United States General Accounting Office

GAO Report to the Chairman, Committee on

the Budget, House of Representatives

December 1998 FOOD STAMP

PROGRAM

Information on

Employment and

Training Activities

GAO/RCED-99-40

GAO United States

General Accounting Office

Washington, D.C. 20548

Resources, Community, and

Economic Development Division

B-281501 

December 14, 1998

The Honorable John R. Kasich

Chairman, Committee on the Budget

House of Representatives

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of

1996,1

 known as the Welfare Reform Act, made significant changes to the

nation’s welfare system, including the Food Stamp Program. In particular,

the act limits Food Stamp Program participants who are able-bodied

adults between the ages of 18 and 50 and without dependents to 3 months

of food stamp benefits within a 3-year period unless they (1) meet work

requirements or (2) are exempted from these requirements because they

live in areas with high unemployment or an insufficient number of jobs.

These able-bodied adults can meet the work requirements by (1) working

a minimum of 80 hours a month; (2) participating in qualifying state

employment and training programs for 20 hours a week; or

(3) participating in Workfare, which provides work in a public service

capacity in exchange for public benefits, such as food stamps.

Concerns were raised that some of the able-bodied adults without

dependents who were willing to work were not able to find opportunities

to meet the Welfare Reform Act’s work requirements. In response, in the

Balanced Budget Act of 1997,2

 the Congress increased funding for the

Food Stamp Employment and Training Program to a total of $212 million

for fiscal year 1998 and specified that 80 percent of the total had to be

spent to help able-bodied adults without dependents meet the work

requirements. The Balanced Budget Act also gave the states the option of

exempting up to 15 percent of all able-bodied adults without dependents

not otherwise exempted from the work requirements.

This report responds to your request for information on (1) the number of

able-bodied adults without dependents who are receiving food stamp

benefits, the number who are required to meet the work requirements, and

the number who are exempted from the requirements; (2) the number of

able-bodied adults without dependents participating in qualifying

employment and training or Workfare programs; and (3) the amounts of

federal grant funds that states spent through the first three quarters of

1

P.L. 104-193, Aug. 22, 1996.

2

P.L. 105-33, Aug. 5, 1997.

Page 1 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
B-281501 

fiscal year 1998 for employment and training or Workfare programs for

food stamp recipients.

The information we developed in response to your request is based in part

on our September 1998 survey of state officials administering food stamp

employment and training programs. Officials in all the states and the

District of Columbia responded to our survey covering participation in the

Food Stamp Program by able-bodied adults without dependents for the

months of April, May, and June 1998. Most states provided estimates of

participation, while a few were able to provide data from their records.

Forty-two state agencies3

—which served just over 90 percent of food

stamp participants nationwide—provided sufficient data for reporting on

the number of able-bodied adults without dependents who were receiving

food stamps and were required to meet the work requirements or who

were waived or exempted from those requirements. Only 24 states—which

served about half of food stamp participants nationwide—were able to

provide sufficient data for reporting on the numbers of able-bodied adults

without dependents who were participating in employment and training

and/or Workfare.

Results in Brief In the 42 states providing sufficient data for analysis, a monthly average of

about 514,200 able-bodied adults without dependents received food stamp

benefits during April, May, and June 1998. About 58 percent of these

individuals were required to meet the work requirements; another

40 percent were not required to work because they lived in areas that were

considered to have high unemployment or an insufficient number of jobs;

and 2 percent had been exempted by the states from the work

requirements.

In the 24 states providing sufficient data for analysis, a monthly average of

23,600 able-bodied adults without dependents filled state-sponsored

employment and training and/or Workfare positions. These participants

represented about 17 percent of the able-bodied adults without

dependents who were required to work in those states in order to receive

food stamp benefits. These individuals also accounted for about half of the

able-bodied adults without dependents who were offered employment and

training assistance and/or Workfare positions by these states.

3

Throughout the report, we refer to the state agencies as “states” and include the District of Columbia

in this group.

Page 2 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
B-281501 

As of June 30, 1998—with one-fourth of fiscal year 1998 remaining—all the

states had spent only about 28 percent, or $60.2 million, of the $212 million

available for state employment and training programs for food stamp

recipients. Also, according to preliminary fourth-quarter financial data, 43

states had spent about $72 million, or 41 percent of the grant funds

available to them for fiscal year 1998. According to federal and state

officials, the low percentage of spending for food stamp employment and

training programs occurred primarily because (1) fewer able-bodied adults

without dependents were required to work than anticipated and fewer

than anticipated accepted this assistance and (2) some states needed more

time to refocus their food stamp employment and training programs to

target these individuals.

