Some Food Stamp Facts

• The majority of individuals and families utilize the Food Stamp Program in order to get themselves back on their feet.
• The average time a household is in on the Food Stamp Program is nine months.
• To be eligible for food stamps, households, except those with elderly or disabled members, must have gross incomes below 130 percent of the poverty line.
• All households must have net incomes below 100 percent of poverty to be eligible.
• More than 1.1 million people in the Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma counties) are living near the poverty line.
• According to the Census, these people are making less than $26,000 for a family of three.
• The California Budget Project estimates that a family needs to make more than twice that amount - at least $53,000 - in order to make ends meet in the Bay Area.
• Time limits for receiving food stamps apply for many able-bodied, childless, unemployed adults.
• Eligibility in the Food Stamp Program includes work requirements. All non-elderly adults receiving benefits who are able to work are required to be employed or to register for employment. Many must participate in work training and job search programs.