Need for Greater Efforts to Recover Costs of Food Stamps Obtained through Errors or Fraud

摘要

In fiscal years 1980 and 1981, about $2 billion in food stamp benefits was overissued and about $500 million was underissued because of State food stamp agency errors and recipient errors and fraud. The net drain on program resources could have provided benefits to about 1.7 million needy people for 2 years. Without specific direction and emphasis from the Department of Agriculture, States collected only about $20 million, or 1 cent of each overissued dollar, during the 2 fiscal years. Perceived obstacles to adjudicating alleged fraud through either court prosecutions or administrative hearings have limited States' fraud pursuit efforts. The Congress has provided financial incentives and improved methods to increase States' collections and fraud pursuit, and the Department has made and plans other improvements. However, additional legislative and administrative initiatives are needed.