Food Stamp Program: Information on Employment and Training Activities
(Letter Report, 12/14/98, GAO/RCED-99-40).

Welfare reform limits able-bodied adults without dependents to three
months of food stamps within a three-year period unless they meet work
requirements or they live in areas with high unemployment and few jobs.
In the 42 states providing enough data for analysis, GAO found that a
monthly average of 514,200 able-bodied adults without dependents
received food stamps during April, May, and June 1998. About 40 percent
of them were not required to work because they lived in areas with high
unemployment or too few jobs. In the 24 states providing enough data for
analysis, a monthly average of 23,600 able-bodied adults without
dependents filled state-sponsored employment and training or Workfare
positions. This represents about 17 percent of the able-bodied adults
without dependents who were required to work in those states in order to
receive food stamps. Those persons also accounted for about half of the
able-bodied adults without dependents who were offered jobs and training
assistance or Workfare positions by these states. As of June 1998, with
one-fourth of fiscal year 1998 remaining, all the states had spent only
28 percent of the $212 million set aside for state employment and
training programs for food stamp recipients. Also, 43 states had spent
about 41 percent of the grant money available to them in fiscal year
1998.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  RCED-99-40
     TITLE:  Food Stamp Program: Information on Employment and Training 
             Activities
      DATE:  12/14/98
   SUBJECT:  Food relief programs
             Statistical data
             Workfare
             Unemployment rates
             State-administered programs
             Welfare recipients
             Employment or training programs
IDENTIFIER:  Food Stamp Program
             Food Stamp Employment and Training Program
             Workfare
             
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Cover
================================================================ COVER


Report to the Chairman, Committee on the Budget, House of
Representatives

December 1998

FOOD STAMP PROGRAM - INFORMATION
ON EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ACTIVITIES

GAO/RCED-99-40

Food Stamp Employment and Training

(150081)


Abbreviations
=============================================================== ABBREV

  FNS - Food and Nutrition Service
  GAO - General Accounting Office
  USDA - U.S.  Department of Agriculture

Letter
=============================================================== LETTER


B-281501

December 14, 1998

The Honorable John R.  Kasich
Chairman, Committee on the Budget
House of Representatives

Dear Mr.  Chairman: 

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
of 1996,\1

known as the Welfare Reform Act, made significant changes to the
nation's welfare system, including the Food Stamp Program.  In
particular, the act limits Food Stamp Program participants who are
able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 50 and without
dependents to 3 months of food stamp benefits within a 3-year period
unless they (1) meet work requirements or (2) are exempted from these
requirements because they live in areas with high unemployment or an
insufficient number of jobs.  These able-bodied adults can meet the
work requirements by (1) working a minimum of 80 hours a month; (2)
participating in qualifying state employment and training programs
for 20 hours a week; or (3) participating in Workfare, which provides
work in a public service capacity in exchange for public benefits,
such as food stamps. 

Concerns were raised that some of the able-bodied adults without
dependents who were willing to work were not able to find
opportunities to meet the Welfare Reform Act's work requirements.  In
response, in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997,\2 the Congress
increased funding for the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program
to a total of $212 million for fiscal year 1998 and specified that 80
percent of the total had to be spent to help able-bodied adults
without dependents meet the work requirements.  The Balanced Budget
Act also gave the states the option of exempting up to 15 percent of
all able-bodied adults without dependents not otherwise exempted from
the work requirements. 

This report responds to your request for information on (1) the
number of able-bodied adults without dependents who are receiving
food stamp benefits, the number who are required to meet the work
requirements, and the number who are exempted from the requirements;
(2) the number of able-bodied adults without dependents participating
in qualifying employment and training or Workfare programs; and (3)
the amounts of federal grant funds that states spent through the
first three quarters of fiscal year 1998 for employment and training
or Workfare programs for food stamp recipients. 

