Record 31.8 million on food stamps

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Record 31.8 million on food stamps
Government shows increase of 700,000 food stamp recipients in a single month.

March 5, 2009: 4:00 PM ET


WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- A record 31.8 million Americans received food stamps at the latest count, an increase of 700,000 people in one month with the United States in recession, government figures showed Thursday.

Food stamps, which help poor people buy groceries, are the major U.S. anti-hunger program, forecast to cost at least $51 billion in this fiscal year ending Sept. 30, up $10 billion from fiscal 2008.

"A weakened economy means that many more individuals are turning to SNAP/food stamps," said the Food Research and Action Center. Last summer food stamps were renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The average food stamp benefit is $115 a month for individuals and $255 a month per household.

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http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/05/news/economy/foodstamps.reut/index.htm?section=money_latest