Welfare Eligibility: Programs Treat Indian Tribal Trust Fund Payments Inconsistently

摘要

Members of Indian tribes can qualify for federal welfare benefits while receiving significant payments from certain tribal trust funds because federal law requires these payments to be excluded when determining welfare eligibility. Concerned about this, the Conference Committee on the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 directed GAO to: identify the extent, size, nature, and frequency of payments from various funds to members of Indian tribes or organizations; determine how such payments are treated currently by various federal welfare programs; and report on the reasons for the legislated special exclusions of such payments.