Food Stamps

Date posted: 03/21/2008

The data on Individuals Receiving Food Stamps in Larimer County are no longer available. A request has been submitted to create reports on the Number of Emergency Issuances of Food Stamps and the Age of Food Stamp Recipients in Larimer County. Currently, data is only available at the Household level.

In September of 2004 (the beginning of Federal Fiscal Year 2005), the State implemented a new computer system, the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS), which collects data differently. Technical difficulties with data reporting were experienced statewide and appear to account for the decrease in submitted applications. In Larimer County, families continued to receive benefits despite reporting problems with the database.

Food Stamps are a nationally available benefit under the control of the United States Department of Agriculture that is designed to help individuals and families meet a portion of their food costs. Eligibility is based on both income and resource tests that are set by the Federal government. Residents who do not qualify for monthly cash assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF) may still be eligible Food Stamp benefits.

'Emergency Issuances' of Food Stamps are provided to households with limited income and no cash resources when it is expected that they will not be able to meet basic shelter expenses of rent/mortgage and utility bills in the next month. This figure is a strong indicator of the number of people who have lost jobs in the prior month.

What this table shows: Food Stamp Applications Received** in Larimer County, Fiscal Years* 2003 - 2007

Number of Food Stamp Applications Received

	FY* 2003	FY* 2004	FY* 2005	FY* 2006	FY* 2007
Estes Park	114	135	86	94	19
Fort Collins	3,680	3,675	3,480	3,814	4,121
Loveland	2,072	2,019	1,782	1,965	2,135
Total	5,866	5,829	5,348	5,873	6,275

*The Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) runs from October 1 through September 31 of the next year and is identified by the year in which it ends. For example, FFY 2003 runs from October of 2002 through September of 2003.

**The numbers in the table above are applications only, taken from the front desk interview process and

1. do not reflect mail-in applications that are approved through the phone interview process for disabled and some elderly clients, and
2. do not reflect applications that are dropped off and then denied because the applicant fails to appear for the required interview.

Data Source: Larimer County Department of Human Services

What these data tell us:

While the number of Food Stamp applications decreased from 2003 to 2005, from 2005 to 2007 there has been a 17% increase. Total population in Larimer County, meanwhile, grew only 3% from 2005 to 2007 (projected).

What this chart shows: Average Monthly Number of Households & Participants Receiving Food Stamps in Larimer County, 2001-2007

* January to July data

** June to December data

*** Average number of Participants is an average based on 2 months (January and May 2007). No other data is available.

Please note that data on 'Participants Receiving Food Stamps' are no longer regularly collected.

Data Source: Colorado Department of Human Services Monthly Food Stamp Summary Report

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 2000 to 2007, there was a 51% increase in the number of households receiving food stamps in Larimer County. Over this same period, the population of Larimer County increased only 7%.

'Households receiving food stamps' is defined as a distinct group of people who eat together, while number of 'Participants receiving food stamps' is the actual number of individual people receiving food stamps. Data on participants are no longer collected.

What this chart shows: Average Monthly Food Stamp Benefit for the United States, Colorado, & Larimer County, 2003 - 2007

* January to July data

** June to December data

*** January to July data

Data Source: Colorado Department of Human Services Monthly Food Stamp Summary Report; United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 2003 to 2005, Larimer County's average amount of monthly food stamp benefit increased by 35%. Local food stamp benefit amounts were slightly higher than the Colorado monthly average during this time period. However, from 2005 to 2007, Larimer County's average amount of monthly food stamp benefit decreased by 12%, while the United States and Colorado averages remained about the same; it should be noted that the cost-of-living over this period of time (2005 to 2007), has most certainly been driven upward by the rising cost of gas, housing, etc. Specific figures for Larimer County cost-of-living are not available at this time.

The criteria for the amount recipients receive are the same throughout Colorado. Variables determining benefit amounts include household size, income, and housing cost. For example, a household of one, with no income, would receive $152 per month in food stamp benefits, regardless of whether they live in Fort Collins, Pueblo or Vail.

There are three variables in eligibility criteria that could cause the local average benefit amount to be higher than the state average: 1) Average family size of recipients may be higher in Larimer County [see Family Size, Household Size, & Household Composition], 2) Average area income of recipients may be lower [see Per Capita Income], or 3) Recipient's shelter costs in comparison to income may be disproportionately high in Larimer County [see Home Ownership/Affordable Housing].

