- Collection:
- Georgia Government Publications
- Title:
- Fact sheet: food stamps in Georgia, No. 12 (Jan. 2006)
- Creator:
- Georgia. Department of Human Resources. Office of Communications
- Publisher:
- [Atlanta, GA] : Georgia Department of Human Resources, Office of Communications, 2006
- Date of Original:
- 2006-01
- Subject:
- Food stamps--Georgia
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- state government records
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Title from caption
- External Identifiers:
- Call Number GA H800.C6 S1 F35 12 2006 Jan.
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bh800-pc6-bs1-bf35-b12-b2006-bjan-p-belec-p-btext
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bh800-pc6-bs1-bf35-b12-b2006-bjan-p-belec-p-btext
- Language:
- eng
- Holding Institution:
- University of Georgia. Map and Government Information Library
- Rights:
-
fact sheet
Food Stamps in Georgia
The Food Stamps program is a federally funded program that helps low-income households improve their nutrition. In Georgia, it is administered by the Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
In 1998, Georgia began using electronic benefit transfer replacing food stamp coupons with a debit card. Food stamp recipients now use their EBT cards at food retailers to purchase food items.
Who qualifies? Households whose gross income is no more than 130 percent of the federal poverty level and who have no more than $2,000 in assets (or $3,000 for households with an elderly or disabled member). Able-bodied recipients between the ages of 18 and 50 with no dependent children can receive food stamps for only three months within a three-year period. They can continue to receive food stamps only if they find employment or participate in a work activity. Georgia was one of 44 states to be granted a waiver from the three-month rule for counties or cities with more than 10 percent unemployment or with a "labor surplus," which means there are more people looking for jobs than there are jobs.
What do food stamps buy? Food stamp benefits can be used at stores to buy any kind of food, but they cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, soap or any other non-food item except vegetable garden seeds. People who are homeless or elderly or disabled may use food stamps to buy prepared meals. It is illegal for recipients to use benefits for anything other than purchasing food. DHR's Office of Investigative Services investigates cases of misuse of food stamps or overpayment.
The stats: People receiving food stamps, October 2005.........980,779 (400,441 households) Average size of household receiving food stamps................................2.5 people Average number of households and individuals receiving food stamps each month:
FY 2000
Households 236,329
People
516,609
FY 2001 235,162 515,538
FY 2002 260,778 576,522
FY 2003 302,434 700,876
FY 2004 344,704 847,886
FY 2005 400,441 980,779
Total value of food stamps issued in FY 2005...............$998,375,277 (federal funds only) Average monthly food stamp allowance per person .......................................$91.62 Maximum monthly benefit for household of three ..................................................$371
Georgia Department of Human Resources Office of Communications www.dhr.georgia.gov January 2006