• From June 2006 through June 2013, the number of New York City residents receiving food stamps (now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) increased by 71.1 percent, from 1.1 million to 1.9 million. From June 2013 through June 2014, however, the number of recipients fell by 118,000, or 6.3 percent.
• Recent decreases in the number of food stamp recipients likely reflect improvements in the local labor market.
  Nationwide, over the same June 2013-June 2014 period, the number of individuals receiving food stamps fell by a more modest 2.6 percent.
• As a result of the decreased caseload as well as federal reductions in per family grant payments beginning in November 2013, total food stamp grants to city residents decreased by $244 million, or 6.9 percent, from fiscal year 2013 to 2014.

Prepared by Paul Lopatto
New York City Independent Budget Office

SOURCES: IBO analysis of data from the New York City Human Resources Administration, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and the United States Department of Agriculture

Print version available here.

Over the last decade, the number of city residents receiving food stamps has more than doubled, while public assistance recipients have decreased and the number of blind and disabled New Yorkers receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits has remained flat.

In fiscal year 2012 city residents received $3.4 billion in food stamp benefits, compared with $2.9 billion from Supplemental Security Income and $1.4 billion from public assistance.

PDF version here.

SOURCES: New York City Human Resources Administration; New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
NOTE: Public assistance and Supplemental Security Income recipients may also receive food stamps.

Prepared by Paul Lopatto
New York City Independent Budget Office

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