Means-Tested Programs: Determining Financial Eligibility is Cumbersome and Can Be Simplified

Abstract

Over time, the Congress has established about 80 separate programs to provide cash and noncash assistance to low-income individuals and families. Means-tested programs are restricted to families or Individuals who meet specified financial requirements and certain other eligibility criteria established for each program. The financial requirements restrict eligibility to families and individuals whose income falls below defined levels, and in some cases, whose assets-such as bank accounts and the value of automobiles-also fall below defined levels. Nonfinancial requirements restrict eligibility to specified categories of beneficiaries, such as pregnant women, children, or individuals with disabilities.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA397202

Entities

People

  • Ernest J. Istook Jr.

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • California
  • Congress
  • Control Systems
  • Employment
  • Families (Human)
  • Federal Law
  • Food Stamps
  • Governments
  • Health Services
  • Law
  • Money
  • National Governments
  • Public Health
  • Therapy
  • United States
  • United States Government

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