Background The Food Stamp Program helps low-income individuals and families

obtain a more nutritious diet by supplementing their income with food

stamp benefits. The average monthly food stamp benefit was about $70 per

person during fiscal year 1997.4

 The program is a federal-state partnership

in which the federal government pays the cost of the food stamp benefits

and 50 percent of the states’ administrative costs. The U.S. Department of

Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the program at

the federal level. The states’ responsibilities include certifying eligible

households and calculating and issuing benefits to those who qualify.

The Food Stamp Employment and Training Program, which existed prior

to the Welfare Reform Act, was established to ensure that all able-bodied

recipients registered for employment services as a condition of food stamp

eligibility. The program’s role is to provide food stamp recipients with

opportunities that will lead to paid employment and decrease dependency

on assistance programs. In fiscal year 1997, the states were granted

$79 million in federal employment and training funding and spent

$73.9 million, or 94 percent of the grant. In the Balanced Budget Act of

1997, the Congress increased grant funding for the Food Stamp

Employment and Training Program to a total of $212 million for fiscal year

1998 and specified that 80 percent of the total had to be spent to help

able-bodied adults without dependents meet the work requirements. For

4

Able-bodied adults without dependents typically receive a higher benefit amount, about $108 a month,

on average.

Page 3 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
B-281501 

fiscal year 1999, the Congress provided $115 million in employment and

training funding.5

 These funds remain available until expended.

Employment programs that the states choose to offer may involve the

public and private sectors. For example, Workfare, which qualifies as an

employment program under the Welfare Reform Act, requires individuals

to work in a public service capacity in exchange for public benefits such

as food stamps. Some states also allow participants to meet the work

requirements by volunteering at nonprofit organizations. However, under

the Welfare Reform Act, job search and job readiness training are

specifically excluded as qualifying activities for meeting the act’s work

requirements.

Over Half of

Able-Bodied Adults

Without Dependents

Are Required to Work

During April, May, and June 1998, a monthly average of about 514,200

able-bodied adults without dependents received food stamp benefits,

according to information from the 42 states providing sufficient data for

analysis. These adults represented about 3 percent of the monthly average

of 17.5 million food stamp participants in the 42 states during that period.

Of the 514,200 individuals, about 58 percent, or 296,400 of the able-bodied

adults without dependents were required to meet the work requirements;

40 percent, or 208,200, were exempted from these requirements because

they lived in geographic areas that had received waivers; and 2 percent, or

9,600, had been exempted by the states from the work requirements. (See

app. I for state-by-state information.)

The number of able-bodied adults without dependents receiving food

stamp benefits has apparently declined in recent years, as has their share

of participation in the program. For example, in 1995, a monthly average of

1.2 million6

 able-bodied adults without dependents in 42 states

participated in the Food Stamp Program, compared with the 514,200

individuals who participated in the period we reviewed. In addition, in

1995, 5 percent of food stamp participants were estimated to be

able-bodied adults without dependents, compared with the 3 percent we

identified through our survey of the states. FNS and state officials

5

Under the Balanced Budget Act, the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program was originally

allocated $215 million in funding for fiscal year 1999. However, this funding level was reduced by

$100 million through the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (P.L.

105-185, June 23, 1998).

6

In an average month in fiscal year 1995, 1.3 million able-bodied adults without dependents, or 5

percent of the food stamp population nationwide, were estimated to be subject to the work

requirements, according to data developed for FNS. These data were reported to FNS in

Characteristics of Childless Unemployed Adult and Legal Immigrant Food Stamp Participants

(Washington, D.C.: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., Feb. 1997).

