The Agriculture Department reports the number of Americans relying on food stamp assistance has soared to a new record of more than 36-million in August.

The agency says the number of people receiving assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program increased by more than half a million people from the month before.

Enrollment in the program has seen an increase of over four-point-seven million this year due to the continuing economic slump.

The USDA says the average American received just under 132-dollars in assistance in August.

A Cornell University study released earlier this week indicated half of the children in the U.S. would be eating groceries purchased with food stamps at some point during their childhood.

The report said only about 60-percent of families eligible for food stamps actually take advantage of the program.