Saturday, July 25, 2009
Military families outpaced the rest of the country in using food stamps last year by a considerable margin, according to the Department of Defense. From 2007 to 2008, the use of food stamps by military personnel and their dependants increased 25%, while Americans overall turned to the assistance 13% more. Reliance on food stamps by military families had been declining, dropping 5% from 2006 to 2007.
Defense officials say in addition to the poor economy being a factor, a recent switch in how food stamps are distributed may have contributed to the increase. Aid recipients no longer receive paper vouchers to buy groceries, but instead get a debit card accepted at commissaries on bases, which reduces the stigma of shopping with food stamps.
Nationally, food stamp usage has gone up this decade, rising from 17 million Americans in 2000 to 32 million this year.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
More Troops Relying on Food Stamps (by Bryan Mitchell, Military.com)
Comments