Have Food Stamp Program Changes Increased Participation?

Food stamp caseloads increased dramatically between October 2000 and October 2003. This trend could be explained by the declining economy or by Food Stamp Program changes that increased the likelihood that families leaving welfare would keep their food stamps. This article shows that families leaving welfare between 2000 and 2002 were substantially more likely to continue to participate in the Food Stamp Program than families that left welfare between 1995 and 1997 or 1997 and 1999. Participation rates for families with no cash welfare experience did not change during the period 1997–2002. Differences in the characteristics of families do not explain these trends in participation. Food Stamp Program changes thus appear to have facilitated the greater participation of former welfare recipients.