Page 4 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
B-281501 

accounted for these differences by pointing out that (1) food stamp

participation has decreased overall—from about 27 million per month

nationwide in 1995 to about 19.5 million in April, May, and June 1998;

(2) some able-bodied adults without dependents may have obtained

employment and no longer needed food stamps; and (3) others who were

terminated from the program may not have realized that they could regain

eligibility for food stamp benefits through participation in state-sponsored

employment and training programs or Workfare. Also, the states vary in

the criteria they use for identifying able-bodied adults subject to the work

requirements.7

Relatively Few

Able-Bodied Adults

Without Dependents

Participated in

Employment and

Training and Workfare

Programs

During April, May, and June 1998, a monthly average of 23,600 able-bodied

adults without dependents filled employment and training and/or

Workfare positions in the 24 states that provided sufficient data for

analysis. Fifteen of these states offered Workfare positions, 20 offered

employment and training positions, and 11 offered both Workfare and

employment and training positions. The 23,600 individuals accounted for

about half of the 47,000 able-bodied adults without dependents who were

offered state-sponsored employment and training assistance and/or

Workfare positions.8

 More specifically:

• Able-bodied adults without dependents filled about 8,000 Workfare

positions per month, or 34 percent of the 23,700 Workfare positions

offered by the 15 states with Workfare positions;

• Able-bodied adults without dependents filled about 15,600 employment

and training positions per month, or 67 percent of the 23,300 employment

and training positions offered by the 20 states. (See app. I for state-by-state

information.)

These 23,600 individuals accounted for about 17 percent of the 137,200

able-bodied adults without dependents who were subject to the work

requirements in those states. Of the remaining 113,600, some may have

been within the 3-month time frame for receiving food stamp benefits

while not working, others may have met these requirements by finding

7

According to an FNS study, some states are more stringent than others in identifying able-bodied

adults without dependents. For example, 31 states exempt all adults in a household with dependent

children from the work requirement, 16 exempt one or both parents, and 2 exempt only one parent.

FNS is reviewing draft federal regulations that will address how states determine the status of

able-bodied adults.

8

Of the remaining states, 18 reported offering employment and training and/or Workfare positions but

did not provide sufficient data for inclusion in this report, and 9 did not offer employment and training

or Workfare programs to this group during those months.

Page 5 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
B-281501 

jobs or Workfare positions on their own, and some may not have met the

work requirements, thereby forfeiting their food stamp benefits.

FNS and state officials said they could not yet explain the limited

participation in employment and training and Workfare programs, but FNS

officials and some states are trying to develop information on the reasons

for low participation. In addition, some suggested that able-bodied adults

without dependents participated to a limited extent in employment and

training programs and Workfare because they (1) participate sporadically

in the Food Stamp Program,9

 (2) prefer not to work, or (3) believe that the

relatively low value of food stamp benefits is not enough of an incentive to

meet the work requirements.

States Spent Less

Than Authorized

With only 3 months remaining in fiscal year 1998, the states were spending

at a rate that would result in the use of significantly less grant funds for

food stamp employment and training recipients than authorized. For the

first three quarters of the fiscal year, through June 30, 1998, the states

spent only 28.4 percent, or $60.2 million, of the $212 million in grants,

according to FNS data. The rate of spending varied widely by state, ranging

from 75 percent, or about $230,000 of the $307,000 authorized for South

Dakota, to less than 1 percent, or $109,000 of the $13.4 million authorized

for Michigan. Twenty-five of the states spent less than 20 percent of their

grant funds, 17 spent between 20 and 49 percent, and 9 spent 50 percent or

more. Also, according to preliminary fourth-quarter financial data reported

to FNS, 43 states spent about $72 million, or 41 percent of the grant funds

available to them for fiscal year 1998. (See app. II.)

To better understand why the states were spending less of their grant

funds than authorized, we interviewed food stamp directors and

employment and training officials in 10 geographically dispersed states.10

In general, according to these officials, grant spending has been

significantly less than authorized because (1) some states had a limited

number of able-bodied adults without dependents who were required to

work, (2) some states needed time to refocus their programs on

9

For example, in an average month in 1996, one-third of able-bodied adults without dependents

receiving food stamps had participated in the program for 3 months or less, according to a study

prepared for FNS. In addition, only 29 percent participated in the Food Stamp Program for a year or

longer compared with about 50 percent for all adult participants in the program. The source of this

information is The Effect of Welfare Reform on Able-Bodied Food Stamp Recipients (Washington,

D.C.: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., July 1998).

10These states were Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas,

Washington, and West Virginia.

