Reaching Those in Need: State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates in 2011

This document presents estimates of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation rates for all eligible people and for the working poor, by state, for fiscal year 2011. Seventy-nine percent of eligible people in the United States received SNAP benefits in fiscal year 2011, however, participation rates varied by state. Among the regions, the Midwest Region had the highest participation rate. Its 85 percent rate was significantly higher than the rates for all of the other regions except the Southeast Region. The Western Region’s participation rate of 68 percent was significantly lower than the rates for all of the other regions.