Food Stamp Program: Households Collect Benefits for Persons Disqualified for211 Intentional Program Violations

摘要

During numerous hearings over the last several years, the Congress has expressed211u001eits strong desire to reduce the level of fraud, waste, and abuse in the Food 211u001eStamp Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 211u001e(USDA). In 1997 and 1998, we reported that millions of dollars in food stamp 211u001eoverpayments in four states were caused by counting thousands of inmates and 211u001edeceased individuals as household members and by counting thousands of 211u001eindividuals as members of the recipient households in more than one state during 211u001ethe same period. In these reports, we identified several actions, including the 211u001euse of automated information, to reduce the level of ineligible participation. 211u001eThis report focuses on individuals who were disqualified from the program for 211u001eintentionally violating the program's rules but were included as household 211u001emembers during their disqualification period, a problem referred to as 211u001edisqualified participation. Individuals are disqualified from participation in 211u001ethe program when it is determined that they have committed an intentional program 211u001eviolation.