Number of Food Aid Recipients Declines

The number of people who receive food stamps is beginning to fall after four years of record growth that ended with more than 1 in 10 Americans participating in the federal government’s largest welfare program.

The Agriculture Department says 26.76 million people were collecting food stamps in February, down from 27.85 million in February, 1994, and a drop of more than 300,000 from January.

Some experts suggest the decline is caused by a better economy. But others, such as Massachusetts’ health and human services secretary, Gerald Whitburn, believe the trend may also reflect welfare reforms, with time limits and work requirements being decreed.

“Recipients know the rules of the game are changing, and the prospect of being in a long-term entitlement, where limited effort has often been the case, is a thing of the past,” Whitburn said.