Effects of Economic Conditions and Program Policy on State Food Stamp Program Caseloads 2000 to 2006

From 2000 to 2008, the average number of Food Stamp Program (FSP) participants rose by 65 percent because of increases in eligibility and participation. These changes occurred during a period that included declining national unemployment—the same period during which states were being given the authority to implement state-specific FSP policies, including changes in eligibility determination rules, income reporting requirements, and program outreach efforts. This report uses quantitative analysis of administrative data and qualitative findings from interviews with FSP administrators and community-based organization staff to examine how the increase in the number of program participants from 2000 to 2006 was associated with the economic and policy factors that characterized the changing environment.