46 Million on Food Stamps in 2014

While the American economy is slowly improving, food stamp usage remains at record highs. Twenty million more Americans are on food stamps today than they were before the recession, according to Jason Russell of the Washington Examiner.

A total of 46 million people received food stamps last year, costing taxpayers a whopping $80 billion. Contrast those numbers with 2007, when the food stamp program cost $38 billion. Only during the recession, says Russell, has enrollment in the food stamp program been higher. In fact, prior to 2007, the highest enrollment had ever been was 27.5 million in 1994.

Enrollment in food stamps is limited to just three months out of a three-year period for able-bodied adults without dependents who aren’t working or in a work training program. However, the government waived those work requirements in 2009 in response to the recession. According to Watchdog.org, 28 states will receive full work requirement exemptions in 2015, and 14 states will receive partial waivers.

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