Background 

This pamphlet provides estimates for Food 

Stamp Program participation rates by States. It 

will be the first widely-released document 

showing the percentage of eligible people, by 

State, who actually participate in the program. 

Because the data are from January 1994, prior to 

the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and 

Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 

they provide baseline data on participation rates 

prior to the enactment of welfare reform. 

Findings 

In January 1994, an estimated 71 percent of 

eligible people living in the United States 

received food stamps. However, participation 

rates varied widely from State to State. 

Estimated rates ranged from 38 percent in 

Alaska to 100 percent in Vermont and Maine. 

All of the estimated participation rates presented 

are based on fairly small samples of households 

in each State, and the uncertainty associated 

with the estimates for some States is large. 

Nevertheless, the estimates do show whether a 

State’s participation rate is likely to be high, 

average, or low. 

Looking at the States with the largest food stamp 

caseloads, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio 

had relatively high participation rates (80, 80, 

and 79 percent respectively). Low-income 

individuals living in New York, Texas, and 

Illinois participated at average rates (70 percent). 

Participation rates were low in Florida and 

California (at 65 and 57 percent respectively). 

In general, participation rates tended to be 

higher in the mountain regions, the Midwest, 

and the middle-Atlantic States. Participation 

rates were lowest in the Western States. 

The estimates are derived using a statistical 

approach known as shrinkage estimation that 

draws on data from the Current Population 

Survey, the Survey of Income and Program 

Participation, the Decennial census, and 

administrative records. The shrinkage estimator 

averages direct sample estimates of food stamp 

eligibles in each State with predictions from a 

regression model, based on indicators of socioeconomic conditions. Shrinkage estimates are 

substantially more precise than direct sample 

estimates from the Current Population Survey or 

the Survey of Income and Program Participation. 

REACHING THOSE IN NEED: HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE

FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Office of Research and Analysis August 1998

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the 

basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, 

parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part 

of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all 

programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, 

large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-

8339 (Local or Federal relay), or (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federalrelay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.