Over 30 million Americans – one out of 10 – received food stamps in January according to the governement on Thursday. Food stamps is the biggest U.S. anti-hunger program which aids the poor to buy groceries. The average benefit was $112.82 per person in January, a new record – the third record in five months.

In New York, 2.211 million people received food stamps, Reuters reported:

“A weakened economy means that many more individuals are turning to SNAP/Food Stamps,” the Food Research and Action Center, an antihunger group, told Reuters.

The nation’s unemployment rate has climbed to its highest rate in 25 years – 8.1 percent – with weekly claims for jobless benefits at 669,000, according to the government.

President Obama has approved a temporary 13 per cent increase in food stamp benefits, beginning this month, as part of his government’s economic stimulus plan.

Image by 7476739@N05 under Creative Commons.

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