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.
In 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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
(Source: CNN Money)
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15 Responses
True, many people are hurting right now, but when I see men and women in their fur coats, jewelry and fancy cars paying with their EBT/SNAP cards, you start to wonder how much fraud there is…
Uh, Walton, last I checked, you can’t buy groceries with a fur coat or diamond ring. Is it possible that these people aren’t committing fraud, but rather received expensive gifts or that the economic downturn hit them quite hard? Why not keep your eyes on your wallet & they’ll keep tabs on theirs?
illogicgal: You are right. Perhaps these are gifts but when I constantly see the same thing over and over again, year after year, I can’t allow myself to be so naive as to think the EVERYONE received a fur coat and expensive cars as gifts.
I am working full time with 2 part-time jobs. I too would love to get help from the government, only I make too much for food stamps and not enough for the rent.
I also notice that SOME people on food stamps buy the most expensive food money can buy. Why not? Our tax dollars are paying for their gourmet meals. Nice gig if you can get it.
We live in a Medina Shel Chessed. Food stamps help many families amongst us survive. However we should be careful not to make a Chilul H’ with them. When someone uses them in Shoprite (or any goyisha store)often the cashier or people on line judge them for how they look, how their kids look, what they drive and what they buy. Why cant we use them in Jewish owned stores and help them with their Parnosa and avoid this issue? Of course its a 2 way street – the Jewish store owner cant overcharge – this sends the food stamp receipient away and makes it harder on those who dont get food stamps – which is a different form of Chilul H’. This is especially true for many Cholov Yisroel items – the storeowner figures there are enough families paying with food stamps – ‘tough luck on the Tzibbur’! Kudos to those like R Moshe Binik Shlita who dont take food stamps into account when setting their prices.
Ani Tapuach says
what do you mean by Kudos to those like R Moshe Binik Shlita who dont take food stamps into account when setting their prices.
#1 – based on history, you’ll typically see people who are well dressed engaged in such behavior, since it isn’t easy to sell used clothes (and perhaps they hope for an improvement in the short run). Many people has an unexpected sudden decline in fortunes. Unlike the previous depression, this is expresed by use of food stamps, rather than be dressed in upper class clothing in a soup kitchen.
Walton –
In my state food stamps are issued as a debit card, so it’s pretty easy to see how the person in front in the check-out line is paying. I don’t know where you live, but where I am you don’t see people in fur coats using food stamps. In fact, I think I would notice anyone in a REAL fur coat buying with food stamps (after all, I’m a taxpayer, too).
BTW have you checked to make sure that the coat is made from real fur and the diamonds aren’t imitation? I’ve heard you can get some pretty nice looking stuff in second hand shops, too.
And if you want to worry about conspicuous consumption, check out the glossy frum media magazines, with full-color full-page spreads of stuff your average Moshe can’t afford (but feels that maybe he must or his daughter won’t get a good shidduch).
We’ve got a way to go ourselves before condemning other people. I also hope you get a better job soon. Falling through the cracks is always painful.
Oh, and if they suddenly changed the limits and you could get food stamps yourself would you be complaining so much?
The issue here is not the store owners and how much they charge for their goods. The issue is rampant Food Stamp fraud and how the taxpayers are being taken for a ride. Not to be confused with Medicaid fraud.
MIDWEST2: As matter of fact, I worked for a furrier so yes, I am able to tell the real from the fake.
As for the diamonds, I don’t know if they are fake or not.
If I WERE eligible for food stamps, it wouldn’t be through fraud. My parents raised me better than that. It would be STEALING if I “worked” the system and weren’t eligible.
As for “conspicuous consumption”, how can I help you to understand that the issue here is rampant food stamp fraud NOT about glossy frum media magazines.
But since you mentioned it, why do the parents of these girls give so much power to their constituents as to whether or not their daughters will find the RIGHT shidduch.
BTW, I do not use a white tablecloth for Shabbat. Will this decrease my chances of finding my beshert. Don’t know, don’t really care.
From what I understand, the people who determine need are pretty strict about requiring written documentation, etc. The percentage of fraud is much lower than most people believe. Food stamp fraud is neither rampant nor non-existent. If you’re worried, check out with your local elected representative about fraud and what’s being done to prevent it. I feel better knowing that my tax money is going for the most part to feed hungry children. If an occasional idiot manages to work the system, that doesn’t cancel out the fact that children and senior citizens have food on the table.
As for shidduchim, you must not live in the NYC area or you wouldn’t be belittling the problems. If you did live in Brooklyn and didn’t use a white tablecloth for Shabbos, yes, you would have a problem with shidduchim.
@Midwest2:
How do you know that food stamp fraud is neither rampant or non-existent. Did you conduct a study? Don’t allow yourself to be so naive to think that there is no fraud. Yes, you do have to show documentation, but how many people get paid “under the table” and don’t show their real income/earnings.
Yes, I do live in Brooklyn and I’m not belittling the problem. That’s the problem. We are so involved with the minutea that instead of looking at the midot of the young man and young woaman we “yent” to see what is on peoples’ tables. You can allow yourself to fall into that junk, but I will not. Besides, HaShem is THE ultimate Shadchan. I don’t think HE cares what color our tablecloths are.
I think the issue for a frum person using food stamps is more of appearance rather than whether or not they are actually cheating the system. If you are in a situation where you need to use food stamps, it can be mo’ras ayin (and therefore a possible chillul Hashem) if it appears that one lives well despite the fact that they are using food stamps.
I don’t know what the state laws are, but I would imagine if a kollel family is being supported by a family member, that would be considered reportable income in terms of food stamp eligibility. If that is the law and it is not being reported, than there is theft involved.
Concerning shidduchim, I personally don’t see why anyone would want to marry the kind of person that will not go out with them based solely on the type of tablecloth the family uses, but to each their own.
To #3- walton157
Re: “I also notice that SOME people on food stamps buy the most expensive food money can buy. Why not? Our tax dollars are paying for their gourmet meals. Nice gig if you can get it.”
Maybe try to judge favorably. Expensive food may just be for Shabbos or Yom Tov- or just a one time treat or they might have been asked by a neighbor or friend to buy that expensive food while they are out shopping for themselves.
Re: “illogicgal: You are right. Perhaps these are gifts but when I constantly see the same thing over and over again, year after year, I can’t allow myself to be so naive as to think the EVERYONE received a fur coat and expensive cars as gifts.”
Maybe neighbor #1 asks a favor of neighbor #2 wearing a fur coat with an expensive car, to use their card to buy some food, because neighbor #1 cannot get out that day, for some reason.
Since, if we don’t actually know anyone’s true situation,
we should try to judge favorably or not judge at all.
walton – stop being jealous of those getting food stamps. The Torah forbids jealousy.
I hate to say it but I know a lot f people that “cheat” on food stamps ie. work a certain amount off the books in order to receive. Let Hashem be the Judge and hope that America doesn’t turn into a Socialist state.