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Federal and State Initiatives Needed To Improve Productivity and Reduce Administrative Costs of the Aid to Families With Dependent Children and Food Stamp Programs

AFMD-84-18 Published: Feb 02, 1984. Publicly Released: Feb 02, 1984.
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Highlights

Administrative costs in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Food Stamp programs have increased at a more rapid pace than benefit payments to recipients. GAO reviewed the processing of AFDC and Food Stamp applications at 15 welfare offices in 8 states. This review was based on a comparison of the productivity of these offices. GAO also examined the impact that inconsistent federal criteria for determining an applicant's income and assets and different federal time periods for processing AFDC and Food Stamp cases have on productivity.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services should establish a nationwide productivity measurement and reporting system for AFDC and Food Stamp programs.
Closed – Implemented
The proposal to limit administrative cost reimbursement by putting limits on percentage above average to be reimbursed implements this recommendation to measure productivity by state for the programs.
Department of Health and Human Services The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services should establish a nationwide productivity measurement and reporting system for AFDC and Food Stamp programs.
Closed – Implemented
The proposal to limit administrative cost reimbursement by putting limits on percentage above average to be reimbursed implements this recommendation to measure productivity by state for the programs.
Department of Agriculture The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services should establish a joint mechanism for identifying the best operating practices, including changes in federal laws and regulations, that will facilitate prompt, accurate, and efficient processing for both programs.
Closed – Implemented
Some changes were made to standardize criteria. Other changes were not acted on by Congress.
Department of Health and Human Services The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services should establish a joint mechanism for identifying the best operating practices, including changes in federal laws and regulations, that will facilitate prompt, accurate, and efficient processing for both programs.
Closed – Implemented
Some changes were made to standardize criteria. Other changes were not acted on by Congress.
Department of Agriculture The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services should formulate uniform federal financial requirements for measuring incomes and assets, setting common time periods for processing applications and closing out cases, and proposing legislative change as necessary for congressional action.
Closed – Implemented
USDA made proposals that Congress has not enacted into law. Some proposed changes which standardize criteria were made.
Department of Health and Human Services The Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services should formulate uniform federal financial requirements for measuring incomes and assets, setting common time periods for processing applications and closing out cases, and proposing legislative change as necessary for congressional action.
Closed – Implemented
Some changes which standardize parts of the criteria were enacted. Other changes were not acted upon by Congress.

Full Report

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Topics

Administrative costsEligibility determinationsPopulation statisticsProductivity in governmentProgram managementPublic assistance programsState-administered programsParticipation ratesFood relief programsData errors