3). State SNAP E&T Programs Have Served a Small Percentage of Recipients over Time and Little Is Known about Participants and Outcomes

State SNAP E&T programs have served a small and decreasing  percentage of overall SNAP recipients over time, and although these data  are generally reliable, FNS data on SNAP E&T program participant  characteristics and outcomes are not reliable. First, according to FNS data,  most SNAP recipients are exempt from work requirements for various  reasons, under federal law and regulation. As a result of  federal exemptions, in an average month of fiscal year 2016, about 14  percent of SNAP recipients, or about 6.1 million individuals, were work  registrants who were subject to work requirements, according to FNS  data. Moreover, SNAP work registrants may participate in other activities to  comply with work requirements, such as other federal- and state-funded  E&T programs. 5.) Information on SNAP E&T Participant Characteristics and Outcomes Is Not Reliable

Although data on the number of overall participants in SNAP E&T  programs in an average month from one FNS dataset are generally  reliable, data on SNAP E&T program participant characteristics and  outcomes are not reliable, according to our analysis of state data on  SNAP E&T programs reported to FNS and our discussions with FNS and  state officials. FNS has taken steps to address some of the SNAP E&T data limitations,  including providing additional training and guidance to states. Without such  information, states, FNS, and the Congress are unable to fully assess  whether agency goals are being met through the SNAP E&T program. Further, the lack of reliable state-reported data on work registrants and  ABAWDs affects FNS’s ability to monitor states’ implementation of  program rules, including work requirements, and ensure program  integrity. States Have Increasingly Partnered with Various E&T Providers, but Some States Have Not Leveraged Available Workforce Development System Resources

		States Have Increasingly Partnered with Other Entities to Provide SNAP E&T Services

In recent years, state SNAP agencies have increasingly partnered with  other state and local organizations, such as nonprofit community-based  social service providers, community colleges, and workforce agencies, to  provide services to SNAP E&T participants, according to FNS officials  and states we selected for our review. For example, FNS data for fiscal year 2018  show that three states’ SNAP agencies operated their own SNAP E&T  programs in fiscal year 2018 and did not involve existing workforce  development system entities in the provision of these services. Consistent with our findings, federal  regulations require that each component of a state agency’s SNAP E&T  program be delivered through its statewide workforce development  system, unless the component is not available locally through such a  system. FNS national and regional officials, as well as state officials, described  challenges states face in forming effective workforce development system  partnerships. FNS’s  ability to assess whether the program is assisting the department in  meeting this goal is also hindered because FNS lacks reliable data on  SNAP E&T participant characteristics and outcomes. Finally, because partnerships can be a crucial source  of additional capacity, resources, and expertise for SNAP E&T programs,  states that are not fully leveraging available workforce development  system resources may miss opportunities to serve a greater number of  SNAP recipients through SNAP E&T and provide a wider variety of  services to SNAP E&T participants. (Recommendation 1)
The Administrator of FNS should take additional steps to address data  reliability issues in the state-reported data on SNAP E&T participant  characteristics and outcomes, including steps to address imprecise  instructions on data collection forms and staff confusion at the state level. FNS officials told us that they  generally agreed with the recommendations in the report. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

This appendix discusses in detail our methodology for addressing our two  research objectives examining (1) what is known about Supplemental  Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) employment and training (E&T)  program participants and outcomes over time and (2) the extent to which  state SNAP E&T programs have partnered with other programs offering  similar services. First, we analyzed aggregate  data on SNAP E&T participants collected from state SNAP agencies for  fiscal years 2008 through 2016, the most recent data available.
Why GAO Did This Study

SNAP is the nation's largest federally funded nutrition assistance program. In fiscal year 2017, it provided about $64 billion in benefits. To maintain eligibility for benefits, certain SNAP recipients must comply with the program's work requirements, which may include participating in a state's SNAP E&T program if required by the state.
This report examines (1) what is known about SNAP E&T program participants and outcomes over time and (2) the extent to which state SNAP E&T programs have partnered with other programs offering similar services. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and guidance; analyzed USDA data on SNAP recipients, work registrants, and SNAP E&T participants from fiscal years 2008 through 2016, the most recent data available; reviewed states' fiscal year 2017 SNAP E&T plans and outcome reports; and interviewed USDA officials and state officials in five states selected, in part, to reflect a range of SNAP E&T program characteristics.

What GAO Found

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) programs, which are overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by states, have served a small percentage of SNAP recipients over time, and information on participant characteristics and outcomes is limited. In an average month of fiscal year 2016, SNAP E&T served about 0.5 percent of the 43.5 million SNAP recipients. Further, since 2008, the percentage of SNAP recipients served by SNAP E&T has declined. Participation in SNAP E&T may be low, in part, because most SNAP recipients were exempt from work requirements, according to USDA data. In addition, SNAP recipients may participate in other activities to comply with work requirements. Although data on the number of recipients served in SNAP E&T are generally reliable, USDA lacks reliable data on participant characteristics and outcomes because of imprecise instructions on data collection forms and staff confusion at the state level. USDA has taken some steps to address these issues, but data reliability issues persist. As a result, USDA's ability to assess whether agency goals are being met through the SNAP E&T program is limited, as is the department's ability to monitor states' implementation of work requirements and ensure program integrity.
In fiscal year 2018, most state SNAP agencies partnered with workforce development system entities, such as community colleges and workforce agencies, to provide services to SNAP E&T participants, according to USDA data. Regional and state officials reported that state SNAP agencies often have used these partnerships to leverage non-federal funding sources and provide additional capacity and expertise to help expand SNAP E&T services. However, 3 states operated their own SNAP E&T programs without partnering with any other program, and a total of 20 states lacked partnerships with workforce agencies, according to USDA data for fiscal year 2018. Federal regulations require that SNAP E&T services be delivered through the state's workforce development system unless the services are not available locally through this system. USDA and state officials described challenges to forming effective partnerships with workforce agencies, including perceived disincentives to serving SNAP recipients. However, states that are not fully leveraging resources available through the workforce development system may miss opportunities to provide a wider variety of services to SNAP E&T participants and serve a greater number of SNAP recipients through SNAP E&T.

What GAO Recommends

GAO is making four recommendations, including that USDA take additional steps to address SNAP E&T data reliability issues and to help states leverage available workforce development system resources. USDA officials generally agreed with our recommendations.