My suggestion (communicated with elected officials) is that all forms of federal, state, local, and private welfare (cash, goods, services) over $600 per year requires a 1099 to be sent at the end of the year to the social security holder of record. For those that are not abusing the system, they would pay no federal income tax due to the current tax structure.  For those that are abusing the system, it might surface this abuse. It is anecdotal, but I regularly see those that are paying at Walmart with a food stamp card getting into a Cadillac Escalade with a handicap hanger, and talking on a smartphone. They select the name-brand prepared food items will I shop for the Walmart house-brand goods that we use to cook from scratch. These people also pull out a roll of cash to pay for the beer, cigarettes and other ineligible items.