Costs for Food Stamps, Welfare Jump Sharply

A large jump in the number of people eligible for food stamps and welfare benefits this year is costing states and the federal government billions of dollars, a published report said Monday.

At least 44 states have reported increases in enrollment, with some rising 50%, said an Agriculture Department report quoted in the New York Times.

The number of people receiving food stamps rose by 1.3 million from May, 1989, to May, 1990, when it topped 20 million for the first time since 1985, said the report, which was submitted to Congress.

The department, which administers the food stamp program, noted that food stamp rolls have risen 16% in the last year in Texas, 19% in Florida, 26% in Nevada, 54% in New Hampshire, 12% each in Georgia and Massachusetts, 7% each in New York state and California, and 21% in Connecticut.

Congress appropriated $14.8 billion, but that proved inadequate and it had to provide an additional $1.2 billion in May. It then directed the Agriculture Department to investigate the causes.

The department report said that “44 states and the District of Columbia experienced a growth in participation” in the food stamp program over the last year, while the nation’s unemployment rate was relatively stable.