Food Stamp Facts

Dateline: 8/22/99

Mainly due to abuses like those described in "GAO - Disqualified Food Stamp Participants" the USDA's Food Stamp program has no shortage of critics. However, the Food Stamp program, as designed, is unique among social assistance programs in two important ways. First, assistance is available to needy households, regardless of any nonfinancial factors. Second, there is no cash benefit involved. Only coupons, redeemable only for food are provided to the recipient families.

Indeed, the Food Stamp program is, in many ways, one of our most important and successful public assistance programs. However, the complexity of a social assistance program's qualification system, while intended to prevent abuse, often has the opposite effect of allowing, even encouraging non-qualified persons to apply for benefits. Here are some facts about the Food Stamp Program and those who benefit from it.

"Food Security"
Got food? Do the people living in your house have access to enough food for an active, healthy life? If so, your family enjoys "food security," the opposite of which is "food insecurity" as existed in 10.3 percent of all American households in 1998. Nearly 10 million people, over one-third of them children, lived in such "hungry" homes in 1998. (USDA, Household Food Security in the United States 1995 - 1998)

Size of the Program
In 1998, an average of 19.8 million people per month received food stamps. Over $16.9 billion worth of food stamps were distributed.

A Food Stamp Family Profile
In 1998, a total of 8.24 million households received food stamps.

• Single parent households = 3.26 million
• Married couple households = 712,000
• Multiple-adult households = 363,000
• Children only households = 464,000
• Elderly households = 1.5 million
• Disabled households = 2.01 million
• Others = 980,000 households

• Average family size = 2.4 Persons
• Average net income = $321/month
• Average food stamp benefit = $165 / month

In 1998, just over one-half of all food stamp participants were children, mostly living in single-parent homes. Another 8 percent are age 60 or older.

Around 65 percent of food stamp households receive no other form of Federal assistance including Social Security. Nine percent of food stamp households have no income of any sort.

Twenty-four percent of food stamp households report earnings from jobs.

The average food stamp household has only about $92 (ninety-two dollars) in countable resources, like cars and bank accounts.

How Do You Get Food Stamps?
To qualify for food stamps, applicant households must meet criteria of income limits, resources, citizenship, and employment.

Income Limits
Most households with incomes above those shown in the table below cannot get food stamps. Net Monthly Income is Gross Income minus allowable deductions. Households with with elderly persons may only need to meet the Net Monthly Income test.

People in Household	Gross Monthly Income Limits	Net Monthly Income Limits
1	$873.00	$671.00
2	$1,176.00	$905.00
3	$1,479.00	$1,138.00
4	$1,783.00	$1,371.00
5	$2,086.00	$1,605.00
6	$2,389.00	$1,838.00
7	$2,693.00	$2,071.00
8	$2,996.00	$2,305.00
Each additional person...	+$304.00	+$234.00

The food stamp benefit given to a qualified household depends on the number of people in the household and their total monthly household income. For example, an eligible household of three people with no income can receive up to $329 per month in food stamp benefits. Households with income are expected to use about 30 percent of their own money, minus allowable deductions, to buy food. In 1998, the average food stamp benefit paid was about $71 per person.

Resources
To qualify for food stamps, a household may not have over $2,000 in "countable resources," such as cars and bank accounts. This limit jumps to $3,000 if one person in the family is 60 or older. A home and the lot it is on do not count as resources. Licensed vehicles may not be counted under certain circumstances.

Work and Citizenship
Most able-bodied adults ages 16 - 60 must register for work, take employment if offered, and participate in work and training programs as referred by the Food Stamp Office. Able-bodied adults ages 18 - 50 without dependent children can get food stamps for only 3 out of any 36-month period if they are not working or participating in an approved training program.

All U.S. citizens and many noncitizens may be eligible to receive food stamps.

What Can You Buy With Food Stamps?
Under the law, food stamps can be used only by qualified recipients to buy allowable food products from authorized retail merchants.Food stamps can be used to buy any food or food product for human consumption, and seeds and plants to produce food.

Food stamps cannot be used to purchase:

• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
• Lunch counter items or foods to be eaten in the store
• Vitamins or medicines
• Pet foods
• Any non-food items (such as soaps, paper products, laundry products, grooming items, and
  cosmetics)
• Hot foods that are ready to eat
• Any food marketed to be heated in the store

Administration of the Program
The Food Stamp Program operates in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. State and local welfare offices are responsible for screening applicants and approving and distributing benefits. The United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service oversees the State and local operations.

The President's Food Stamp Initiative
This July, President Clinton issued three executive directives affecting the Food Stamp Program. Briefly, these directives:

1. Make it easier for families to own a reliable car while also retaining their eligibility to receive food stamps.
2. Allow the states new options to simplify household income reporting rules.
3. Announced a new public education campaign that will provide state and local leaders information about the food stamp program and access requirements.

Background and Research Links

United States Department of Agriculture --
Food and Nutrition Service
This Agency oversees the Food Stamp, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Nutrition Program, and Farmers Market programs.

1999 Food Stamp Eligibility Requirements

Research and Analysis of the Food Stamp Program
Several in-depth studies for downloading or viewing online.

Food Stamp Hotline Numbers for each State

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