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Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§608a Fraud under means-tested welfare and public assistance programs

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - SOCIAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES › Part Part A— - Block Grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families › § 608a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a person's income-based welfare or public assistance is cut because they committed fraud, they can't get a bigger benefit from any other federal income-based welfare or public assistance program while that cut lasts. That rule covers increases that happen only because their income went down because of the reduction. Covered programs include the Food Stamp program (Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), public or assisted housing under title I of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.), and State programs funded under this part.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §608a

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)If an individual’s benefits under a Federal, State, or local law relating to a means-tested welfare or a public assistance program are reduced because of an act of fraud by the individual under the law or program, the individual may not, for the duration of the reduction, receive an increased benefit under any other means-tested welfare or public assistance program for which Federal funds are appropriated as a result of a decrease in the income of the individual (determined under the applicable program) attributable to such reduction.
(b)For purposes of subsection (a), the term “means-tested welfare or public assistance program for which Federal funds are appropriated” includes the food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), any program of public or assisted housing under title I of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.), and any State program funded under this part.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Food Stamp Act of 1977, referred to in subsec. (b), subsequently renamed the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, is Pub. L. 88–525, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703, which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§ 2011 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2011 of Title 7 and Tables. The United States Housing Act of 1937, referred to in subsec. (b), is act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, as revised generally by Pub. L. 93–383, title II, § 201(a), Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 653. Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 1437 et seq.) of chapter 8 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1437 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and not as part of the Social Security Act which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

References to the food stamp program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 considered to refer to the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under that Act, see section 4002(c) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 2012 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 608a

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73