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

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s608a"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 608a - Fraud under means-tested welfare and public assistance programs"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "608a"
section_name: "Fraud under means-tested welfare and public assistance programs"
chapter_number: 7
chapter_name: "SOCIAL SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "IV"
subchapter_name: "GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "Block Grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 104–193, title IX, § 911, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2353.)"
---


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

**(a)** **In general** 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)** **Welfare or public assistance programs for which Federal funds are appropriated** 7 U.S.C. 201142 U.S.C. 1437

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 ( et seq.), any program of public or assisted housing under title I of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( et seq.), and any State program funded under this part.

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

## 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 , , , 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  and Tables.

The United States Housing Act of 1937, referred to in subsec. (b), is , as revised generally by , , . 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  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 , set out as a note under , Agriculture.