Nov 2009 | 38,184,306 | 17,516,954 | 5,106,886,589 | 133.74 | 291.54 |
| Dec 2009 | 38,979,289 | 17,886,438 | 5,244,713,066 | 134.55 | 293.22 |
| Jan 2010 | 39,431,128 | 18,118,005 | 5,253,774,954 | 133.24 | 289.98 |
| Feb 2010 | 39,588,993 | 18,242,903 | 5,287,652,083 | 133.56 | 289.85 |
| Mar 2010 | 40,120,254 | 18,532,065 | 5,375,533,793 | 133.99 | 290.07 |
| Apr 2010 | 40,430,679 | 18,696,485 | 5,390,207,990 | 133.32 | 288.30 |
| May 2010 | 40,801,591 | 18,894,549 | 5,450,094,171 | 133.58 | 288.45 |
| Jun 2010 | 41,275,687 | 19,143,572 | 5,503,601,938 | 133.34 | 287.49 |
| Jul 2010 | 41,836,469 | 19,435,457 | 5,601,056,282 | 133.88 | 288.19 |
| Aug 2010 | 42,389,926 | 19,721,947 | 5,677,055,577 | 133.92 | 287.85 |
| Sep 2010 | 42,911,396 | 19,979,385 | 5,741,005,129 | 133.79 | 287.35 |
| FY 2011 | |||||
| Oct 2010 | 43,201,052 | 20,183,177 | 5,778,329,641 | 133.75 | 286.29 |
| Nov 2010 | 43,596,084 | 20,404,895 | 5,810,541,635 | 133.28 | 284.76 |
| Dec 2010 | 44,082,361 | 20,668,184 | 5,889,455,566 | 133.60 | 284.95 |
| Jan 2011 | 44,187,874 | 20,748,799 | 5,868,238,587 | 132.80 | 282.82 |
| Feb 2011 | 44,199,479 | 20,791,408 | 5,889,071,901 | 133.24 | 283.25 |
| Mar 2011 | 44,587,275 | 21,045,909 | 5,983,748,199 | 134.20 | 284.32 |
| Apr 2011 | 44,647,781 | 21,071,176 | 5,949,614,728 | 133.26 | 282.36 |
| May 2011 | 45,410,683 | 21,435,915 | 6,121,256,333 | 134.80 | 285.56 |
| Jun 2011 | 45,183,927 | 21,394,401 | 6,039,197,177 | 133.66 | 282.28 |
| Jul 2011 | 45,345,473 | 21,458,822 | 6,087,627,943 | 134.25 | 283.69 |
| Aug 2011 | 45,794,474 | 21,723,850 | 6,130,823,077 | 133.88 | 282.22 |
| Sep 2011 | 46,268,250 | 21,938,820 | 6,263,086,440 | 135.36 | 285.48 |
| FY 2012 | |||||
| Oct 2011 | 46,236,164 | 21,973,808 | 6,235,038,754 | 134.85 | 283.75 |
| Nov 2011 | 46,286,314 | 22,027,321 | 6,208,417,106 | 134.13 | 281.85 |
| Dec 2011 | 46,514,155 | 22,162,774 | 6,218,208,151 | 133.68 | 280.57 |
| Jan 2012 | 46,449,737 | 22,188,732 | 6,151,537,395 | 132.43 | 277.24 |
| Feb 2012 | 46,326,287 | 22,155,432 | 6,160,427,746 | 132.98 | 278.06 |
| Mar 2012 | 46,405,224 | 22,257,668 | 6,181,123,024 | 133.20 | 277.71 |
| Apr 2012 | 46,274,631 | 22,212,770 | 6,126,437,777 | 132.39 | 275.81 |
| May 2012 | 46,496,761 | 22,335,926 | 6,180,824,060 | 132.93 | 276.72 |
| Jun 2012 | 46,670,301 | 22,442,179 | 6,204,187,508 | 132.94 | 276.45 |
| Jul 2012 | 46,681,917 | 22,541,831 | 6,264,762,461 | 134.20 | 277.92 |
| Aug 2012 | 47,102,780 | 22,684,508 | 6,284,539,339 | 133.42 | 277.04 |
| "*" Includes disaster assistance which is notated for current fiscal year only. Prior fiscal years may also include disaster assistance | |||||
| Link to: | SNAP Disaster Response | ||||
| FY 2012 data are preliminary; all data are subject to revision. | |||||
JULY 2012 DATA:
| SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | |||||
| (Data as of September 28, 2012) | |||||
| Fiscal | PARTICIPATION | BENEFIT | AVERAGE MONTHLY BENEFIT | ||
| Year | Persons | Households | COSTS | Per Person | Per Household |
| ANNUAL SUMMARY | |||||
| FY 2011 | 44,708,726 | 21,072,113 | 71,810,991,227 | 133.85 | 283.99 |
| FY 2010 | 40,301,878 | 18,618,436 | 64,702,164,628 | 133.79 | 289.60 |
| FY 2009 | 33,489,975 | 15,232,115 | 50,359,918,853 | 125.31 | 275.51 |
| MONTHLY DATA | |||||
| FY 2009 | |||||
| Oct 2008 | 30,841,790 | 13,900,815 | 3,697,627,592 | 119.89 | 266.00 |
| Nov 2008 | 30,884,729 | 13,963,078 | 3,561,221,137 | 115.31 | 255.05 |
