Food Stamps Cover Working-Age Americans: For the First Time, Elderly Doesn't Comprise Majority of Assistance Recipients

For the first time in recent past, working-age Americans now comprise the majority of citizens who receive food stamps.

According to new data released by the government, most households that depend on food stamps are in the 25-40 age range.

The Associated Press reported this weekend that the number is a shift from just three years ago, when elderly citizens and children made up the primary population of those who receive government assistance.

AP suggested that the shift could be due to a change in demographics, such as people giving birth to less children overall. Additionally, the economy's sluggish return might be a contributing factor - as unemployment creeps higher and the gap between low-paying and skilled jobs widens, Americans are more likely to seek out forms of social security.

The program, which covers about one of every seven United States citizens, has most recently grown amongst people with a college education.

Some wager this is an indication that the former middle class is in a tighter financial spot than in previous years.