About 1 in 7 in U.S. receive Food Stamps
 

Growth in the food stamp program appeared to reach a plateau in February — with 14.3% of the population relying on the safety net program.
The number of food stamp recipients was essentially flat in February, the most recent month available, with 44.2 million Americans receiving benefits, according a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (See a sortable breakdown of the data here.)
The food stamp program ballooned during the recession as workers lost their jobs or saw their hours and income reduced. The rise in recipients has begun to flatten in recent months, which may mean that as the economy is improving fewer Americans are seeking to join the program. Enrollment in the program is still high though, with 11.6% more people tapping benefits in February than the same month a year earlier.
Food stamp numbers aren’t seasonally adjusted though, meaning a variety of factors could influence the monthly tallies and the program could grow again in coming months.
Mississippi and Oregon were among the states with the largest share of the population utilizing food stamps in February: At least one in five residents in each state were receiving benefits.
Wyoming had the lowest rate of recipients with just 6.6% of the state’s residents using food stamps.


SOURCE

I saw 3 concerning factors here in NC, unemployment went up the last report, foreclosures the highest since, more people using social programs since the recession started, but that could be due to high gas and fuel causing more to seek food stamps..However, we do have a large illegal immigration population that uses many of the social services.

Foreclosures may be banks just catching up from the last years, but the other two were concerning.

Many economic brains say it's gonna be a double dip....we'll see.

Don't forget those who are employed but whose earning are low enough to qualify for public assistance and the disabled who automatically qualify.

Considering that many of my troops when I was in the military would qualify for food stamps, I am not surprised at this number.

Being disabled doesn't automatically qualify you, being disabled and in poverty may...

I don't know about others but my dad is disabled with SSID as his only income and he automatically qualified for FS and other programs (Obama Phone etc).

(it could very state to state too BTW)

Concerning huh?! Well at least you have social safety programs there.

No such thing here. You'd have to rely on family if they would and could help.

SSID basically qualifies you if you're disabled. They have a long list of rules, but like most things you need to be down near a poverty level, but obviously that's who the program is designed for.

If you are on SSID and its your only source of income you are earning poverty level income. So you are basically automatically qualified.