Page 6 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
B-281501 

able-bodied adults without dependents,11 and (3) some states reported that

it was difficult to serve clients in sparsely populated areas because of

transportation problems or the lack of appropriate jobs. When asked

whether spending would change in fiscal year 1999, state officials had

differing expectations. Officials from 4 of the 10 states—Georgia, Iowa,

Ohio, and West Virginia—said that they anticipate spending about the

same or less, and Pennsylvania officials were unsure whether spending

would change. In contrast, officials from five states—Illinois, Michigan,

Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington—anticipate increases in spending,

mostly because of the improvements they have made to their employment

and training programs.

In discussing the rate of grant spending, officials of five states—Georgia,

Pennsylvania, Washington, Texas, and West Virginia—said that the

requirement to spend 80 percent of funds on able-bodied adults without

dependents had caused them to decrease employment and training

services to other food stamp participants. For fiscal year 1998, a maximum

of 20 percent of the available grant funds—$42 million—was available for

employment and training activities for other food stamp recipients, while

$79 million had been provided for employment and training activities for

all food stamp recipients in fiscal year 1997. State officials explained that

prior to fiscal year 1998, most employment and training funds had been

spent for food stamp participants who were not able-bodied adults

without dependents. With the shift in funds to able-bodied adults without

dependents, less has remained for the other food stamp recipients, who

typically had constituted the majority of the employment and training

participants in the past. Nevertheless, some of those not served by Food

Stamp Employment and Training Programs may be eligible to receive

employment and training through other federal and state programs.

Agency Comments We provided USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service with a copy of a draft of

this report for review and comment. We met with Food and Nutrition

Service officials, who provided comments from the Food and Nutrition

Service’s Office of General Counsel and the Director, Program Analysis

Division, Office of Food Stamp Programs. The Food and Nutrition Service

generally agreed with the contents of the report and provided technical

and clarifying comments that we incorporated into the report as

appropriate.

11FNS provided guidance to the states on how to implement the Balanced Budget Act’s provisions in

February 1998, 5 months after the beginning of the fiscal year.

Page 7 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
B-281501 

Scope and

Methodology

To obtain information on the numbers of able-bodied adults without

dependents who are receiving food stamps benefits, are required to meet

work requirements, are exempted from the work requirements, and are

participating in qualifying employment and training and/or Workfare

programs, we surveyed the states and the District of Columbia. The survey

data covered the months of April, May, and June 1998. We used the

participation data for these months to estimate average monthly

participation in the program. All states and the District of Columbia

responded to our faxed questionnaire, and we contacted state officials as

needed to verify their responses. Eighty-eight percent of the responses

provided by 41 states and the District of Columbia were based on

estimates and the remaining on data in state records. According to the

state officials who provided estimates, their information systems were in

the process of being revised and they plan to have actual data for fiscal

year 1999.

To obtain information on state spending of federal grants for employment

and training programs, we obtained FNS’ grant funding data reported by the

states and the District of Columbia for the first three quarters of fiscal

1998, the latest data that were available as of November 1998. We

subsequently obtained preliminary financial data for the fourth quarter of

fiscal year 1998, which are subject to change after financial reconciliation.

To supplement these data, we interviewed state food stamp directors or

employment and training officials in 10 geographically dispersed states,

including Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode

Island, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.

We performed our work in accordance with generally accepted

government auditing standards from July through November 1998.

As agreed with your office, unless you publicly announce its contents

earlier, we plan no further distribution of this report until 30 days from the

date of this letter. At that time, we will send copies of this report to the

appropriate Senate and House Committees; interested Members of

Congress; the Secretary of Agriculture; the Administrator of FNS; the

Director, Office of Management and Budget; and other interested parties.

We will also make copies available to others upon request.

Page 8 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
B-281501 

Please call me at (202) 512-5138 if you or your staff have any questions

about this report. Major contributors to this report are listed in appendix

III.

