Topic: Policy
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Expanding Access to Tax Benefits, for Free
Expanding access to free tax assistance through virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs can help low-income filers claim essential tax benefits without incurring preparation fees.
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Guide on Advancing Equity through Quantitative Analysis
Initially created to inform federal staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this guide explores opportunities to advance equity in quantitative analysis, including by recognizing common biases (e.g., research and measurement bias).
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Federal Standards Needed to Provide Equitable Access to Unemployment Insurance
This report explains how revised federal performance standards can be a powerful tool for increasing equitable access to UI benefits.
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Nearly 10 Million Households with Adults Ages 50 and Older Participated SNAP in 2022
The article examines the participation of adults aged 50 and older in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2022, highlighting the program's role in reducing food insecurity and poverty among older adults, especially those with disabilities.
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Skimming: Tackling SNAP Benefit Theft
The article highlights the growing issue of SNAP benefit theft through skimming and advocates for permanent security measures and benefit replacements to protect vulnerable households.
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The Employment Effects of a Guaranteed Income: Experimental Evidence from Two U.S. States
This study explores the causal impacts of income on a rich array of employment outcomes, leveraging an experiment in which 1,000 low-income individuals were randomized into receiving $1,000 per month unconditionally for three years, with a control group of 2,000 participants receiving $50/month.
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Protect SNAP to Reduce Hunger and Strengthen Local Economies: State-by-State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide detailed, state-specific data illustrating SNAP's role in reducing hunger and bolstering local economies across the United States
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How Did Medicaid Renewal Outcomes Change During the Unwinding?
Post-Medicaid continuous enrollment's end in March 2023, states faced renewal challenges through August 2024, seeing improved auto-renewals but persistent procedural disenrollments despite outreach and intervention.
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TANF Data Collaborative Pilot: Wage Outcomes by ZIP Code in California
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Data Collaborative Pilot Initiative is a component of the TANF Data Innovation project.
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What We Measure Matters: Enhanced Performance Metrics for SNAP and Medicaid Would Promote a More Human-Centered Delivery System
This report advocates for implementing human-centered performance metrics in SNAP and Medicaid to enhance service delivery and user experience.
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TANF Data Collaborative Pilot: Analytical Tools for Education and Employment Services in Virginia
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Data Collaborative Pilot Initiative is a component of the TANF Data Innovation project. The 30-month pilot offered technical assistance and training to support cross-disciplinary teams of staff at eight state and county TANF programs in the routine use of TANF and other administrative data to inform policy and practice.
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Can States Finally Fix Their Unemployment Systems?
This article explores ongoing efforts to modernize state unemployment insurance (UI) systems, addressing long-standing inefficiencies and challenges exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.