Posted on 07/19/23
| News Source: TND
U.S. households are using food stamps at a higher rate in 2023 than during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, data from the USDA shows.
As of April 2023, there are 22.2 million U.S. households using the Special Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That number was below 22 million during the peak of the pandemic in December 2020 and January 2021.
The number of SNAP households remained below 22 million for much of 2021 and 2022 before climbing above 22 million in October 2022, data shows.
Among individual states, Louisiana leads with an increase of 18.5% from March 2022 to March 2023. Following are California and New Jersey with 13.5% and 12.1% increases, respectively.
Alaska showed the largest decrease in food stamp program participation during that timespan with a dramatic -68.6% drop. Also showing sizable decreases were Arkansas with -16.3% and Maryland with -15.3%.
Government spending on food stamps is already at its highest, with a yearly cost of $127 billion in 2023. It’s estimated that 12.5% of the U.S. population across 22.2 million households currently rely on food stamps.
“The food stamp program is one of the larger federal social welfare initiatives, and in its current form has been around for nearly six decades,” Pew Research wrote.
As the country underwent lockdowns in March 2020, Congress authorized extra food stamp benefits and removed work and training participation requirements to join the program. 2.8 million people immediately joined the program as a result.
Food stamp usage in the U.S. is currently nearing all-time highs, information form Pew Research shows, and could soon rival the Great Recession, which saw food stamp usage nearing 50 million people.
Despite increased use of food stamps, President Biden continues to tout his "Bidenomics" economic strategy. However, the monthly rate of inflation is on the decline.