Federal Domestic Food Assistance Programs: A Time for Assessment and Change
CED-78-113
Published: Jun 13, 1978. Publicly Released: Jun 13, 1978.
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Highlights
Thirteen major federal domestic programs, costing several billion dollars annually, provide food or food-related assistance to needy Americans. The programs are administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA); the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW); and the Community Services Administration (CSA).
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should adopt a uniform definition of the word needy and establish consistent criteria for determining who is eligible for federal food assistance programs. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
Congress discussed but did not adopt any definition of the term needy. GAO is doubtful that Congress will enact this recommendation in the near future. |
| Congress should approve an explicit national policy on the appropriate levels of food assistance to be provided to needy Americans by the federal government. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
This issue was debated, but no legislation was enacted. GAO is doubtful that Congress will enact this recommendation in the near future. |
| Congress should authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to implement individualized food stamp allotments nationwide if USDA demonstration projects show the administrative feasibility of such allotments. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
During the 99th Congress, three bills were introduced to implement this, or a closely related, recommendation. The bills were referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, but have not been reported out of that Committee. Congress debated this issue, but no legislation was enacted. GAO is doubtful that Congress will enact this recommendation in the near future. |
| Congress should consolidate major federal food assistance programs by bringing under one program federal cash and commodity assistance currently provided by the School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and evaluate the need for federal reimbursement of free milk served under the Special Milk Program in elementary schools and child care institutions already participating in the school lunch, school breakfast, and/or child care food programs. |
Closed – Implemented
|
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. |
| Congress, on the basis of results of the executive branch's feasibility study, should eliminate the receipt of duplicative benefits, particularly between the Food Stamp and School Lunch Programs, by allowing consideration of benefits received from one federal food assistance program when determining eligibility and benefit levels for other federal food assistance programs. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
During the 99th Congress, three bills were introduced to implement this, or a closely related, recommendation. Although the bills were referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, they have not been reported out of the Committee. Congress debated this issue, but no legislation was enacted. GAO is doubtful that Congress will enact this recommendation in the near future. |
| Congress, on the basis of results of the executive branch's feasibility study, should require a single state/local agency to be responsible for the application, certification, verification, referral, and monitoring aspects of designated federal food programs to help ensure, along with the authorization and implementation of consistent eligibility criteria and procedures, a more equitable and efficient delivery of federal food assistance to needy Americans. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
Congress debated, but did not adopt, this recommendation. GAO is doubtful that Congress will enact this recommendation in the near future. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should initiate on a priority basis periodic national surveys of low-income households to determine the types and amounts of cash and in-kind food benefits received and the precise extent of current overlaps and gaps, both in terms of program costs and nutrient intake, among the major federal programs involving food assistance, including Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). |
Closed – Not Implemented
Although such a survey has not been implemented, an interagency task force was established to study this and related issues. Final administrative action on this recommendation is not expected in the near future and, although GAO will continue to monitor the work of the task force, it is dropping the formal follow-up to this recommendation at this time.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should initiate on a priority basis periodic national surveys of low-income households to determine the types and amounts of cash and in-kind food benefits received and the precise extent of current overlaps and gaps, both in terms of program costs and nutrient intake, among the major federal programs involving food assistance, including Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). |
Closed – Not Implemented
Although such a survey has not been implemented, an interagency task force was established to study this and related issues. Final administrative action on this recommendation is not expected in the near future and, although GAO will continue to monitor the work of the task force, it is dropping the formal follow-up to this recommendation at this time.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should propose consistent income and asset eligibility requirements and procedures for the appropriate federal food assistance programs and study the effects of such requirements and procedures on program participation, costs, and work incentives. The results of this study should be reported to Congress along with a recommendation for such authorizing legislation as may be necessary. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Although such a survey has not been implemented, an interagency task force was established to study this and related issues. Final administrative action on this recommendation is not expected in the near future and, although GAO will continue to monitor the work of the task force, it is dropping the formal follow-up to this recommendation at this time.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should propose consistent income and asset eligibility requirements and procedures for the appropriate federal food assistance programs and study the effects of such requirements and procedures on program participation, costs, and work incentives. The results of this study should be reported to Congress along with a recommendation for such authorizing legislation as may be necessary. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Although such a survey has not been implemented, an interagency task force was established to study this and related issues. Final administrative action on this recommendation is not expected in the near future and, although GAO will continue to monitor the work of the task force, it is dropping the formal follow-up to this recommendation at this time.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should develop and implement ways to measure, in a more coordinated, timely manner, the nutritional status of the general U.S. population, especially the participants and nonparticipants in the major federal food assistance programs, including such traditionally high risk groups as the poor, the elderly, young children, and women of childbearing age, and use this data to estimate the nutritional effectiveness of the federal food assistance programs. