Food Stamp Benefits Increase Next Month

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Food assistance benefits for Alabama's
needy families will go up on April 1 by the largest amount in more
than two decades.
Alabama's commissioner of Human Resources, Nancy Bucker, said
Tuesday funding from the federal stimulus package is providing the
increase in what is commonly called the "food stamp" program.
The federal package provides for a 13.6 percent increase in the
current maximum monthly allotments per household size. For example,
the maximum monthly allotment for a family of four will go from
$588 to $668. The amount for others depends on their income and
household size.
The last increase was in October 2008 when the maximum amount
went up 8.5 percent. That had been the largest increase in 20
years.

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