An act to increase the fiscal year 1979 authorization for appropriations for the food stamp program, and for other purposes.
PL 96-58 (H.R.4057), enacted 08/14/1979

PUBLIC LAW 96-58—AUG. 14, 1979 
93 STAT. 389 
Public Law 96-58 
96th Congress 
An Act 
Aug. 14, 1979 
[H.R. 4057] 
Food Stamp Act 
of 1977, 
amendment. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
To increase the fiscal year 1979 authorization for appropriations for the food stamp 
program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
INCREASE IN 1979 AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS; REPEAL OF 
AUTHORITY FOR CARRYOVER OF APPROPRIATIONS; METHOD OF REDUC-
ING ALLOTMENTS IF APPROPRIATIONS ARE INSUFFICIENT 
SECTION 1. Section 18 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended 7 use 2027. 
b y -
(1) striking out "$6,158,900,000" in the first sentence of subsec-
tion (a) and inserting in lieu thereof "$6,778,900,000"; 
(2) striking out the third sentence of subsection (a) and insert-
ing in lieu thereof two new sentences as follows: "The Secretary 
shall, by the fifteenth day of each month, submit a report to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate setting forth the Secretary's best estimate of the second 
preceding month's expenditure, including administrative costs, 
as well as the cumulative totals for the fiscal year. In each 
monthly report, the Secretary shall also state whether there is 
reason to believe that reductions in the value of allotments 
issued to households certified to participate in the food stamp 
program will be necessary under subsection (b) of this section.'; 
(3) striking out "If in the second sentence of subsection O
t
>
) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "Notwithstanding any other provision of 
this Act, if; and 
(4) adding at the end thereof new subsections (c) and (d) as 
follows: 
"(c) In prescribing the manner in which allotments will be reduced 
under subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall ensure that 
such reductions reflect, to the maximum extent practicable, the ratio 
of household income, determined under sections 5(d) and 5(e) of this 
Act, to the income standards of eligibility, for households of equal 
size, determined under section 5(c) of this Act. The Secretary may, in 
prescribing the manner in which allotments will be reduced, estab-
lish (1) special provisions applicable to persons sixty years of age or 
over and persons who are physically or mentally handicapped or 
otherwise disabled, and (2) minimum allotments after any reductions 
are otherwise determined under this section. 
"(d) Not later than sixty days after the issuance of a report under 
subsection (a) of this section in which the Secretary expresses the 
belief that reductions in the value of allotments to be issued to 
households certified to participate in the food stamp program will be 
necessary, the Secretary shall take the requisite action to reduce 
allotments in accordance with the requirements of this section. Not 
later than seven days after the Secretary takes any action to reduce 
Allotment 
reductions. 
7 u s e 2014. 
Statement to 
congressional 
committees. 
93 STAT. 390 
PUBLIC LAW 96-58—AUG. 14, 1979 
allotments under this section, the Secretary shall furnish the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
statement setting forth (1) the basis of the Secretary's determination, 
(2) the manner in which the allotments will be reduced, and (3) the 
action that has been taken by the Secretary to reduce the 
allotments.". 
EXCESS MEDICAL EXPENSE AND EXCESS SHELTER EXPENSE DEDUCTIONS 
FOR ELDERLY PERSONS AND PERSONS RECEIVING SUPPLEMENTAL 
SECURITY INCOME BENEFITS OR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABIUTY PAY-
MENTS 
7 use 2014. 