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Although such a survey has not been implemented, an interagency task force was established to study this and related issues. Final administrative action on this recommendation is not expected in the near future and, although GAO will continue to monitor the work of the task force, it is dropping the formal follow-up to this recommendation at this time.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should develop and implement ways to measure, in a more coordinated, timely manner, the nutritional status of the general U.S. population, especially the participants and nonparticipants in the major federal food assistance programs, including such traditionally high risk groups as the poor, the elderly, young children, and women of childbearing age, and use this data to estimate the nutritional effectiveness of the federal food assistance programs. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Although such a survey has not been implemented, an interagency task force was established to study this and related issues. Final administrative action on this recommendation is not expected in the near future and, although GAO will continue to monitor the work of the task force, it is dropping the formal follow-up on this recommendation at this time.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should establish demonstration projects in one or more localities to evaluate the increased administrative cost and error, if any, that would result from an individualized system of food stamp allotments; that is, allotment levels based on a recipient household's receiving the exact number of free food stamps needed to meet the difference between the cost of the thrifty food plan, as calculated for the number, sex, and ages of the members of that particular household, and 30 percent of the household's net monthly income for food stamp purposes. The demonstration project results should be reported to Congress. |
Closed – Not Implemented
USDA stated that it doubted if Congress would enact uniform allotments. Consequently, it did not plan to test the idea as GAO recommended.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should establish demonstration projects in one or more localities to evaluate the increased administrative cost and error, if any, that would result from an individualized system of food stamp allotments; that is, allotment levels based on a recipient household's receiving the exact number of free food stamps needed to meet the difference between the cost of the thrifty food plan, as calculated for the number, sex, and ages of the members of that particular household, and 30 percent of the household's net monthly income for food stamp purposes. The demonstration project results should be reported to Congress. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Because USDA does not plan to make such a study, there is no need for Department of Health and Human Services involvement in it.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should explore alternatives to the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food delivery systems and, if appropriate, propose legislation to implement the best alternative. |
Closed – Implemented
WIC vouchers are now for specific items; they are distributed to meet individual needs.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should explore alternatives to the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food delivery systems and, if appropriate, propose legislation to implement the best alternative. |
Closed – Not Implemented
WIC vouchers are now for specific items; they are distributed to meet individual needs.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should provide mechanisms to ensure that persons in need of, or receiving, specific benefits from such programs as School Lunch, WIC, title VII, AFDC, or SSI are aware of and referred to other food programs that they are eligible for. |
Closed – Not Implemented
With P.L. 97-35, August 13, 1981, Congress prohibited the use of federal funds for outreach activities.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should provide mechanisms to ensure that persons in need of, or receiving, specific benefits from such programs as School Lunch, WIC, title VII, AFDC, or SSI are aware of and referred to other food programs that they are eligible for. |
Closed – Not Implemented
With P.L. 97-35, August 13, 1981, Congress prohibited the use of federal funds for outreach activities.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should study ways for encouraging the exchange of information among local food program administrators to assist them in identifying potential or ineligible recipients. Legislative changes that might be needed to implement the procedures, which the study finds to be the most effective, should be recommended to Congress. |
Closed – Implemented
USDA initiated Operation Awareness to carry out this recommendation, but Operation Awareness encourages the exchange of information only for Food Stamp Program purposes and does not involve other federal agencies.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should study ways for encouraging the exchange of information among local food program administrators to assist them in identifying potential or ineligible recipients. Legislative changes that might be needed to implement the procedures, which the study finds to be the most effective, should be recommended to Congress. |
Closed – Implemented
USDA initiated Operation Awareness to carry out this recommendation, but Operation Awareness encourages the exchange of information only for Food Stamp Program purposes and does not involve other federal agencies.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should study the administrative feasibility of: (1) considering food benefits from child-feeding programs; (2) using food stamps to purchase free or reduced-price meals under the child-feeding programs; (3) adjusting thrifty food plan costs to reflect potential participation in the child-feeding programs; and (4) turning over the application, certification, verification, referral, and monitoring aspects of the child-feeding programs and WIC to local welfare offices, which now also handle food stamp certification, verification, and monitoring. The results of this study should be reported to Congress together with a recommendation for such authorizing legislation as may be necessary. |
Closed – Not Implemented
USDA examined this recommendation, especially in light of a similar recommendation made by PPSSCC, and included in several bills introduced during the 99th Congress. However, it does not plan to take any action on this recommendation in the forseeable future.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Secretary, HEW, and the Director, CSA, should study the administrative feasibility of: (1) considering food benefits from child-feeding programs; (2) using food stamps to purchase free or reduced-price meals under the child-feeding programs; (3) adjusting thrifty food plan costs to reflect potential participation in the child-feeding programs; and (4) turning over the application, certification, verification, referral, and monitoring aspects of the child-feeding programs and WIC to local welfare offices, which now also handle food stamp certification, verification, and monitoring. The results of this study should be reported to Congress together with a recommendation for such authorizing legislation as may be necessary. |
Closed – Not Implemented
USDA examined this recommendation, especially in light of a similar recommendation made by PPSSCC, and included in several bills introduced in the 99th Congress. However, it does not plan to take any action on this recommendation in the forseeable future.
|
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