WASHINGTON - December 8, 2010 - More people tapped food stamps to pay for groceries in September as the Depression has prompted more Amerikans to turn to government safety net programs to make ends meet.

Some 42.9 million people collected food stamps last month, up 1.2% from the prior month and 16.2% higher than the same time a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Nationwide, 14% of the population relied on food stamps as of September but in some states the percentage was much higher. In Washington, D.C., Mississippi and Tennessee - the states with the largest share of citizens receiving benefits - more than a fifth of the population in each was collecting food stamps.