United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-01-09 monographic deposited born digital 23 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-211 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-211 P0b002ee18039d734 f:d01211 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-211 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-211 GAO-01-211 Elderly persons Food programs for the elderly Unexpended budget balances Federal/state relations Grants to states Letter Report

Under Title III of the Older Americans Act, the Administration on Aging (AoA) distributes grants to states on the basis of their proportional share of the total elderly population in the United States. These grants are then disbursed to more than 600 area agencies nationwide, and are used to fund group and in-home meals, as well as support services, including transportation and housekeeping. The grants are further subdivided by these agencies to more than 4,000 local service providers. AoA requires that states obligate these funds by September 30 of the fiscal year in which they are awarded. Also, states must spend this money within two years after the fiscal year in which it is awarded. During this time AoA does not limit or monitor the amount of unspent funds that states may carry over to the succeeding fiscal year. GAO examined whether states were using Title III carryover funds to expand their meal service programs for the elderly beyond a level sustainable by their annual allotments alone. GAO found that the buildup and use of Title III carryover funds to support elderly nutrition services does not appear to be a widespread problem. However, AoA does not monitor the states' buildup of carryover funds. As a result, the agency has little assurance that it could identify meal service problems that could emerge in the future. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-211/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-211.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-211/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-211.pdf GAO-01-211 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-211 Letter Report GAO-01-211; Title III, Older Americans Act: Carryover Funds Are Not; Elderly persons Food programs for the elderly Unexpended budget balances Federal/state relations Grants to states Title 42 Section 3001 42 U.S.C. 3001