More New Mexicans have turned to the federal government for food help in the past year, in part because of the weak economy and partly because of a change in eligibility.

As of September, 165,000 families had received the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, up from 135,000 in September 2009.

The numbers have been rising since 2008, when the economy started to sour, said Betina Gonzales McCracken, public-information officer for New Mexico Human Services Department.

Grocery stores have seen an increase in the number of shoppers at certain times of the month. The first of the month is when most electronic benefit cards get reloaded, including those who get SNAP dollars.

Marsha Gilford, vice president of public affairs for Smith's, said EBT users at the company's Santa Fe store tend to shop more on the first and 15th day of the month.

In September, Wal-Mart CEO Bill Simon said that company's stores tend to get busy at midnight on the first of each month, when families buy baby formula, eggs and other staples.

"And if you really think about it, the only reason somebody gets out in the middle of the night and buys baby formula is that they need it, and they've been waiting for it," Simon said. His comments were reported in various newspapers and online blogs.

Gonzales McCracken said that as of September, 8,278 households in Santa Fe County were participating in SNAP, a number that translates into more than 17,200 individuals.

Unlike other federal programs, SNAP recipients don't receive benefits for a limited time.

As of April of this year, New Mexicans living at 165 percent of the federal poverty level have been eligible for SNAP. Previously, only those at 130 percent of the federal poverty level qualified. A family of four earning less than $3,032 per month would qualify under the current rules, Gonzales McCracken said. The amount of assistance received depends on income and family size.

SNAP, Gonzales McCracken said, is "supposed to be a supplemental income; it's not supposed to be the whole source of income."

Lucía André, co-owner of Paisano Inc. mini-markets, said that since the recession hit, more people have used EBT cards to purchase groceries.

"Before it was more common to see young women or single mothers paying with EBT cards," André said. "But now it's people of all ages, of all social classes, using the food stamps. We see people who are professionals using EBT. I guess we've gotten to the point where they need this resource to avoid starving their children and themselves."

Contact Sandra Baltazar Martínez at 986-3062 or smartinez@sfnewmexican.com.