The information we developed in response to your request is based in
part on our September 1998 survey of state officials administering
food stamp employment and training programs.  Officials in all the
states and the District of Columbia responded to our survey covering
participation in the Food Stamp Program by able-bodied adults without
dependents for the months of April, May, and June 1998.  Most states
provided estimates of participation, while a few were able to provide
data from their records.  Forty-two state agencies\3 --which served
just over 90 percent of food stamp participants nationwide--provided
sufficient data for reporting on the number of able-bodied adults
without dependents who were receiving food stamps and were required
to meet the work requirements or who were waived or exempted from
those requirements.  Only 24 states--which served about half of food
stamp participants nationwide--were able to provide sufficient data
for reporting on the numbers of able-bodied adults without dependents
who were participating in employment and training and/or Workfare. 


--------------------
\1 P.L.  104-193, Aug.  22, 1996. 

\2 P.L.  105-33, Aug.  5, 1997. 

\3 Throughout the report, we refer to the state agencies as "states"
and include the District of Columbia in this group. 


   RESULTS IN BRIEF
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :1

In the 42 states providing sufficient data for analysis, a monthly
average of about 514,200 able-bodied adults without dependents
received food stamp benefits during April, May, and June 1998.  About
58 percent of these individuals were required to meet the work
requirements; another 40 percent were not required to work because
they lived in areas that were considered to have high unemployment or
an insufficient number of jobs; and 2 percent had been exempted by
the states from the work requirements. 

In the 24 states providing sufficient data for analysis, a monthly
average of 23,600 able-bodied adults without dependents filled
state-sponsored employment and training and/or Workfare positions. 
These participants represented about 17 percent of the able-bodied
adults without dependents who were required to work in those states
in order to receive food stamp benefits.  These individuals also
accounted for about half of the able-bodied adults without dependents
who were offered employment and training assistance and/or Workfare
positions by these states. 

As of June 30, 1998--with one-fourth of fiscal year 1998
remaining--all the states had spent only about 28 percent, or $60.2
million, of the $212 million available for state employment and
training programs for food stamp recipients.  Also, according to
preliminary fourth-quarter financial data, 43 states had spent about
$72 million, or 41 percent of the grant funds available to them for
fiscal year 1998.  According to federal and state officials, the low
percentage of spending for food stamp employment and training
programs occurred primarily because (1) fewer able-bodied adults
without dependents were required to work than anticipated and fewer
than anticipated accepted this assistance and (2) some states needed
more time to refocus their food stamp employment and training
programs to target these individuals. 


   BACKGROUND
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :2

The Food Stamp Program helps low-income individuals and families
obtain a more nutritious diet by supplementing their income with food
stamp benefits.  The average monthly food stamp benefit was about $70
per person during fiscal year 1997.\4 The program is a federal-state
partnership in which the federal government pays the cost of the food
stamp benefits and 50 percent of the states' administrative costs. 
The U.S.  Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) administers the program at the federal level.  The states'
responsibilities include certifying eligible households and
calculating and issuing benefits to those who qualify. 

The Food Stamp Employment and Training Program, which existed prior
to the Welfare Reform Act, was established to ensure that all
able-bodied recipients registered for employment services as a
condition of food stamp eligibility.  The program's role is to
provide food stamp recipients with opportunities that will lead to
paid employment and decrease dependency on assistance programs.  In
fiscal year 1997, the states were granted $79 million in federal
employment and training funding and spent $73.9 million, or 94
percent of the grant.  In the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the
Congress increased grant funding for the Food Stamp Employment and
Training Program to a total of $212 million for fiscal year 1998 and
specified that 80 percent of the total had to be spent to help
able-bodied adults without dependents meet the work requirements. 
For fiscal year 1999, the Congress provided $115 million in
employment and training funding.\5 These funds remain available until
expended. 

Employment programs that the states choose to offer may involve the
public and private sectors.  For example, Workfare, which qualifies
as an employment program under the Welfare Reform Act, requires
individuals to work in a public service capacity in exchange for
public benefits such as food stamps.  Some states also allow
participants to meet the work requirements by volunteering at
nonprofit organizations.  However, under the Welfare Reform Act, job
search and job readiness training are specifically excluded as
qualifying activities for meeting the act's work requirements. 


