DOMESTIC FOOD ASSISTANCE Complex System Benefits Millions, but Additional Efforts Could Address Potential Inefficiency and Overlap among Smaller Programs

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Why GAO Did This Study

The federal government spends billions of dollars every year on domestic food assistance programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers most of these programs and monitors the prevalence of food insecurity—that is, the percentage of U.S. households that were unable to afford enough food sometime during the year. Other federal agencies also fund food assistance programs; however, comprehensive and consolidated information on the multiple programs is not readily available. Congress asked GAO to examine: 1) the prevalence of food insecurity in the United States, 2) spending on food assistance programs, 3) what is known about the effectiveness of these programs in meeting program goals, and 4) the implications of providing food assistance through multiple programs and agencies. GAO’s steps included analyzing food security and program spending data, analyzing studies on program effectiveness, analyzing relevant federal laws and regulations, conducting site visits, and interviewing relevant experts and officials.

What GAO Recommends

We recommend that the Secretary of Agriculture identify and develop methods for addressing potential inefficiencies and reducing unnecessary overlap among smaller programs while ensuring access to the programs for those who are eligible. USDA agreed to consider the value of examining potential inefficiencies and overlap among smaller programs.
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USDA Announces Grants to Expand Nutrition Help for Low-Income Seniors

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The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest in pilot projects to increase access and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, among low-income seniors. Award grants, totaling approximately $8 million, will allow State agencies to pursue innovative outreach and delivery pilot projects. Interested State agencies may obtain grant applications at http://www.grants.gov or http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is encouraging State agencies to submit grant applications for programs designed to boost SNAP participation among Medicare's Extra Help population. Extra Help, also called Low Income Subsidy, is a program to help low-income individuals or couples with limited resources pay for their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. Under a new law, data from these applications is sent to State Medicaid agencies to enroll people in Medicare Savings Programs. FNS will provide funding to encourage the Extra Help population to participate in SNAP by using State Medicaid agency data from Medicare Savings Programs. FNS invites State agencies to submit applications that will implement outreach efforts, simplify eligibility, or standardize benefits for this population.

The deadline to submit grant proposal applications is June 30, 2010.

Management of Donated Foods in the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and Charitable Institutions

This final rule revises and clarifies requirements for the management, distribution, and use of donated foods in the National School Lunch Program and other child nutrition programs, in the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and by charitable institutions. In response to an audit by the USDA Office of Inspector General, the rule establishes specific requirements to ensure that recipient agencies in child nutrition programs receive the benefit and value of all donated foods received and provided to food service management companies to conduct the food service. The rule also incorporates legislative changes affecting the distribution of donated foods in the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, and reduces reporting and administrative requirements for donated foods provided to charitable institutions. Lastly, the rule restructures and revises regulatory provisions in a plain language format to make them easier to read and understand. DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective November 6, 2008. Implementation Date: State agencies and recipient agencies are required to implement the provisions of this final rule by November 6, 2008, except for the new contract requirements in Sec. Sec. 250.50 to 250.54. State agencies and recipient agencies must implement those requirements according to the implementation schedule in section II.I of the preamble of this rule.

Food Distribution Program: Value of Donated Foods

SUMMARY: This notice announces the national average value of donated foods or, where applicable, cash in lieu of donated foods, to be provided in school year 2009 (July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009) for each lunch served by schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and for each lunch and supper served by institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).DATES: The rate in this notice is effective July 1, 2008.

Child and Adult Care Food Program: National Average Payment Rates

SUMMARY: This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payment rates for meals and snacks served in child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, and adult day care centers; the food service payment rates for meals and snacks served in day care homes; and the administrative reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Further adjustments are made to these rates to reflect the higher costs of providing meals in the States of Alaska and Hawaii. The adjustments contained in this notice are made on an annual basis each July, as required by the laws and regulations governing the Child and Adult Care Food Program. DATES: These rates are effective from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Proposed Rule - Resource Limits and Exclusions, and Extended Certification Periods The changes are intended to improve program service, ensure consistency between FDPIR and the Food Stamp Program, and respond to concerns expressed by the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (NAFDPIR) that the current FDPIR resource limit was insufficient for the target population and served as a barrier to participation. The proposed rule would increase the maximum level of allowable resources to the same level permitted under the Food Stamp Program (including annual adjustments for inflation in accordance with Section 4104 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-234)), allow a resource exclusion for the first $1,500 of the value of one pre-paid funeral arrangement per household member, and allow households in which all members are elderly and/or disabled to be certified for up to 24 months. The rule would also implement Section 4107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171), which established a resource limit of $3,000 for Food Stamp Program households with a disabled member.

Food Stamp Pre-Screening Tool Revision

Title: Food Stamp Program Pre-Screening Tool. OMB Number: 0584-0519. Expiration Date: August 31, 2008. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Abstract: In June 2003, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) deployed an interactive Web-based food stamp pre-screening tool that can be utilized by the general public to determine potential Food Stamp Program eligibility. A previous notice was published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2005 at 70 FR 30922 (2005). The pre-screening tool helps the users determine their eligibility for food stamps. Once the user enters household size, income, expenses and resource information, the tool will calculate and provide the user with an estimated range of benefits that the household may be eligible to receive. Since food stamp eligibility and benefit amount may vary by location, FNS makes it clear that the tool is only an estimator, and the household will need to contact the local agency to determine actual eligibility and the appropriate benefit amount.