NCJ Number
74840
Journal
Bureaucrat Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1978) Pages: 22-33
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the nature of the Food Stamp Program, existing problems in the program, efforts made by Congress and the executive branch to solve these problems, and the effects of reforms signed by President Carter on September 29, 1977.
Abstract
The 1964 Food Stamp Act established the legal foundation and administrative framework for the current Food Stamp Program (FSP) and extended benefits. In terms of people served, the FSP is the largest program of income support for American households. By 1970, 4.34 million people were getting $551 million. In response to administrative problems in the States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has established extensive reporting and review procedures. State agencies maintain a Quality Control System, Efficiency and Effectiveness Program, Project Area Review, and financial reporting system. The accumulation of bad publicity, documentation of problems, and threat of uncontrolled growth in the middle 1970's stimulated both administrative and legislative reforms. Public Law 95-113 contains important amendments to the 1964 Food Stamp Act which are designed to reduce problems of administration and eligibility and benefit determination, increase participation, and increase expenditures of $5.8 billion by fiscal 1979. These reforms sharply contrast with the nearly successful efforts of President Ford and the previous Congress to reduce participation and benefits. Six major changes in the FSP are examined. Basically, these changes eliminate the purchase requirements and thereby distribute a larger proportion of program benefits to the poor. The article contends that the amendments will increase the absolute food stamp workload of the local welfare offices in large cities, and with increased volume, more fraudulent applications will slip by local welfare staff. The article concludes that continued problems in the FSP combined with the failure of Carter's comprehensive welfare reform effort prepare Congress to consider such amendments when the current authorization expires in 1981. A total of 13 notes are supplied.