According to the latest government figures on food stamps, 40 million American received them as part of the federal anti-hunger program, which helps poor peple buy food.

With the unemployment rate edging towards 10 per cent, according to the latest report from the US Labour Department, more Americans are relying on aid from the government to survive.

The US Department of Agriculture said Wednesday 39.68 million people or 1 in 8 Americans, were enrolled for the food stamps program during February, an increase of over a quarter of a million people from January.

Reuters reported: “This is the highest share of the U.S. population on SNAP/food stamps,” said the anti-hunger group Food Research and Action Center, using the new name for food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). “Research suggests that one in three eligible people are not receiving … benefits.”

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