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Commentary By e21 Staff

Increased SNAP Benefits: The New Normal?

Economics Employment

There are 48 million participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program pays out $75 billion a year in benefits.

Adjusting for inflation, SNAP benefit expenses have increased 240 percent over the last 15 years and 145 percent over the last 5 years.

15 percent of Americans participated in SNAP in 2013. 5 years ago that number was less than 9 percent.

The average monthly benefit received per person in 2012 was $133.41. This is a 23 percent increase from the inflation-adjusted amount in 2007.