Food Stamp Program: Steps Have Been Taken to Increase Participation of Working Families, but Better Tracking of Efforts Is Needed

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 2004-03-05 monographic deposited born digital 57 p. GA 1.13:GAO-04-346 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-346 P0b002ee1803751bd f:d04346 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-346 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-346 GAO-04-346 Disadvantaged persons Federal aid programs Federal/state relations Food relief programs State-administered programs Strategic planning Program evaluation Food Stamp Program Other Written Product A09407 Food Stamp Program: Steps Have Been Taken to Increase Participation of Working Families, but Better Tracking of Efforts Is Needed Eligible working families are believed to participate in the Food Stamp Program at a lower rate than the eligible population as a whole. As a result, many federal, state, and local officials believe the program is not living up to its potential as a component of the nation's work support system. This report examines: (1) what proportion of eligible working families participate in the program and what family characteristics are associated with a family's participation; (2) what factors may be acting as impediments to a working family's decision to participate in the program; and (3) what steps are being taken, or have been suggested, to help eligible low-income working families participate in the program while ensuring program integrity. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-346/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-346.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-346/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-346.pdf GAO-04-346 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-346 Other Written Product GAO-04-346; Food Stamp Program: Steps Have Been Taken to Increase Participation of Working Families, but Better Tracking of Efforts Is Needed; Disadvantaged persons Federal aid programs Federal/state relations Food relief programs State-administered programs Strategic planning Program evaluation Food Stamp Program