[Editors: Please use this corrected version of Economic Brief. This version corrects some of the North Dakota guidelines. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.]

An average of 48,412 North Dakotans participated in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) per month in fiscal year 2008 (based on preliminary data as of Dec. 30, 2008). The participation rate was up 7.3 percent from the 45,122 monthly average in 2007.

Nationally, participation in SNAP also increased 7.3 percent from 2007 to 2008.

“The increase in food assistance in North Dakota is a sobering reminder that even though our state’s economy is relatively robust, there are many people in our state who are struggling with bare essentials, such as food. Many of these people are children,” says Richard Rathge, North Dakota State Data Center director. The center is at North Dakota State University.

This month’s “Economic Brief,” a monthly publication from the State Data Center, focuses on the average monthly participation in the SNAP, along with the average monthly benefit per participant.

The data comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.

As of Oct. 1, 2008, SNAP became the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program. The new name reflects changes made to the program, including a focus on nutrition and an increase in benefit amounts.

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program serves individuals in North Dakota of all ages who meet federal income guidelines. For example, a family of four with gross monthly income of $2,297 or less would be eligible for program benefits. Benefits help single individuals and families purchase food. People who are struggling to afford groceries should contact their county social service office to find out if they qualify for the program.

More than $59 million in SNAP benefits were distributed to North Dakota participants in fiscal year 2008, which was up 14.2 percent from 2007. Nationally, $34.6 billion in SNAP benefits were distributed in 2008, up 14 percent from 2007.

On average, SNAP participants in North Dakota each received $102.02 per month in fiscal year 2008, which is an increase of 6.5 percent from $95.83 in 2007. Nationally, participants each received an average of $101.53 per month in 2008, up 6.2 percent from $95.63 in 2007.

Hawaii reported the highest average monthly payment of $159.34 in 2008. Missouri had the lowest at $76.01.

During an average month, SNAP recipients were 7.5 percent of North Dakota’s total population in 2008. Nearly half of the recipients were children. Nationally, participants were 9.3 percent of the total population in 2008.

NDSU Agriculture Communication