Despite Gains, Food Stamp Program Lags

More people were on food stamps in March, but enrollment in the program was still more than 1 million below the year before, the government reported Friday.

Enrollment in the program is off about 30% over the last four years for a variety of reasons, including the strong economy and tighter eligibility requirements, federal officials say. About 17.3 million people were on food stamps nationwide in March, an increase of 98,000 from February.

An estimated 37% of people eligible for food stamps aren’t getting them, and the Agriculture Department plans a series of public meetings this summer in seven cities to find out what the government can do to get more of them into the program.

Officials say some states have discouraged participation, and some potential recipients are declining to take food stamps because of a perceived stigma.

The meetings will take place in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City.

Seven states have recorded enrollment declines of at least 10% since March 1999, led by Maryland with a drop of 17.2% and Colorado and Nebraska at 15.6%.

Enrollment in the program peaked at more than 27 million nationwide in 1994. At the time, 72% of the eligible people were participating.

President Clinton relaxed eligibility rules last July and announced a public education campaign to stem enrollment declines in the program. The Agriculture Department also is asking Congress for $10 million in its 2001 budget to pay for outreach programs.

States could help the working poor by limiting paperwork and keeping their offices open longer so families who need food stamps can get them, said Ellen Vollinger of the Food Research and Action Center, an advocacy group.

A family of four that earns up to $1,810 a month is eligible for the program in most states. Limits in Alaska and Hawaii are higher.