Sincerely yours,

Robert E. Robertson

Associate Director, Food

 and Agriculture Issues

Page 9 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
Contents

Letter 1

Appendix I 

Average Number of

Food Stamp

Recipients and

Able-Bodied Adults

Without Dependents

in 42 States in April,

May, and June 1998

12

Appendix II 

Federal Funds

Expended for Food

Stamp Employment

and Training, First

Three Quarters of FY

1998 and Preliminary

Expenditures for FY

1998

14

Appendix III 

Major Contributors to

This Report

16

Abbreviations

FNS Food and Nutrition Service

GAO General Accounting Office

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

Page 10 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
Page 11 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
Appendix I 

Average Number of Food Stamp Recipients

and Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents

in 42 States in April, May, and June 1998

Workfare

Employment and

training

Able-bodied adults without dependentsb

Numbers of individuals

States

Total food

stamp

recipients a Total

Required to

work Waived Exempted Offered Filled Offered Filled

Alabama 420,443 4,980 3,990 990 c 199e 199e c c

Alaska 47,000 507 0 506 1 c c c c

Arkansas 254,087 d d d d 63 63 c c

Arizona 287,229 415 340 75 c c c 21 21

California 2,226,087 99,383 93,000 2,883 3,500 d d d d

Colorado 187,998 1,353 1,125 218 10 152 88 706 230

Connecticut 193,827 5,692 1,690 4,002 c c c 91 61

District of Columbia 83,966 533 417 116 c c c 46 36

Delaware 44,339 182 182 c c c c c c

Florida 955,012 17,445 9,948 7,001 497 417 354 10,662 7,820

Georgia 618,100 14,074 5,737 8,328 9 c c d d

Hawaii 121,522 5,637 275 5,362 c c c 48 34

Idaho 65,109 727 600 101 25 d d d d

Illinois 916,183 54,615 9,962 43,194 1,458 7,326 4,888 619 562

Indiana 305,926 3,663 2,644 1,017 2 d d d d

Iowa 141,325 1,708 1,708 c c 1 1 c c

Kansas 116,413 2,353 2,078 c 275 c c c c

Kentucky 409,161 24,512 2,502 21,481 528 c c 369 191

Louisiana 535,376 16,939 3,626 12,135 1,178 45 13 341 98

Maine 114,911 d d d d c c d d

Maryland 322,077 6,200 1,265 4,705 230 c c d d

Massachusetts 284,422 1,509 1,106 c 403 c c c c

Michigan 792,268 16,374 16,374 c c d d d d

Minnesota 209,737 5,571 4,586 756 228 1,657f 102 1,657f 1,564

Mississippi 321,374 3,017 3,017 c c 402 284 43 30

Missouri 403,863 6,475 2,300 4,175 c c c d d

Montana 62,987 d d d c c c c c

Nebraska 92,870 274 146 10 118 d d d d

Nevada 69,948 1,254 950 304 c c c c c

New Hampshire 39,841 d d d d d d d d

New Jersey 419,245 d d d c 1,564f 396 1,564f 68

New Mexico 169,068 6,000 2,000 4,000 c c c d d

New York 1,611,600 89,410 49,667 39,733 10 c c 2,000 1,100

North Carolina 518,986 12,060 11,269 c 791 16 12 951 720

(continued)

Page 12 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
Appendix I 

Average Number of Food Stamp Recipients

and Able-Bodied Adults Without

Dependents in 42 States in April, May, and

June 1998

Workfare

Employment and

training

Able-bodied adults without dependentsb

Numbers of individuals

States

Total food

stamp

recipients a Total

Required to

work Waived Exempted Offered Filled Offered Filled

North Dakota 34,206 1,233 943 290 c c c 2 1

Ohio 713,366 5,421 5,421 c c 3,421 1,368 800 119

Oklahoma 281,814 d d c c c c c c

Oregon 238,932 8,421 8,200 c 221 8,200 195 c c

Pennsylvania 898,774 38,400 21,200 17,200 c d d d d

Rhode Island 72,039 2,411 371 2,040 c c c c c

South Carolina 329,615 d d d d 116 61 139 159

South Dakota 45,673 1,137 410 727 c 76 15 333 63

Tennessee 533,561 8,937 6,217 2,720 c c c 253 161

Texas 1,578,749 18,495 8,769 9,726 c d d d d

Utah 92,443 2,320 2,075 245 c d d d d

Virginia 386,230 d d d c d d d d

Vermont 48,163 457 407 50 c d d c c

Washington 362,961 3,653 1,231 2,294 128 d d d d

West Virginia 266,107 14,476 2,645 11,831 c c c d d

Wisconsin 188,322 6,035 6,035 c c c c 2,644 2,557

Wyoming 25,814 d d d c c c d d

Total 19,459,071 514,257 296,428 208,215 9,613 23,655 8,039 23,289 15,593

aAverage number of food stamp participants (by individual) in April, May, and June 1998 per

Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) data.

bAccording to data reported by state agencies through GAO survey.

cThis option in the Food Stamp Program not exercised by the state.

dData insufficient for analysis.

eReflects state-reported data for only one month of operations.

f

Reflects state-reported data of one total for employment and training and workfare.