--------------------
\4 Able-bodied adults without dependents typically receive a higher
benefit amount, about $108 a month, on average. 

\5 Under the Balanced Budget Act, the Food Stamp Employment and
Training Program was originally allocated $215 million in funding for
fiscal year 1999.  However, this funding level was reduced by $100
million through the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 (P.L.  105-185, June 23, 1998). 


   OVER HALF OF ABLE-BODIED ADULTS
   WITHOUT DEPENDENTS ARE REQUIRED
   TO WORK
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :3

During April, May, and June 1998, a monthly average of about 514,200
able-bodied adults without dependents received food stamp benefits,
according to information from the 42 states providing sufficient data
for analysis.  These adults represented about 3 percent of the
monthly average of 17.5 million food stamp participants in the 42
states during that period.  Of the 514,200 individuals, about 58
percent, or 296,400 of the able-bodied adults without dependents were
required to meet the work requirements; 40 percent, or 208,200, were
exempted from these requirements because they lived in geographic
areas that had received waivers; and 2 percent, or 9,600, had been
exempted by the states from the work requirements.  (See app.  I for
state-by-state information.)

The number of able-bodied adults without dependents receiving food
stamp benefits has apparently declined in recent years, as has their
share of participation in the program.  For example, in 1995, a
monthly average of 1.2 million\6 able-bodied adults without
dependents in 42 states participated in the Food Stamp Program,
compared with the 514,200 individuals who participated in the period
we reviewed.  In addition, in 1995, 5 percent of food stamp
participants were estimated to be able-bodied adults without
dependents, compared with the 3 percent we identified through our
survey of the states.  FNS and state officials accounted for these
differences by pointing out that (1) food stamp participation has
decreased overall--from about 27 million per month nationwide in 1995
to about 19.5 million in April, May, and June 1998; (2) some
able-bodied adults without dependents may have obtained employment
and no longer needed food stamps; and (3) others who were terminated
from the program may not have realized that they could regain
eligibility for food stamp benefits through participation in
state-sponsored employment and training programs or Workfare.  Also,
the states vary in the criteria they use for identifying able-bodied
adults subject to the work requirements.\7


--------------------
\6 In an average month in fiscal year 1995, 1.3 million able-bodied
adults without dependents, or 5 percent of the food stamp population
nationwide, were estimated to be subject to the work requirements,
according to data developed for FNS.  These data were reported to FNS
in Characteristics of Childless Unemployed Adult and Legal Immigrant
Food Stamp Participants (Washington, D.C.:  Mathematica Policy
Research, Inc., Feb.  1997). 

\7 According to an FNS study, some states are more stringent than
others in identifying able-bodied adults without dependents.  For
example, 31 states exempt all adults in a household with dependent
children from the work requirement, 16 exempt one or both parents,
and 2 exempt only one parent.  FNS is reviewing draft federal
regulations that will address how states determine the status of
able-bodied adults. 


   RELATIVELY FEW ABLE-BODIED
   ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS
   PARTICIPATED IN EMPLOYMENT AND
   TRAINING AND WORKFARE PROGRAMS
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :4

During April, May, and June 1998, a monthly average of 23,600
able-bodied adults without dependents filled employment and training
and/or Workfare positions in the 24 states that provided sufficient
data for analysis.  Fifteen of these states offered Workfare
positions, 20 offered employment and training positions, and 11
offered both Workfare and employment and training positions.  The
23,600 individuals accounted for about half of the 47,000 able-bodied
adults without dependents who were offered state-sponsored employment
and training assistance and/or Workfare positions.\8 More
specifically: 

  -- Able-bodied adults without dependents filled about 8,000
     Workfare positions per month, or 34 percent of the 23,700
     Workfare positions offered by the 15 states with Workfare
     positions;

  -- Able-bodied adults without dependents filled about 15,600
     employment and training positions per month, or 67 percent of
     the 23,300 employment and training positions offered by the 20
     states.  (See app.  I for state-by-state information.)

