Adventures in Unemployment

GOOD: 15 Percent of Americans Are Now on Food Stamps

With unemployment rates hovering around 9% nationally, the USDA reported that in May 2011, 45.8 Million Americans were receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits - A.K.A. “food stamps.”

I was using food stamps for about 4 months when I was unemployed in 2010, and it was a life saver. Not only did the SNAP benefits allow me to eat AND pay my rent (because it would have been one or the other without the program) it forced me to learn how to cook, too. Plus, once I finally found a job as a home visit nurse for low income families, I really understood the process and could help other people apply for SNAP benefits. 

Have you used food stamps? How have they helped you?