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 2001-06-27 monographic deposited born digital 16 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-881T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-881T P0b002ee18039bf4a f:d01881t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-881T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-881T GAO-01-881T Food relief programs Eligibility determinations Erroneous payments Federal/state relations State-administered programs Internal controls Program abuses Food Stamp Program National School Lunch Program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Testimony A01275 The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the states have taken actions to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in the Food Stamp Program. GAO's past work has found FNS and the states need to make better use of electronic data to track individuals and storeowners who may be trafficking in food stamp benefits. GAO also found that financial sanctions and enhanced funding have been at least partially successful in focusing states' attention on minimizing payment errors. However, this ''carrot and stick'' approach can only accomplish so much. Food stamp regulations for determining eligibility and benefits are extremely complex and their application is inherently error-prone and costly to administer. Furthermore, this approach, carried to extremes, can create incentives for states to take actions that may inhibit achievement of one of the agency's basic missions--providing food assistance to those who are in need. For example, increasing the frequency with which recipients must report income changes could decrease errors, but it could also have the unintended effect of discouraging participation by the eligible working poor. This would run counter not only to FNS' basic mission but also to an overall objective of welfare reform--helping people move successfully from public assistance into the workforce. Simplifying the Food Stamp Program's rules and regulations offers an opportunity to reduce payment error rates and promote program participation by eligible recipients. FNS has begun to look at options for simplifying requirements for determining benefits. However, in view of the upcoming reauthorization, it is critical that FNS follow through with this process and develop options that strike an appropriate balance between the sometimes competing objectives of ensuring program integrity and encouraging eligible individuals to participate. To be successful, this process must include a continuing dialogue with all appropriate stakeholders, including congressional members and state officials, and must ensure that actions are taken to streamline the program while at the same time improving program integrity. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-881T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-881T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-881T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-881T.pdf GAO-01-881T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-881T Testimony GAO-01-881T; Food Stamp Program: Program Integrity and Participation Challenges; Food relief programs Eligibility determinations Erroneous payments Federal/state relations State-administered programs Internal controls Program abuses Food Stamp Program National School Lunch Program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Public Law 104-193 Public Law 105-185 Public Law 106-387