These 23,600 individuals accounted for about 17 percent of the
137,200 able-bodied adults without dependents who were subject to the
work requirements in those states.  Of the remaining 113,600, some
may have been within the 3-month time frame for receiving food stamp
benefits while not working, others may have met these requirements by
finding jobs or Workfare positions on their own, and some may not
have met the work requirements, thereby forfeiting their food stamp
benefits. 

FNS and state officials said they could not yet explain the limited
participation in employment and training and Workfare programs, but
FNS officials and some states are trying to develop information on
the reasons for low participation.  In addition, some suggested that
able-bodied adults without dependents participated to a limited
extent in employment and training programs and Workfare because they
(1) participate sporadically in the Food Stamp Program,\9

(2) prefer not to work, or (3) believe that the relatively low value
of food stamp benefits is not enough of an incentive to meet the work
requirements. 


--------------------
\8 Of the remaining states, 18 reported offering employment and
training and/or Workfare positions but did not provide sufficient
data for inclusion in this report, and 9 did not offer employment and
training or Workfare programs to this group during those months. 

\9 For example, in an average month in 1996, one-third of able-bodied
adults without dependents receiving food stamps had participated in
the program for 3 months or less, according to a study prepared for
FNS.  In addition, only 29 percent participated in the Food Stamp
Program for a year or longer compared with about 50 percent for all
adult participants in the program.  The source of this information is
The Effect of Welfare Reform on Able-Bodied Food Stamp Recipients
(Washington, D.C.:  Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., July 1998). 


   STATES SPENT LESS THAN
   AUTHORIZED
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :5

With only 3 months remaining in fiscal year 1998, the states were
spending at a rate that would result in the use of significantly less
grant funds for food stamp employment and training recipients than
authorized.  For the first three quarters of the fiscal year, through
June 30, 1998, the states spent only 28.4 percent, or $60.2 million,
of the $212 million in grants, according to FNS data.  The rate of
spending varied widely by state, ranging from 75 percent, or about
$230,000 of the $307,000 authorized for South Dakota, to less than 1
percent, or $109,000 of the $13.4 million authorized for Michigan. 
Twenty-five of the states spent less than 20 percent of their grant
funds, 17 spent between 20 and 49 percent, and 9 spent 50 percent or
more.  Also, according to preliminary fourth-quarter financial data
reported to FNS, 43 states spent about $72 million, or 41 percent of
the grant funds available to them for fiscal year 1998.  (See app. 
II.)

To better understand why the states were spending less of their grant
funds than authorized, we interviewed food stamp directors and
employment and training officials in 10 geographically dispersed
states.\10 In general, according to these officials, grant spending
has been significantly less than authorized because (1) some states
had a limited number of able-bodied adults without dependents who
were required to work, (2) some states needed time to refocus their
programs on able-bodied adults without dependents,\11 and (3) some
states reported that it was difficult to serve clients in sparsely
populated areas because of transportation problems or the lack of
appropriate jobs.  When asked whether spending would change in fiscal
year 1999, state officials had differing expectations.  Officials
from 4 of the 10 states--Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and West Virginia--said
that they anticipate spending about the same or less, and
Pennsylvania officials were unsure whether spending would change.  In
contrast, officials from five states--Illinois, Michigan, Rhode
Island, Texas, and Washington--anticipate increases in spending,
mostly because of the improvements they have made to their employment
and training programs. 

In discussing the rate of grant spending, officials of five
states--Georgia, Pennsylvania, Washington, Texas, and West
Virginia--said that the requirement to spend 80 percent of funds on
able-bodied adults without dependents had caused them to decrease
employment and training services to other food stamp participants. 
For fiscal year 1998, a maximum of 20 percent of the available grant
funds--$42 million--was available for employment and training
activities for other food stamp recipients, while $79 million had
been provided for employment and training activities for all food
stamp recipients in fiscal year 1997.  State officials explained that
prior to fiscal year 1998, most employment and training funds had
been spent for food stamp participants who were not able-bodied
adults without dependents.  With the shift in funds to able-bodied
adults without dependents, less has remained for the other food stamp
recipients, who typically had constituted the majority of the
employment and training participants in the past.  Nevertheless, some
of those not served by Food Stamp Employment and Training Programs
may be eligible to receive employment and training through other
federal and state programs. 


