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Food Stamp Program (FSP)

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Description

For more than 40 years, the Food Stamp Program has served as the foundation of America’s national nutrition safety net. It is the first line of defense against hunger and offers a powerful tool for improving nutrition among low-income people.

It is available to nearly anyone with low income and few resources. Eligibility is based on income and assets available to the household, as well as household characteristics namely immigrant status or one’s ability to work.

  • Only legal immigrants are eligible for program benefits, most of whom must wait 5 years in legal status before qualifying for benefits.

  • The Program requires able-bodied adults between 16 and 60 (with some exceptions) to register for work, to take part in employment/training programs referred by the food stamp office, and to accept or continue suitable employment.
Benefits come to the household via electronic debit cards, known as Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards which can be used in 162,000 approved retail stores nationwide to purchase food.

Background

The modern program was established by the federal government in 1964, significantly altered in 1977, and is the largest federal nutrition program for low-income households.
It is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service at the federal level and is operated by State and local welfare offices in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Participants

26.2 million people participated in FY 2006 in an average month (not including disaster relief).
84 percent of all food stamp households in FY 2006 contained an elderly or disabled person or a child, and these households received 89 percent of all benefits.
The average monthly food stamp benefit for all participants in FY 2006 was $214 per household.

Budget

$33 billion in Federal spending in FY 2006 (benefits and administration).
$34.4 billion in FY 2007 (est).

Contact Information

For complete information, visit www.fns.usda.gov/fsp or call or visit your local food stamp office. Look in the blue pages of your phone book under “Social Services” or “Human Services” to find the number. If you need help finding your local food stamp office, call 1-800-221-5689.

 

Last modified: October 2007