Food Stamp Caseloads Dip Over Month in January 2006
FRAC - Food Stamp Program Participation Data
In January 2006 food stamp participation dipped to 26,614,529 persons, 73,911 fewer than in December 2005.
Nonetheless, the overall caseload was still nearly 1.2 million persons higher than the prior January and nearly 7.7 million persons higher than in January 2002.
The number of people participating in the Food Stamp Program in January 2006 was 9.7 million more persons than in July 2000, when program participation nationally reached its lowest point in the last decade.
Increases in participation since then likely have been driven by improved access to the program in states, including most recently for legal immigrants, by the weakened economy for low-income families, and (in September, October and November) by the hurricanes.
The period after March 1997 was also marked by implementation of cuts in Food Stamp Program eligibility for many childless, jobless adults.
