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Body Spec: Body Text; colw: 16p11; depth:4.08 (in.)

Food stamp use grows, benefit lags inflation

AUGUSTA – One in eight Mainers depends on food stamps to help feed themselves and their families, but the increasing cost of food means the benefit does not go as far as it did just a year ago.

“Anyone getting their groceries can see how much the price of food has gone up,” said Tom Keyes, deputy director of the Office of Integrated Access and Support, the state agency that administers the food stamp program. “We have not seen a big spike in use, but there has been a steady increase in applicants.”

Five years ago, an average of 132,000 Mainers were receiving food stamp benefits. In 2007 that had increased to an average of 162,000, and Keyes said that last month about 176,000 Mainers were receiving food stamp benefits.

“We have always had high participation in the program,” he said, “but we are seeing an increase.”

The food stamp benefit is paid for entirely with federal funds; the state pays to administer the program. A single person must make less than $1,107 a month to get a benefit; a family of four must have less than $2,238 a month in income.

With food prices increasing, the benefit is not. The average benefit for a single person is $87.42 a month. Among the more than 82,000 households receiving benefits, the average benefit is $173.85 a month.

“I don’t think there are many that could make that go the month,” said University of Maine professor Kathryn Musgrave, who teaches courses in nutrition at the Orono campus and over the ITV system after retiring in 1985. “The costs are just so high – how can you pay for milk at $4.50 a gallon if you have a couple of teenagers in your home that go through gallons a week?”

The program is designed to supplement a poor person’s food budget, not be the only resource to pay for food. But, Musgrave said, the high fuel costs that are driving the increase in food prices are also affecting the poor directly.

“What a terrible thing it must be to have to choose between staying warm, heating your home for your family, and buying the food you need,” she said.

Musgrave said that with the high prices of food, it is even more important that those who receive food stamp benefits get the information to stretch those food dollars as far as possible. She said that several outreach programs are available that have developed brochures and conduct classes. Information is available online at www.maine-nutrition.org/ResourcesandLinks/FoodStamps.htm.

She said there is a lot of misunderstanding, some of it fostered by those in her field, about the nutritional value of foods. For example, she said, canned fruits and vegetables that can cost less can also have as much or more nutritional value than “fresh” produce that has been shipped across the country in refrigerated vans.

The food stamp program no longer uses stamps, but a debit card. That has made it easier to prevent misuse of the benefits and has reduced the administrative costs of the program.

Last year, more than $170 million was distributed for the purchase of food in the program, and that is on track to increase significantly this year.

“That is a significant impact on Maine’s economy,” said University of Maine economics professor James Breech. “All of that is spent directly and there is a multiplier effect of at least two times that amount as the money circulates.”

He said the economic benefit of the program is across the state and helps not only the large grocery stores but also the mom and pop stores, because many people who receive food stamps also face difficulties paying for transportation and therefore visit neighborhood stores.

One problem the escalating food prices have underlined is that the program benefits, which are adjusted by Congress, often lag behind the increase in the price of food.

“The farm bill that is in conference would not only provide an increase in benefits, it would tie them to the inflation rate in the future,” said 2nd District Rep. Mike Michaud, a Democrat. “But right now that is tied up because of the president’s opposition to other parts of the bill.”

Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said she also supported an increase in the level of benefits in the farm bill, but said poor families cannot wait for that to be worked out and funded later this year.

“I’m pleased that the budget resolution contains a reserve fund for an additional $35 billion stimulus package, which could include housing relief, extended unemployment insurance benefits, food stamps, and help with utility bills,” Snowe said. “As the price of basic groceries, such as milk, bread and eggs, continues to escalate, too many Mainers rely on this vital program for us to delay action any longer.”

She said a second stimulus package is under discussion and could be approved before summer.