What this chart shows: Average Monthly Emergency Issuances of Food Stamps in Larimer County, 2000-2007

*2004 January through July data

**2005 data are not available

Data Source: Colorado Department of Human Services Monthly Food Stamp Summary Report

See data table

What these data tell us:

In 2000, the Larimer County Department of Human Services issued emergency food stamp benefits averaging 114 per month. By 2007 there was an average of 233 emergency issuances per month, a 104% increase or more than doubled since 2000. By comparison, the overall population of Larimer County only increased 11% from 2000 to 2007.

What this chart shows: Percentage of Larimer County Food Stamp Recipients by Age Category, 2007*

*Average based on 2 months (January and May 2007). No other data available.

Data Source: Colorado Department of Human Services Monthly Food Stamp Summary Report

See data table

What these data tell us:

In looking at the ages of food stamp recipients, it is clear that children are the primary beneficiaries of this program, with 52% of benefits going to residents under age 18. This age group had a total of 5,405 food stamp participants in 2007.

Additional Information:

On Compass -

• Affordable Rental Costs
• Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP)
• Home Ownership/Affordable Housing
• Homelessness
• Income by Racial Classification
• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
• Median Family Income
• Per Capita Personal Income
• Poverty
• Reduced/Free School Lunches
• Self-Sufficient Income
• Subsidized Housing
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Outside Compass -

• Colorado Department of Human Services Food Assistance Program
• Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute/ The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2004: A Family Needs Budget - this report, produced by the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, uses the Self-Sufficiency Standard to calculate the income needed by families in each Colorado county to meet basic needs without public or private assistance.
• Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Food Research and Action Center is a nonprofit and nonpartisan research and public policy center working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and under-nutrition in the United States.
• Larimer County Department of Human Services - Basic Assistance Programs
• MDRC - Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation is a non-profit, social policy research organization publishes numerous reports about family self-sufficiency issues.
• Recent Trends in Food Stamp Participation: Have New Policies Made a Difference?, May 2004 - This series presents findings from the 1997, 1999, and 2002 rounds of the National Survey of America's Families (NSAF). Information on more than 100,000 people was gathered in each round from more than 42,000 households with and without telephones that are representative of the nation as a whole and of 13 selected states (Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin). Additional information on the NSAF can be obtained at http://newfederalism.urban.org.
• United States Department of Agriculture - Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services section.

Standards or Targets: N/A

Data Tables:

Households & Individuals Receiving Food Stamps in Larimer County

	Larimer County Monthly Average Served		Average Monthly Benefit (Fiscal Year)
	Households	Individuals	Larimer County	Colorado	United States
1998	3,403	7,943	$162.56	$159.58	$170.62
1999	3,153	7,374	$164.40	$158.72	$171.22
2000	3,179	7,129	$167.96	$150.80	$170.11
2001	3,174	7,481	$186.63	$157.01	$173.97
2002	3,837	9,373	$181.21	$174.73	$185.71
2003	4,158	10,334	$192.12	$188.05	$194.92
2004*	4,767	11,951	$204.37	$203.51	$199.67
2005**	4,689	n/a	$259.00	$243.02	$212.91
2006	4,777	n/a	$233.00	$249.45	$214.38
2007	4,808	***10,456	$231.00	$242.12	$214.71

n/a - not available

*2004 Household & Individual data for Larimer County represents January - July data.

**2005 Household data for Larimer County represents June - December data.

*** Average number of Participants is an average based on 2 months (January and May 2007). No other data is available.

See charts:

'Households & Participants'

'Average Monthly Benefits'

Number of Emergency Issuances of Food Stamps in Larimer County

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
2000	133	96	104	99	117	118	124	133	107	120	117	95
2001	153	140	156	134	128	154	148	163	128	181	182	172
2002	260	204	244	*	184	159	199	227	239	225	210	198
2003	241	207	214	259	216	192	212	179	186	191	192	186
2004	226	214	222	183	183	181	171	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
2005	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
2006	238	183	221	151	194	261	230	263	203	260	244	195
2007	328	271	213	212	249	202	260	242	189	218	227	182

* Reports for April 2002 cannot be retrieved

n/a - not available

See chart

Age of Food Stamp Recipients in Larimer County

	2000 # %		2001 # %		2002 # %		2003 # %
Under 18	3,564	49%	3,907	50%	4,653	50%	3,136	38%
18-59	3,327	45%	3,489	45%	4,261	45%	4,726	57%
60 plus	448	6%	412	5%	459	5%	471	6%

	2004* # %		2005 # %		2006 # %		2007** # %
Under 18	5,863	49%	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	5,405	52%
18-59	5,520	46%	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	4,424	42%
60 plus	512	4%	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	627	6%

n/a - not available

*2004 represents January through July data

** Average based on 2 months (January and May 2007). No other data is available.

See chart

© 2004-2007 Larimer County | About | Newsletter | Site Map | Feedback