Nearly 40 million Americans received food stamps -- the latest in an ever-higher string of record enrollment that dates from December 2008 and the U.S. recession, according to a government update.
Food stamps are the primary federal anti-hunger program, helping poor people buy food. Enrollment is highest during times of economic distress. The jobless rate was 9.9 percent, the government said on Friday.
The Agriculture Department said 39.68 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, were enrolled for food stamps during February, an increase of 260,000 from January. USDA updated its figures on Wednesday.
"This is the highest share of the U.S. population on SNAP/food stamps," said the anti-hunger group Food Research and Action Center, using the new name for food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). "Research suggests that one in three eligible people are not receiving ... benefits."
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14 comments:
Whatever happened to government cheese?
Teach a man to garden, and he will eat forever.
Can food stamps be used to buy crabs? I saw a sign along the road that said "Food Stamps Accepted" at Fat Boys Crab on Old Ocean City Road. Nothing against Fat Boys Crabs but it pisses me off every time I see it. This is ridiculous. I'm not eligible for food stamps and can't afford to buy crabs in this economy. But I pay taxes to allow other people to get crabs? What is wrong with this Country
hey dummy 10:06, did you happen to hear about this recession we've been entrenched in?
last I checked crabs are food. More importantly, last I checked, people are provided with a set amount of food stamps according to uniform guidelines. If you are buying expensive crabs, then it's likely you won't be eating all month.
11:20 Buying crabs is a luxury item. The part that bothers me the most is that the Government allows this. Lazy people sitting at home every day watching TV and living off taxpayers should only be allowed to pay for items such as bread, cheese, milk etc... Not Shrimp, Alcohol, Snacks, Crabs Expensive Steaks. The poor people overseas are skinny. The poor people in American are fat
11:39, Way to fall for false stereotypes. I guess the 9% of unemployed and even higher percent of underemployed are all "lazy people". And get your facts straight, you can't buy alcohol with food stamps. Just shows how easy it is for you dummies to fall for the "welfare queens in cadillacs" line while the pols. feeding that to you rob you blind.
1021 Yeah Lazyboy-your unemployed...grab a hoe and get to work or starve.
well 1:54 fortunately I am employed and paying taxes into a system that will provide a safety net if I find myself unexpectedly unemployed until I find a new job. God Bless America!
3:34 That sounds good but the money is all gone ! It's been spent by the politicians and the lazy and don't forget all the freebies for the illegals .
i is be heading down to riverside
seefood to get my 1/2 bushel of female cwabs and wash them down wiff a country club.then lay back on the porch and wait for the mailman next month.thanks obamie
3:34 your safety net was already spent a long time ago....your safety net now resides with China.
funny how the same conservatives who call these people lazy, are many of the same people who rely on either unemployment, foodstamps, (or the big ones) social security-medicaid-medicare. All that socialism is bad, that is until we need some.
to 10:06 You can buy plant vegetable seeds with food stamps. Thankfully while I have been unemployed I was able to get food stamps. I Do sometimes get a better steak but most of the time its cheaper hamburger, more chicken, and lots of store brand, I also planted a very large garden with the seeds that i was able to buy. I get out everyday and weed th garden then look for a job. Unfortunetly some people do not have the luxury of having a yard to grow a garden.
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