In May a record 45.7 million people used the government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often called food stamps. That represents 12% increase from a year ago.
COLUMBIA (WACH) -- The number of people using food stamps is up sharply compared to last year according to new data from the United States Department of Agriculture.
In May a record 45.7 million people used the government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often called food stamps. That represents a 12 percent increase from a year ago.
Current participation numbers for South Carolina are not yet available, but last year 797,110 people participated in the SNAP program. That is 17 percent of the state's population.
According to the Department of Agriculture, in 2010 the average food stamp benefit was about $130 per person in South Carolina.
To qualify for food stamps, an individual's income can't exceed $1,174 a month or $14,088 a year.
You can check here to see if you are eligible for SNAP benefits.
Are you surprised at the sharp increase of food stamp use over the last year? Leave your thought in the comment section below.
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