--------------------
\10 These states were Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. 

\11 FNS provided guidance to the states on how to implement the
Balanced Budget Act's provisions in February 1998, 5 months after the
beginning of the fiscal year. 


   AGENCY COMMENTS
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :6

We provided USDA's Food and Nutrition Service with a copy of a draft
of this report for review and comment.  We met with Food and
Nutrition Service officials, who provided comments from the Food and
Nutrition Service's Office of General Counsel and the Director,
Program Analysis Division, Office of Food Stamp Programs.  The Food
and Nutrition Service generally agreed with the contents of the
report and provided technical and clarifying comments that we
incorporated into the report as appropriate. 


   SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :7

To obtain information on the numbers of able-bodied adults without
dependents who are receiving food stamps benefits, are required to
meet work requirements, are exempted from the work requirements, and
are participating in qualifying employment and training and/or
Workfare programs, we surveyed the states and the District of
Columbia.  The survey data covered the months of April, May, and June
1998.  We used the participation data for these months to estimate
average monthly participation in the program.  All states and the
District of Columbia responded to our faxed questionnaire, and we
contacted state officials as needed to verify their responses. 
Eighty-eight percent of the responses provided by 41 states and the
District of Columbia were based on estimates and the remaining on
data in state records.  According to the state officials who provided
estimates, their information systems were in the process of being
revised and they plan to have actual data for fiscal year 1999. 

To obtain information on state spending of federal grants for
employment and training programs, we obtained FNS' grant funding data
reported by the states and the District of Columbia for the first
three quarters of fiscal 1998, the latest data that were available as
of November 1998.  We subsequently obtained preliminary financial
data for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998, which are subject to
change after financial reconciliation.  To supplement these data, we
interviewed state food stamp directors or employment and training
officials in 10 geographically dispersed states, including Georgia,
Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas,
Washington, and West Virginia. 

We performed our work in accordance with generally accepted
government auditing standards from July through November 1998. 


---------------------------------------------------------- Letter :7.1

As agreed with your office, unless you publicly announce its contents
earlier, we plan no further distribution of this report until 30 days
from the date of this letter.  At that time, we will send copies of
this report to the appropriate Senate and House Committees;
interested Members of Congress; the Secretary of Agriculture; the
Administrator of FNS; the Director, Office of Management and Budget;
and other interested parties.  We will also make copies available to
others upon request. 

Please call me at (202) 512-5138 if you or your staff have any
questions about this report.  Major contributors to this report are
listed in appendix III. 

Sincerely yours,

Robert E.  Robertson
Associate Director, Food
 and Agriculture Issues


AVERAGE NUMBER OF FOOD STAMP
RECIPIENTS AND ABLE-BODIED ADULTS
WITHOUT DEPENDENTS IN 42 STATES IN
APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE 1998
=========================================================== Appendix I

                                 (Numbers of individuals)

