The Reasons Participants Drop Out of the Food Stamp Program: A Case Study and Its Implications

Abstract In 1967–69 about one‐fourth of all potentially eligible households participated in the St. Louis food stamp program. The annual turnover rate approximated 100 percent. The bulk of households receiving public assistance payments dropped from the food stamp program because of inability to purchase coupons. Most nonrecipients of public assistance left the program because income lifted them from eligibility. The large majority of low‐income households usually spent more for food than food stamps would have cost, but most households could not meet the program's regular participation requirement. Methods of increasing program participation are presented.