Small Percentage of Military Families Eligible for Food Stamps

Gao ID: FPCD-83-25 April 19, 1983

GAO determined whether the reportedly large percentage of military families eligible for food stamps actually met the benefits criteria, and it reviewed the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) program administrative practices.

GAO found that only a small percentage of military families are eligible to receive food stamps and most of those families qualify only because their government-furnished housing is not counted as income. However, there are some families who would be eligible for food stamps regardless of their housing status, and USDA has provided them with the appropriate information concerning their benefits. GAO noted that, under certain circumstances, especially when parents are assigned away from home, there is potential abuse of the program. Inadequate reporting of income and housing status changes also contributes to ineligible families' receiving food stamp benefits.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Martin M. Ferber Team: General Accounting Office: National Security and International Affairs Division Phone: (202) 275-5140


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