---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 608a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "608a"
heading: "Fraud under means-tested welfare and public assistance programs"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/608a"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Social Security"
  - "Subchapter IV — Grants to States for Aid and Services to Needy Families with Children and for Child-Welfare Services"
  - "Part A — Block Grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families"
---

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

- (a) **In general—** If an individual’s benefits under a Federal, [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5), or local law relating to a means-tested welfare or a public assistance [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) are reduced because of an act of fraud by the individual under the law or [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), 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](#b) as a result of a decrease in the [income](/usc/42/292s.md?p=c-4) of the individual (determined under the applicable [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)) attributable to such reduction.
- (b) **Welfare or public assistance programs for which Federal funds are appropriated—** For purposes of [subsection (a)](#a), the term “means-tested welfare or public assistance program for which Federal funds are appropriated” [includes](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) the food stamp [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 ([7 U.S.C. 2011](/usc/7/2011.md) et seq.), any [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of public or assisted [housing](/usc/42/1490p–2.md?p=r-3) under title I of the [United States](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-2) Housing Act of 1937 ([42 U.S.C. 1437](/usc/42/1437.md) et seq.), and any [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) funded under this part.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–193, title IX, § 911, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2353.)

## Notes

### 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.