According to Faisao, there are about 9,700 residents receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as the food stamp program.
He said the eligible applicants on the waiting list have been put on hold since May 1, 2011 and that the number may be rising.
He added that the program will not be able to accommodate all eligible applicants.
Faisao believes the growing trend is due in large part to the layoff of workers and cuts in working hours in both the public and private sectors.
“Government austerity does have an impact, but the overall factor is the state of the commonwealth economy,” he said.
Variety learned that there was a 26.7 percent reduction in food stamp benefits last May as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to DCCA, there were 330 new recipients last June, and outside that figure, 100 were reinstated into eligibility.
For over 40 years, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has served the United States as a federal assistance program providing help to low- and no-income individuals and families.
The program’s administrator is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but benefits are distributed by the individual U.S. states and territories.
According to the program’s eligibility requirements, the amount of benefits for a household is based on income, resources, and other expenses.
Bigger families have a higher level of poverty than small families.
For more information on food stamp eligibility requirements, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Service website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htm.
