In fact, they changed the name from Food Stamps to SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Of course it's not enough to live on; it's not supposed to be.
My question is, what is it supposed to supplement? Some people on SNAP benefits have another source of income. But many do not.
83% of SNAP households have gross income at or below the poverty guideline ($19,090 for a family of three in 2012), and 61% of SNAP households have gross income at or below 75% of the poverty guideline ($14,318 for a family of three in 2012). See more SNAP statistics here.
If I lived on $1,000 a month, my entire food budget would have to come from food stamps, otherwise I wouldn't have a roof over my head.
Only a few more hours remain of my week on this budget. We have been able to get by using precise planning and taking advantage of many work meals for me. We've also had a lot of rice and beans. And a lot of heart burn.
Tonight as I loaded up on grapes to take home to my husband after a meeting, I explained to those around me the premise of this experience. If I were actually on food stamps, I would have an even stronger urge to hoard the fruit salad and would feel even less comfortable telling people why.