Number of SNAP Recipients Breaks Record Again

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL --  With continuing economic challenges facing Oklahomans, 13,000 individuals were added to the roles of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the month of April, according to state officials at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. 
“Oklahoma has seen an increase of 12.5 percent in SNAP recipients compared to a year ago,” said OKDHS Director Howard Hendrick. “This is a considerable load to carry for our staff across the state,” Director Hendrick said.

“They are doing this while maintaining the lowest SNAP error rate in the region and the lowest in state history. Oklahoma is maintaining a 95.5 percent accuracy rate over its more than 400,000 SNAP cases.” This increase adds to a steady climb in SNAP benefit recipients over the last 14 months. In April, 463,426 Oklahomans were on the rolls for SNAP, which is 12.8 percent of the state’s overall population.

With the passage of the federal stimulus bill, Oklahomans who receive SNAP benefits now have more buying power at the grocery store. Items not allowed to be purchased are cleaning products, paper goods, personal-care items, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, household items, prepared foods and vitamins or medicine.

Beginning in April 2009, additional benefits from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 were automatically added to SNAP recipients’ Access Oklahoma Electronic Benefits Transfer card. The maximum monthly allotment for a four-person household in Oklahoma increased from $588 to $668.

###