Pixabay.com
Pixabay.com
Welfare offices in Alton, East St. Louis and Jerseyville saw food stamp costs drop by an average of 13.16 percent from January 2015 to January 2017, according to a Metro East Sun analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.
The cost of food stamp participation dropped by nearly $30 million as 156,653 people left food stamp rolls in Illinois counties over two years, according to data obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.
Illinois welfare offices are operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services, formerly known as the Illinois Department of Public Aid.
The welfare office in Alton reported its costs were down by $903,038, a 15.46 percent change over the two-year period. The welfare office in East St. Louis reported a cost decline of $832,671, a 12.21 percent change, and Jerseyville saw lower costs to the tune of $42,043.
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Cost changes for food stamp program in Metro East
| Welfare Office | County | Change in participation | Cost January 2015 | Cost January 2017 | Change in cost ($) | Change in cost (%) |
| Alton | Madison | -3.52% | $5,840,189 | $4,937,151 | -$903,038 | -15.46% |
| East St. Louis | St. Clair | -9.91% | $6,817,347 | $5,984,676 | -$832,671 | -12.21% |
| Jerseyville | Jersey | -9.38% | $847,094 | $805,051 | -$42,043 | -4.96% |
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