From Foodlinks America – August 26, 2011 ☛
Participation surges in May: Enrollment in the Special Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps increased by more than a million people in May 2011 to a record 45.7 million Americans. The May total of 45,573,078 people was 1,105,217 individuals more than in April 2011 and nearly five million people more than in May 2010. Nationwide participation in SNAP has grown for 32 consecutive months, since November 2008.
One in every seven Americans now relies on food stamps to help feed their family. More people are currently getting SNAP benefits than at any time in history.
Caseload increases were noticeable in every part of the country. The ten states with the largest increases over the past year (since May 2010) were: Alabama (118 percent); New Jersey (20.4 percent); North Carolina (20.4 percent); Delaware (19.1 percent); Minnesota (19.1 percent); Maryland (18.6 percent), Nevada (18.6 percent); Florida (17.0 percent); Idaho (16.1 percent); and New Mexico, (15.4 percent).
COLAs for FY12 put in place: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced fiscal year 2012 cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for SNAP. Under the February 2009 legislation known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), maximum SNAP benefits were raised by 13.6 percent above the June 2008 value of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). The law directed that benefits provided could not fall below that level as long as the ARRA was in effect.
Consequently, maximum and minimum allotments for fiscal year 2012 will remain unchanged for the period of October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012. The shelter cap is increased slightly to $459 per month and the minimum standard deduction for households of three or less increases to $147 per month.
For additional information, review an August 2, 2011 memorandum from USDA at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/whats_new.htm , under number 23 for fiscal year 2011.
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