                                    Able-bodied adults without dependents\b
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Employment and
                                                              Workfare        training
                                                           --------------  --------------
                Total
                 food
                stamp
             recipien            Required          Exempt  Offere          Offere
States          ts \a     Total   to work  Waived      ed       d  Filled       d  Filled
-----------  --------  --------  --------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
Alabama       420,443     4,980     3,990     990      \c   199\e   199\e      \c      \c
Alaska         47,000       507         0     506       1      \c      \c      \c      \c
Arkansas      254,087        \d        \d      \d      \d      63      63      \c      \c
Arizona       287,229       415       340      75      \c      \c      \c      21      21
California   2,226,08    99,383    93,000   2,883   3,500      \d      \d      \d      \d
                    7
Colorado      187,998     1,353     1,125     218      10     152      88     706     230
Connecticut   193,827     5,692     1,690   4,002      \c      \c      \c      91      61
District of    83,966       533       417     116      \c      \c      \c      46      36
 Columbia
Delaware       44,339       182       182      \c      \c      \c      \c      \c      \c
Florida       955,012    17,445     9,948   7,001     497     417     354  10,662   7,820
Georgia       618,100    14,074     5,737   8,328       9      \c      \c      \d      \d
Hawaii        121,522     5,637       275   5,362      \c      \c      \c      48      34
Idaho          65,109       727       600     101      25      \d      \d      \d      \d
Illinois      916,183    54,615     9,962  43,194   1,458   7,326   4,888     619     562
Indiana       305,926     3,663     2,644   1,017       2      \d      \d      \d      \d
Iowa          141,325     1,708     1,708      \c      \c       1       1      \c      \c
Kansas        116,413     2,353     2,078      \c     275      \c      \c      \c      \c
Kentucky      409,161    24,512     2,502  21,481     528      \c      \c     369     191
Louisiana     535,376    16,939     3,626  12,135   1,178      45      13     341      98
Maine         114,911        \d        \d      \d      \d      \c      \c      \d      \d
Maryland      322,077     6,200     1,265   4,705     230      \c      \c      \d      \d
Massachuset   284,422     1,509     1,106      \c     403      \c      \c      \c      \c
 ts
Michigan      792,268    16,374    16,374      \c      \c      \d      \d      \d      \d
Minnesota     209,737     5,571     4,586     756     228  1,657\     102  1,657\   1,564
                                                                f               f
Mississippi   321,374     3,017     3,017      \c      \c     402     284      43      30
Missouri      403,863     6,475     2,300   4,175      \c      \c      \c      \d      \d
Montana        62,987        \d        \d      \d      \c      \c      \c      \c      \c
Nebraska       92,870       274       146      10     118      \d      \d      \d      \d
Nevada         69,948     1,254       950     304      \c      \c      \c      \c      \c
New            39,841        \d        \d      \d      \d      \d      \d      \d      \d
 Hampshire
New Jersey    419,245        \d        \d      \d      \c  1,564\     396  1,564\      68
                                                                f               f
New Mexico    169,068     6,000     2,000   4,000      \c      \c      \c      \d      \d
New York     1,611,60    89,410    49,667  39,733      10      \c      \c   2,000   1,100
                    0
North         518,986    12,060    11,269      \c     791      16      12     951     720
 Carolina
North          34,206     1,233       943     290      \c      \c      \c       2       1
 Dakota
Ohio          713,366     5,421     5,421      \c      \c   3,421   1,368     800     119
Oklahoma      281,814        \d        \d      \c      \c      \c      \c      \c      \c
Oregon        238,932     8,421     8,200      \c     221   8,200     195      \c      \c
Pennsylvani   898,774    38,400    21,200  17,200      \c      \d      \d      \d      \d
 a
Rhode          72,039     2,411       371   2,040      \c      \c      \c      \c      \c
 Island
South         329,615        \d        \d      \d      \d     116      61     139     159
 Carolina
South          45,673     1,137       410     727      \c      76      15     333      63
 Dakota
Tennessee     533,561     8,937     6,217   2,720      \c      \c      \c     253     161
Texas        1,578,74    18,495     8,769   9,726      \c      \d      \d      \d      \d
                    9
Utah           92,443     2,320     2,075     245      \c      \d      \d      \d      \d
Virginia      386,230        \d        \d      \d      \c      \d      \d      \d      \d
Vermont        48,163       457       407      50      \c      \d      \d      \c      \c
Washington    362,961     3,653     1,231   2,294     128      \d      \d      \d      \d
West          266,107    14,476     2,645  11,831      \c      \c      \c      \d      \d
 Virginia
Wisconsin     188,322     6,035     6,035      \c      \c      \c      \c   2,644   2,557
Wyoming        25,814        \d        \d      \d      \c      \c      \c      \d      \d
Total        19,459,0   514,257   296,428  208,21   9,613  23,655   8,039  23,289  15,593
                   71                           5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a Average number of food stamp participants (by individual) in
April, May, and June 1998 per Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS)
data. 

\b According to data reported by state agencies through GAO survey. 

\c This option in the Food Stamp Program not exercised by the state. 