SEC. 2. Section 5(e) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended b y -
C
D inserting in the fourth sentence after "Households" the 
following: ", other than those households containing a member 
who is sixty years of age or over or who receives supplemental 
security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security 
Act or disability payments under title II of the Social Security 
42 use 1381, 
Act,"; and 
401- 
(2) adding at the end thereof a new sentence as follows: 
"Households containing a member who is sixty years of age or 
over or who receives supplemental security income benefits 
under title XVI of the Social Security Act or disability payments 
under title II of the Social Security Act shall also be entitled to— 
"(A) an excess medical expense deduction for that portion 
of the actual cost of allowable medical expenses, incurred by 
household members who are sixty years of age or over or who 
receive supplemental security income benefits under title 
XVI of the Social Security Act, or disability payments under 
title II of the Social Security Act, exclusive of special diets, 
that exceed $35 a month; 
"(B) a dependent care deduction, the maximum allowable 
level of which shall be the same as that for the excess shelter 
expense deduction contained in clause (2) of the preceding 
sentence, for the actual cost of payments necessary for the 
care of a dependent, regardless of the dependent's age, when 
such care enables a household member to accept or continue 
employment, or training or education that is preparatory for 
employment; and 
"(C) an excess shelter expense deduction to the extent that 
the monthly amount expended by a household for shelter 
exceeds an amount equal to 50 per centum of monthly 
household income after all other applicable deductions have 
been allowed.". 
DEFINITION OF ALLOWABLE MEDICAL EXPENSES 
7 use 2012. 
SEC. 3. Section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended by 
adding at the end thereof a new subsection (q) as follows: 
"(q) 'Allowable medical expenses' means expenditures for (1) medi-
cal and dental care, (2) hospitalization or nursing care (including 
hospitalization or nursing care of an individual who was a household 
member immediately prior to entering a hospital or nursing home), 
(3) prescription drugs when prescribed by a licensed practitioner 
authorized under State law and over-the-counter medication (includ-
ing insulin) when approved by a licensed practitioner or other 
qualified health professional, (4) health and hospitalization insurance 
PUBLIC LAW 96-58—AUG. 14, 1979 
93 STAT. 391 
policies (excluding the costs of health and accident or income mainte-
nance policies), (5) medicare premiums related to coverage under title 
XVIII of the Social Security Act, (6) dentures, hearing aids, and 42 USC 1395. 
prosthetics (including the costs of securing and maintaining a seeing 
eye dog), (7) eye glasses prescribed by a physician skilled in eye 
disease or by an optometrist, (8) reasonable costs of transportation 
necessary to secure medical treatment or services, and (9) maintain-
ing an attendant, homemaker, home health aide, housekeeper, or 
child care services due to age, infirmity, or illness.". 
PROVISION OF INFORMATION 
SEC. 4. Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended by 7 USC 2025. 
adding at the end thereof a new subsection (f) as follows: 
"(f) The Secretary and State agencies may (1) require, as a condi-
tion of eligibility for participation in the food stamp program, that 
each household member furnish to the State agency their social 
security account number (or numbers, if they have more than one 
number), and (2) use such account numbers in the administration of 
the food stamp program. The Secretary and State agencies shall have 
access to the information regarding individual food stamp program 
applicants and participants who receive benefits under title XVI of 
the Social Security Act that has been provided to the Secretary of 42 USC 1381. 
Health, Education, and Welfare, but only to the extent that the 
Secretary and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 
determine necessary for purposes of determining or auditing a 
household's eligibility to receive assistance or the amount thereof 
under the food stamp program, or verifying information related 
thereto.". 
REPAYMENT FOR FRAUDULENT CONDUCT 
SEC. 5. Section 6(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended by 7 use 2015. 
adding at the end thereof two new sentences as follows: "After any 
specified period of disqualification pursuant to findings under clauses 
(1) or (2) of this subsection, no disqualified individual shall be eligible 
to participate in the food stamp program unless such individual 
agrees to (A) a reduction in the allotment of the household of which 
such individual is a member or (B) to repayment in cash, in accord-
ance with a reasonable schedule as determined by the Secretary that 
will be sufficient over time to reimburse the Federal Government for 
the value of the coupons obtained through the fraudulent conduct. If 
any disqualified individual elects repayment in cash under the 
provisions of the preceding sentence and fails to make payments in 
accordance with the schedule determined by the Secretary, the 
household of which such individual is a member shall be subject to 
appropriate allotment reductions.". 
