| By Bob Weaver
With the rising costs of grocery bills, middle class jobs having left the state, and the turmoil caused by the Great Recession, many West Virginia people struggle to make ends meet.
And that's coupled with West Virginia being among the poorest states, per capita and medium income among the lowest.
West Virginia is now ranked #4 in the number of people on food stamps.
According to a new report from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, nearly 20% of the Mountain State's population receives nutrition assistance. That's nearly 369,249 people.
A single person can be eligible if their yearly income is around $15,000 or under. A family of four can take advantage if their yearly income is $31,008 per year or below.
Food stamps help millions of those in need, but it also costs taxpayers billions of dollars to keep the program afloat. The cost of the program in West Virginia state equals to $24.69 per person.
The average monthly food stamp benefits per participant in West Virginia is $119.88.
DC, Mississippi, and New Mexico round off the top states with food stamp recipients. | 
