U.S. food stamp tally up 1.2 million in two months

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Enrollment in the major U.S. antihunger program, food stamps, grew by 1.2 million people in two months and stands at a record 33.8 million people, the government said on Wednesday.

Food stamps helped one in nine Americans buy groceries during April, according to Agriculture Department figures. The average benefit of $133.28 per person was up $40 due to a short-term increase under the economic stimulus package.

Participation in food stamps grew by roughly 600,000 people, or 2 percent, in both March and April, the latest months for which figures were available. April was the fifth month in a row of record enrollment.

The U.S. unemployment rate is 9.5 percent, highest in 26 years, with further job losses expected. Food stamps cushion the impact of economic recession.

Many low-income families face an additional food challenge during the summer because most schools close their free lunch and breakfast programs during the summer.

"For every six low-income kids, only one gets a meal during the summer," said Jim Weill of the antihunger group Food Research and Action Center. "It can be, even in good economic times, hugely difficult to maintain a decent diet for their kids."

According to FRAC, summer food programs in 2008 reached 17 percent of low-income children who received free meals at school. FRAC said more children would be reached if the government had higher reimbursement rates, helped pay for transportation and provided start-up and expansion grants.

U.S. food stamp enrollment in recent months:

April - 33.758 million

March - 33.157 million

February - 32.556 million

January - 32.205 million

December 2008 - 31.784 million

November 2008 - 31.097 million

October 2008 - 31.050 million