The Food Stamp Program is the nation's primary defense against hunger. Each month, more than 17 million people across the country use food stamps to make ends meet and put food on the table.
Food stamps reach more people than any other nutrition assistance program.
This amount is determined by calculating the difference between the estimated cost of basic food needs for that household, and the amount the household is able to spend on food. Food stamp benefits have traditionally been granted as paper coupons. This system has the potential to provide recipients and retailers the convenience of a debit card while also reducing fraud. The Food Stamp Program was initiated as a pilot project in 1961 in response to widespread hunger and nutritional deficiencies. It became a national program in 1964 and was re-shaped into its present form in 1977.