Food stamps lifted four million Americans out of poverty, study shows

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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds that the food stamps program, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, “lifted 4 million people above the official poverty line in 2012.”

The official poverty measure does not count SNAP benefits when calculating a family’s income.  But, Census calculates how many people would be lifted out of poverty if it counted SNAP benefits as income… SNAP is highly effective in reducing the extent and depth of poverty and reducing hunger.

These new data come as the House prepares to consider legislation later this week that would cut SNAP by $39 billion over the next decade.

Via The Wonk Wire

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