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Release No. 0234.06

Contact: Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623
Susan Acker (703) 305-2286

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Food Stamp Participation Rate Increases for Third Consecutive Year

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2006— Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner today announced that food stamp participation rate has increased for a third consecutive year. The new data indicates the Food Stamp Program served 60 percent of all eligible participants in fiscal year (FY) 2004, up from 56 percent in FY 2003.

“I’m very encouraged by the continued increase in Food Stamp Program participation rates,” said Conner “Ensuring that all who are eligible to participate are able to access this important assistance is a key step toward ensuring our nutrition safety net successfully serves those in need and helps them to achieve self sufficiency.”

In 2004, a total of 38 million individuals were eligible to receive benefits. Throughout the year, 60 percent of those who were eligible participated in the program and 71 percent of the total benefits possible were distributed. Participation rates were higher than average among families with children and people in the poorest households.

Changes in the law governing the Food Stamp Program and policy reforms in 2001 and 2002 increased the number of eligible low-income individuals and families, especially among the working poor and legal immigrants. As part of the 2002 Farm Bill, President Bush supported making legal immigrant residents, who have resided in the U.S. for more than five years, eligible to participate in the program.

In addition, USDA has worked with state and local agencies to implement improvements authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill to simplify program rules and support work, promoted the benefits of food stamp participation, and awarded grants to community-and faith-based organizations to develop effective outreach strategies to reach eligible non-participants.
The Food Stamp Program, administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, provides nutritional support to needy households moving to self-sufficiency. The program serves as the first line of defense against hunger. For more information on the Food Stamp Program and other USDA food assistance programs or an electronic version of the report, Food Stamp Participation Rates: 2004, visit www.fns.usda.gov.

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