Here's how many people receive SNAP benefits in your state
The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, is a federal program that provides food assistance to 40 million low-income people. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, is a federal program that provides food assistance to over 42 million low-income people — meaning nearly 1 in 8 people receive the benefit each month. The money comes loaded on prepaid cards that they can use for groceries.
The backstory:
The Food Stamp Program (FSP) was introduced in the 1930s during the Great Depression, and the first recipient was Mabel McFiggin of Rochester, New York on May 16, 1939. Congress made the FSP permanent with the Food Stamp Act of 1964.
Over the years, the program saw several changes and in the late 1980s, the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system was introduced, allowing recipients to electronically pay for purchases. The first EBT pilot began in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1984.
The 2008 Farm Bill increased the federal government's commitment to food assistance and changed the name of the program to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
By the numbers:
The USDA says in the accounting year that ended on Sept. 30, 2024, SNAP cost just over $100 billion, providing an average of $190.59 a month per person to over 42 million people. The average monthly benefit per household is $356.21 according to data from the USDA.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This story was reported from Orlando.