WASHINGTON– In early August, five federal workers were accused of submitting false information so their kids could qualify for free and reduced school meals. What’s more, all five worked for the General Accountability Office—the very federal agency charged with ferreting out waste, fraud and abuse in government.
According to Prince George’s County prosecutors, the accused GAO workers had household incomes between $55,000-$78,000. The children of the five workers attend Prince George’s County schools. This case raises questions about how the school lunch program is administered, and who makes sure that the applications that parents submit are accurate.
Chuck Young, Managing Director of Public Affairs for the GAO, explains that schools are responsible for administering the program. In some cases, if members of the family are enrolled in other “means-tested” programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, they may be enrolled automatically in the school meal program. If not, they may submit an application.
Marla Caplon, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for Montgomery County Schools, says that when families apply they are asked for information about their household income. However, they may not have to provide proof of income. But, Caplon says, there are those who are selected for verification.
“Once a year, beginning October 1st, the federal government requires us to do a random verification,” she says, but the sample size is just three percent of all the processed applications.
There’s another way that kids who may not qualify for free and reduced meals would get them, but it’s not a result of any sort of fraud. It’s part of something called “Provision 2.”
Kaya Henderson, Schools Chancellor for the District of Columbia, says it comes into play when a high number of students in a given school qualify for the free and reduced meals. Under Provision 2, the entire school population may be deemed eligible for the benefits.
“The only downside to that—if there is any downside–is that kids who need reduced lunch and kids who don’t need it will all eat for free. But we’d rather do that than to exclude kids who really need it because their parents haven’t filled out the paperwork.”
School officials say that the aim of the Free and Reduced Meals, or FARMS program, is to make sure that no child goes hungry. But the GAO began looking into the program after Congressional leaders expressed concern about possible overpayments of benefits.
Chuck Young, with the GAO, points out that in May of this year, the USDA released a study on the issue. A look at the 2012-2013 school year indicates up to $850 million dollars in overpayments were made. Young says the USDA is working to curb the overpayments by calling for increased certification.
WTOP reporter Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