| Dec 2008 | 31,567,037 | 14,284,026 | 3,648,865,577 | 115.59 | 255.45 |
| Jan 2009 | 31,983,716 | 14,499,693 | 3,633,188,682 | 113.60 | 250.57 |
| Feb 2009 | 32,332,622 | 14,677,736 | 3,703,673,185 | 114.55 | 252.33 |
| Mar 2009 | 32,928,433 | 14,982,155 | 3,776,012,112 | 114.67 | 252.03 |
| Apr 2009 | 33,524,074 | 15,269,505 | 4,499,420,746 | 134.21 | 294.67 |
| May 2009 | 34,171,518 | 15,578,702 | 4,596,287,457 | 134.51 | 295.04 |
| Jun 2009 | 34,882,031 | 15,916,305 | 4,675,153,673 | 134.03 | 293.73 |
| Jul 2009 | 35,602,939 | 16,259,749 | 4,779,583,794 | 134.25 | 293.95 |
| Aug 2009 | 36,241,857 | 16,560,753 | 4,851,584,542 | 133.87 | 292.96 |
| Sep 2009 | 36,918,948 | 16,892,857 | 4,937,300,356 | 133.73 | 292.27 |
| FY 2010 | |||||
| Oct 2009 | 37,672,818 | 17,253,466 | 5,070,583,056 | 134.60 | 293.89 |
| Nov 2009 | 38,184,306 | 17,516,954 | 5,106,886,589 | 133.74 | 291.54 |
| Dec 2009 | 38,979,289 | 17,886,438 | 5,244,713,066 | 134.55 | 293.22 |
| Jan 2010 | 39,431,128 | 18,118,005 | 5,253,774,954 | 133.24 | 289.98 |
| Feb 2010 | 39,588,993 | 18,242,903 | 5,287,652,083 | 133.56 | 289.85 |
| Mar 2010 | 40,120,254 | 18,532,065 | 5,375,533,793 | 133.99 | 290.07 |
| Apr 2010 | 40,430,679 | 18,696,485 | 5,390,207,990 | 133.32 | 288.30 |
| May 2010 | 40,801,591 | 18,894,549 | 5,450,094,171 | 133.58 | 288.45 |
| Jun 2010 | 41,275,687 | 19,143,572 | 5,503,601,938 | 133.34 | 287.49 |
| Jul 2010 | 41,836,469 | 19,435,457 | 5,601,056,282 | 133.88 | 288.19 |
| Aug 2010 | 42,389,926 | 19,721,947 | 5,677,055,577 | 133.92 | 287.85 |
| Sep 2010 | 42,911,396 | 19,979,385 | 5,741,005,129 | 133.79 | 287.35 |
| FY 2011 | |||||
| Oct 2010 | 43,201,052 | 20,183,177 | 5,778,329,641 | 133.75 | 286.29 |
| Nov 2010 | 43,596,084 | 20,404,895 | 5,810,541,635 | 133.28 | 284.76 |
| Dec 2010 | 44,082,361 | 20,668,184 | 5,889,455,566 | 133.60 | 284.95 |
| Jan 2011 | 44,187,874 | 20,748,799 | 5,868,238,587 | 132.80 | 282.82 |
| Feb 2011 | 44,199,479 | 20,791,408 | 5,889,071,901 | 133.24 | 283.25 |
| Mar 2011 | 44,587,275 | 21,045,909 | 5,983,748,199 | 134.20 | 284.32 |
| Apr 2011 | 44,647,781 | 21,071,176 | 5,949,614,728 | 133.26 | 282.36 |
| May 2011 | 45,410,683 | 21,435,915 | 6,121,256,333 | 134.80 | 285.56 |
| Jun 2011 | 45,183,927 | 21,394,401 | 6,039,197,177 | 133.66 | 282.28 |
| Jul 2011 | 45,345,473 | 21,458,822 | 6,087,627,943 | 134.25 | 283.69 |
| Aug 2011 | 45,794,474 | 21,723,850 | 6,130,823,077 | 133.88 | 282.22 |
| Sep 2011 | 46,268,250 | 21,938,820 | 6,263,086,440 | 135.36 | 285.48 |
| FY 2012 | |||||
| Oct 2011 | 46,236,164 | 21,973,808 | 6,235,038,754 | 134.85 | 283.75 |
| Nov 2011 | 46,286,314 | 22,027,321 | 6,208,417,106 | 134.13 | 281.85 |
| Dec 2011 | 46,514,155 | 22,162,774 | 6,218,208,151 | 133.68 | 280.57 |
| Jan 2012 | 46,449,737 | 22,188,732 | 6,151,537,395 | 132.43 | 277.24 |
| Feb 2012 | 46,326,287 | 22,155,432 | 6,160,427,746 | 132.98 | 278.06 |
| Mar 2012 | 46,405,224 | 22,257,668 | 6,181,123,024 | 133.20 | 277.71 |
| Apr 2012 | 46,274,631 | 22,212,770 | 6,126,437,777 | 132.39 | 275.81 |
| May 2012 | 46,496,761 | 22,335,926 | 6,180,824,060 | 132.93 | 276.72 |
| Jun 2012 | 46,670,301 | 22,442,179 | 6,204,553,167 | 132.94 | 276.47 |
| Jul 2012 | 46,681,833 | 22,541,744 | 6,264,803,508 | 134.20 | 277.92 |
| "*" Includes disaster assistance which is notated for current fiscal year only. Prior fiscal years may also include disaster assistance | |||||
| Link to: | SNAP Disaster Response | ||||
| FY 2012 data are preliminary; all data are subject to revision. | |||||
