Florida Food Stamp Enrollment Hits New High
WASHINGTON,
D.C. — According to data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of Floridians enrolled in the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or also referred to as government
food stamps) hit a new all-time high of 3.57 million in August 2013.
The monthly cost of the federal food stamp program in Florida also hit a new high of $499,339,419. The nearly half-billion dollar price tag is 3.7% more than it cost per month a year ago.
Nationwide,
47.6 million people were on food stamps for the month of August 2013 with
an average per person benefit of $133.07 per month, an annual increase
of 1.2% from August 2012 when 47.1 million people were on food stamps.
There were about 32 million Americans on Food Stamps when President Barack Obama took office in January 2009.
Florida's food stamp enrollment increased
at over twice the national rate during the last year. The number of people on food stamps in the Sunshine State grew to 3,570,722 in August 2013, a 3.2% increase when compared to August 2012.
There were around a half million less Floridians on Food Stamps when Florida Governor Rick Scott took office in January 2011.
