Reliance on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Continued to Rise Post-Recession

 Researchers from the Carsey Institute find that the number of Americans turning to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, has substantially increased since the recession began. SNAP receipts have continued to climb after the recession ended in 2009, and many Americans continue to struggle with the repercussions of the economic downturn.

SNAP receipt increased by 4 percentage points since 2007, the start of the recession, By 2010, nearly 12 percent of households reported receiving SNAP benefits. In rural areas and central cities,  SNAP receipt is even higher, approaching 15 percent in both places. Suburban rates remain lower than other regions both pre- and post-recession. Households that received SNAP benefits in 2010 had a median income of $17,912. This is despite the fact that 76 percent of families had at least one employed member.

According to the report, the increased reliance on SNAP benefits indicates that many families have yet to see economic recovery in their households. With this in mind, the author concludes by urging legislators to protect SNAP from deep budget cuts.

The brief is based upon U.S. Census Bureau estimates from the 2007, 2009 and 2010 American Community Survey. The brief was published in November 2011 by the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey Institute, a research institute that focuses on vulnerable children, youth, families and sustainable community development.

Read the report.