United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-02-07 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-HEHS-95-76 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-76 P0b002ee180388e88 f:the95076 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-76 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-76 T-HEHS-95-76 Public assistance programs Aid to families with dependent children Welfare services Program abuses Administrative costs Disadvantaged persons Funds management Cost control Welfare recipients Intergovernmental fiscal relations AFDC Supplemental Security Income Program Earned Income Tax Credit Medicaid Program Food Stamp Program National School Lunch Program WIC Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children National School Breakfast Program HUD Section 8 Housing Assistance Program Dept. of Education Stafford Student Loan Program Pell Grant Job Training Partnership Act Program Head Start Program JOBS Program JTPA Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program Social Services Block Grant Child Care and Development Block Grant Community Services Block Grant Maternal and Child Health Block Grant HUD Low Rent Public Housing Program HHS At-Risk Child Care Program Testimony HEHS Nearly 80 means-tested programs have been created over the years for low-income people. In fiscal year 1992, the federal government spent about $208 billion on these programs to meet the needs of poor Americans of all ages. The many means-tested programs are costly and difficult to administer. On the one hand, the programs sometimes overlap one another; on the other hand, they are often so narrowly focused that service gaps hinder clients. GAO notes that although advanced computer technology is essential to the programs operating efficiently, it is not being effectively developed or used. Due to their size and complexity, many of these programs are vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. Moreover, the welfare system is often difficult for clients to use effectively. Finally, administrators have not articulated clear goals and objectives for some programs and have not collected data on how well the programs are working. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-76/html/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-76.htm GAO/T-HEHS-95-76 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-HEHS-95-76 Testimony GAO/T-HEHS-95-76; Means-Tested Programs: An Overview, Problems, and Issues; Public assistance programs Aid to families with dependent children Welfare services Program abuses Administrative costs Disadvantaged persons Funds management Cost control Welfare recipients Intergovernmental fiscal relations AFDC Supplemental Security Income Program Earned Income Tax Credit Medicaid Program Food Stamp Program National School Lunch Program WIC Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children National School Breakfast Program HUD Section 8 Housing Assistance Program Dept. of Education Stafford Student Loan Program Pell Grant Job Training Partnership Act Program Head Start Program JOBS Program JTPA Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program Social Services Block Grant Child Care and Development Block Grant Community Services Block Grant Maternal and Child Health Block Grant HUD Low Rent Public Housing Program HHS At-Risk Child Care Program