America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

Supplemental Poverty Measure Shows State-Level Impact of Food Stamps

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reduced poverty by just over 1 percentage point for the three-year period from 2016 to 2018, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

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The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) shows that SNAP – formerly known as food stamps – cut the poverty rate from 14.3% to 13.2%. This means that with SNAP benefits, an average 3.5 million fewer people were living below the poverty line during that three-year period.

However, there are notable state-level variations; New Mexico, Louisiana and Mississippi were among the states where SNAP had the greatest anti-poverty impact. Continue Reading...

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About America Counts

America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency preparedness, and population. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews. Read the press release and press kit for more information about Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage.