Trends in Food Stamp Program Participation Rates: Focus on 1994 to 1998

Finds that the individual participation rate decreased 5 percentage points from 1997 to 1998, to 59 percent, the largest one-year drop since rates began to decline in the mid-1990s. Since 1994, the participation rate has dropped over 11 percentage points, indicating that fewer eligible individuals are participating in the program. Also looks at trends in rates for different subgroups.