As more Americans ask for public aid, could integrated benefits help?

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans in need of public assistance struggled to determine their eligibility, navigate complex rules, or complete their applications.¹ The pandemic increased demand and need in the United States, exacerbating these problems. The unwinding of the policies and flexibilities put in place via the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) status—which included allowing a 6.2 percentage point increase in the federal Medicaid match rate—could further stress states’ eligibility systems and processes.² States may...