Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates: Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

The participation rates presented in this report estimate the percentage of individuals eligible under federal SNAP income and asset rules who choose to participate in the program. Of the nearly 52 million individuals eligible for SNAP benefits in an average month in fiscal year (FY) 2011, 41 million (79 percent) participated, and nearly 11 million did not. From FY 2010 to FY 2011, the number of SNAP participants increased by 9 percent and the number of eligible individuals increased by about 2 percent.