Source: GAO’s analysis of FNS and state-reported survey data.

Page 13 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
Appendix II 

Federal Funds Expended for Food Stamp

Employment and Training, First Three

Quarters of FY 1998 and Preliminary

Expenditures for FY 1998

(Dollars in thousands)

States

Federal employment

and training grant

Grant funds

expended through

the third quarter

Percent of grant

funds expended

through the third

quarter

Fiscal year 1998

grant funds

expendeda

Percent of fiscal

year 1998 grant

funds expendeda

California $25,996 $7,601 29 $13,178 51

Texas 16,293 4,590 28 13,817 85

New York 14,993 9,709 65 10,589 71

Michigan 13,410 109 1 164 1

Pennsylvania 12,321 941 8 941 8

Illinois 11,230 4,982 44 b b

Florida 9,165 3,488 38 5,365 59

Ohio 7,731 3,135 41 b b

Tennessee 6,658 1,449 22 1,655 25

Georgia 6,137 3,729 61 b b

Louisiana 5,869 1,855 32 2,399 41

Missouri 5,186 825 16 988 19

Kentucky 4,861 1,245 26 1,832 38

Virginia 4,551 984 22 1,730 38

North Carolina 4,529 828 18 869 19

Alabama 4,309 740 17 1,013 24

West Virginia 4,046 406 10 447 11

Washington 3,973 694 18 1,813 46

Oregon 3,593 611 17 771 22

Mississippi 3,578 1,412 40 b b

New Jersey 3,093 2,053 66 3,093 100

Indiana 3,013 831 28 b b

Oklahoma 2,814 492 18 575 20

Arizona 2,735 1,354 50 1,996 73

Connecticut 2,703 314 12 459 17

Arkansas 2,404 168 7 264 11

Massachusetts 2,259 27 1 b b

Minnesota 2,242 709 32 856 38

South Carolina 2,230 742 33 1,078 48

Maryland 2,044 97 5 127 6

District of

Columbia 1,745 222 13 309 18

Hawaii 1,658 90 5 597 36

Maine 1,648 478 29 629 38

Wisconsin 1,554 119 8 593 38

(continued)

Page 14 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
Appendix II 

Federal Funds Expended for Food Stamp

Employment and Training, First Three

Quarters of FY 1998 and Preliminary

Expenditures for FY 1998

(Dollars in thousands)

States

Federal employment

and training grant

Grant funds

expended through

the third quarter

Percent of grant

funds expended

through the third

quarter

Fiscal year 1998

grant funds

expendeda

Percent of fiscal

year 1998 grant

funds expendeda

New Mexico 1,396 99 7 b b

Colorado 1,107 614 56 1,107 100

Nevada 1,093 137 13 179 16

Iowa 1,043 286 27 378 36

Kansas 992 198 20 198 20

Vermont 656 338 52 363 55

Nebraska 594 362 61 435 73

Utah 591 73 12 153 26

Montana 571 304 53 304 53

Alaska 568 92 16 b b

Rhode Island 560 52 9 70 13

Idaho 538 195 36 308 57

North Dakota 370 55 15 152 41

Wyoming 356 65 18 73 20

Delaware 346 100 29 134 39

South Dakota 307 230 75 230 75

New Hampshire 218 8 4 8 4

Totalc $211,881 $60,234 28 $72,239b 41b

aFiscal year expenditure amounts are preliminary and subject to change after financial

reconciliation, according to FNS officials.

bFourth-quarter expenditures for eight states were not available from FNS as of Nov. 30, 1998.

Total and percent of total does not include expenditures for these states. Expenditures

reported by all states, as of Nov. 24, 1998, amounted to $86 million.

cNumbers may not add due to rounding.

Source: GAO’s analysis of FNS’ data.

Page 15 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
Appendix III 

Major Contributors to This Report

Charles M. Adams, Assistant Director

Patricia A. Yorkman, Project Leader

Alice G. Feldesman

Erin K. Barlow

Nancy Bowser

Carol Herrnstadt Shulman

(150081) Page 16 GAO/RCED-99-40 Food Stamp Employment and Training
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