NCJ Number
87006
Date Published
1982
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report estimates the number of prisoners receiving Social Security and Veteran's Administration (VA) benefits while incarcerated. It also addresses prisoner postsecondary education funded through the Pell Grant program.
Abstract
About 1.4 percent of the approximately 314,000 incarcerated felons were receiving Social Security disability benefits of about $17 million a year and about 1 percent were receiving VA disability compensation benefits of about $8 million a year. About 1.3 percent were receiving VA education benefits of about $14 million a year. Prisoners were also receiving cash benefits from other similar Federal programs. Moreover, about 11,000 prisoners (4 percent) were receiving postsecondary education funded through Pell Grants. To better identify prisoner beneficiaries, State prison systems should give the Social Security Administration periodic lists of these prisoners along with other information. Pell Grant regulations should be amended so that schools are required to calculate the students' cost of education after any tuition waivers are granted. Study data and correspondence are appended. (Author abstract modified)