Food Stamp Program: Participants Temporarily Terminated for Procedural Noncompliance
RCED-89-81
Published: Jun 22, 1989. Publicly Released: Jul 06, 1989.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined Georgia and Wisconsin food stamp recipients' benefit interruptions to determine the extent of and reasons for participants' temporary termination from food stamp programs.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
Matter | Status | Comments |
---|---|---|
To ensure full monthly benefits to participants who file recertification applications up to 1 month late, Congress may want to consider amending the proration provisions of the Food Stamp Act to exclude such participants. |
Closed – Not Implemented
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This provision was addressed in H.R. 410, but was subsequently deleted in conference. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
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Department of Agriculture | To promote equitable benefits in all states, the Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Administrator, FNS, to: (1) contact those states that have not adopted the monthly reporting reinstatement option; (2) determine their capability to adopt the option; (3) encourage its adoption where practicable; and (4) if adopted, review the option to ensure its implementation is proper. |
Closed – Implemented
Regional offices contacted 15 state agencies to encourage adoption of the reinstatement option. Five of the 15 agencies are considering adoption of the reinstatement option. Of the remaining state agencies, six are not adopting it because they want to stay consistent with the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program, and four are not because of other reasons, which USDA believes are valid.
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Topics
Administrative errorsBeneficiariesClaims processingEligibility determinationsFood relief programsNoncomplianceReporting requirementsState-administered programsWelfare benefitsNutrition