Combating Fraud: Managing Risks in Federally Funded, State-Administered Programs

State agencies administer many federally funded programs, making strong fraud prevention and oversight essential to protecting public resources. This Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examines common fraud risks and highlights approaches agencies can use to identify vulnerabilities, strengthen controls, and respond to suspected fraud.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies, the report provides broader lessons that can be applied to program integrity efforts. It can help TANF agencies assess where weaknesses may exist in the processes used to determine eligibility, issue payments, manage contracts, or oversee other program functions, and consider whether existing controls are working as intended. The resource is especially useful for TANF programs looking to strengthen prevention without creating unnecessary barriers for eligible families.