STATE SHARE OF RECOVERIES 
SEC. 6. Section 16(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended by 7 USC 2025. 
inserting before the period at the end thereof the following: ", as well 
as to permit each State to retain 50 per centum of the value of all 
funds or allotments recovered or collected through prosecutions or 
other State activities directed against individuals who fraudulently 
obtain allotments as determined in accordance with this Act. The 
officials responsible for making determinations of fraud under this 
Act shall not receive or benefit from revenues retained by the State 
under the provisions of this subsection". 
93 STAT. 392 
PUBLIC LAW 96-58—AUG. 14, 1979 
GROUP LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DISABLED OR BLIND 
7 use 2012. 
SEC. 7. Section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended b y -
C
D striking out in subsection (g) "and (5)" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "(5), and (7)"; 
(2) striking out in subsection (g) "and (6)" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "(6)"; 
(3) inserting immediately before the period at the end of 
subsection (g) the following: ", and (7) in the case of disabled or 
blind recipients of benefits under title II or title XVI of the Social 
42 use 401, 
Security Act who are residents in a public or private nonprofit 
1381. 
group living arrangement that serves no more than sixteen 
residents and is certified by the appropriate State agency or 
agencies under regulations issued under section 1616(e) of the 
Social Security Act, meals prepared and served under such 
arrangement"; 
(4) inserting in subsection (i) after "elderly" the following: 
", disabled or blind recipients of benefits under title II or title 
XVI of the Social Security Act who are residents in a public or 
private nonprofit group living arrangement that serves no more 
than sixteen residents and is certified by the appropriate State 
agency or agencies under regulations issued under section 
42 use I382e. 
1616(e) of the Social Security Act,"; 
(5) inserting immediately before the period at the end of 
subsection (i) the following: "and shall be considered individual 
households"; and 
(6) amending clause (2) of subsection (k) to read as follows: "(2) 
an establishment, organization, program, or group living ar-
rangement referred to in subsections (g) (3), (4), (5), and (7) of this 
section,". 
7 use 2019. 
SEC. 8. Section 10 of the Food Stamp Act is amended by inserting 
after "programs" the following: ", and public or private nonprofit 
group living arrangements that serve meals to disabled or blind 
residents,". 
DENIAL OF BENEFITS TO CERTAIN HOUSEHOLDS 
7 use 2015. 
SEC. 9. Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended by 
adding at the end thereof a new subsection (i) as follows: 
"(i) No household that contains a person involved in a labor-
management dispute shall be eligible to participate in the food stamp 
program unless the household meets the income guidelines, asset 
requirements, and work registration requirements of this Act.". 
IMPLEMENTATION 
7 use 2012 note. 
SEC. 10. (a) The provisions of sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall be 
implemented in all States by January 1,1980, and shall not affect the 
rights or liabilities of the Secretary, States, and applicant or partici-
7 use 2011 note, pant households, under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 in effect on 
July 1,1979, until implemented. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-58—AUG. 14, 1979 
93 STAT. 393 
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Regulations. 
Agriculture shall issue final regulations implementing the provisions 
of sections 4 through 6 of this Act within one hundred and fifty days 
after the date of 
enactment of 
this Act. 
(c) The provisions of sections 7 and 8 of this Act shall be imple-
mented in all States by July 1,1980, and shall not affect the rights or 
liabilities of the Secretary, States, and applicant or participating 
households, under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 in effect on July 1, 7 use 2011 note. 
1979, until implemented. 
Approved August 14, 1979. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 96-264 (Comm. on Agriculture) and No. 96-394 (Comm. of 
Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 96-236 accompanying S. 1309 (Comm. on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry) and No. 96-261 (Comm. of Confer-
6ncG) 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 125 (1979): 
July 11, considered and passed House. 
July 23, S. 1309 considered and passed Senate; H.R. 4057, amended, passed in 
lieu. 
July 27, Senate agreed to conference report. 
Aug. 2, House agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 15, No. 33: 
Aug. 15, Presidential statement.