\d Data insufficient for analysis. 

\e Reflects state-reported data for only one month of operations. 

\f Reflects state-reported data of one total for employment and
training and workfare. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of FNS and state-reported survey data. 


FEDERAL FUNDS EXPENDED FOR FOOD
STAMP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING,
FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF FY 1998
AND PRELIMINARY EXPENDITURES FOR
FY 1998
========================================================== Appendix II

                                 ((Dollars in thousands))

                                               Percent of                      Percent of
                              Grant funds     grant funds     Fiscal year     fiscal year
                  Federal        expended        expended      1998 grant      1998 grant
           employment and     through the     through the           funds           funds
States     training grant   third quarter   third quarter      expended\a      expended\a
---------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Californi         $25,996          $7,601              29         $13,178              51
 a
Texas              16,293           4,590              28          13,817              85
New York           14,993           9,709              65          10,589              71
Michigan           13,410             109               1             164               1
Pennsylva          12,321             941               8             941               8
 nia
Illinois           11,230           4,982              44             \\b             \\b
Florida             9,165           3,488              38           5,365              59
Ohio                7,731           3,135              41             \\b             \\b
Tennessee           6,658           1,449              22           1,655              25
Georgia             6,137           3,729              61             \\b             \\b
Louisiana           5,869           1,855              32           2,399              41
Missouri            5,186             825              16             988              19
Kentucky            4,861           1,245              26           1,832              38
Virginia            4,551             984              22           1,730              38
North               4,529             828              18             869              19
 Carolina
Alabama             4,309             740              17           1,013              24
West                4,046             406              10             447              11
 Virginia
Washingto           3,973             694              18           1,813              46
 n
Oregon              3,593             611              17             771              22
Mississip           3,578           1,412              40             \\b             \\b
 pi
New                 3,093           2,053              66           3,093             100
 Jersey
Indiana             3,013             831              28             \\b             \\b
Oklahoma            2,814             492              18             575              20
Arizona             2,735           1,354              50           1,996              73
Connectic           2,703             314              12             459              17
 ut
Arkansas            2,404             168               7             264              11
Massachus           2,259              27               1             \\b             \\b
 etts
Minnesota           2,242             709              32             856              38
South               2,230             742              33           1,078              48
 Carolina
Maryland            2,044              97               5             127               6
District            1,745             222              13             309              18
 of
 Columbia
Hawaii              1,658              90               5             597              36
Maine               1,648             478              29             629              38
Wisconsin           1,554             119               8             593              38
New                 1,396              99               7             \\b             \\b
 Mexico
Colorado            1,107             614              56           1,107             100
Nevada              1,093             137              13             179              16
Iowa                1,043             286              27             378              36
Kansas                992             198              20             198              20
Vermont               656             338              52             363              55
Nebraska              594             362              61             435              73
Utah                  591              73              12             153              26
Montana               571             304              53            \304             \53
Alaska                568              92              16             \\b             \\b
Rhode                 560              52               9              70              13
 Island
Idaho                 538             195              36             308              57
North                 370              55              15             152              41
 Dakota
Wyoming               356              65              18              73              20
Delaware              346             100              29             134              39
South                 307             230              75             230              75
 Dakota
New                   218               8               4               8               4
 Hampshire
=========================================================================================
Total\c          $211,881         $60,234              28       $72,239\b            41\b
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a Fiscal year expenditure amounts are preliminary and subject to
change after financial reconciliation, according to FNS officials. 

\b Fourth-quarter expenditures for eight states were not available
from FNS as of Nov.  30, 1998.\ Total and percent of total does not
include expenditures for these states.  Expenditures reported by all
states, as of Nov.  24, 1998, amounted to $86 million. 

\c Numbers may not add due to rounding. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of FNS' data. 


MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS REPORT
========================================================= Appendix III

Charles M.  Adams, Assistant Director
Patricia A.  Yorkman, Project Leader
Alice G.  Feldesman
Erin K.  Barlow
Nancy Bowser
Carol Herrnstadt Shulman


*** End of document. ***