Updated May 1, 2019

Alabama’s food stamp rolls fell by more than 38,000 recipients in the last year and by more than 100,000 since 2016, according to figures from the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

Figures from February 2019, the most recent available, showed 730,172 Alabamians received benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. Figures for the same month in 2018 show 768,516 recipients; 2017 had 809,763; and 2016 had 864,645.

The state figures mirror national declines in the number of food stamp beneficiaries, drops attributed to an improving economy and stronger job numbers, as well as tightening restrictions that require more SNAP recipients to work or face losing benefits. Nationally, some 40.3 million Americans received food stamp benefits in 2018, down from 42 million in 2017 and 44 million in 2016.

The biggest decline – 18 percent – was in Limestone County, Alabama which saw its rolls drop from 8,481 in February 2018 to 6,949 in in February 2017.