According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. government has reported that about 39.4 million Americans—the most ever—received food stamps in January 2010. The number of recipients was up 22% from a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The total of Americans getting the subsidy has hit records for 14 consecutive months. The national unemployment rate has hovered at 9.7% since January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beginning Oct. 1, an average of 40.5 million people are expected to get food stamps each month this year, rising to 43.3 million in 2011, according to White House estimates.
Los Angeles Times article