Social Services
Human knowledge and feedback are key for building trustworthy digital services, experts say
By building public assistance systems around the human experience, agencies are more likely to save time and resources, experts say.
With federal penalties looming, Washington looks to curb food stamp payment errors
States that routinely overpay or underpay food stamp recipients could now lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
How tech-assisted care coordination can help communities bounce back after severe storms
Care coordination platforms can assist government and other organizations to more efficiently respond to and plan for an increase in residents’ demand for social services amid natural disasters, a new report says.
Accessible identity verification and benefits enrollment is ‘more important than ever,’ expert says
Millions of Americans are at risk of losing coverage for public benefit programs, but a new report offers officials recommendations to make it easier for residents to enroll and access critical services.
How digital literacy can help combat food insecurity
A new study explores how digital literacy support could lead to residents making healthier food purchases online.
How one state strives to reduce the burden of benefits application for residents
Maryland residents have a new resource to digitally apply for multiple benefits programs, which one official says helps streamline the process and reduces in-person transactions.
Pennsylvania won’t share SNAP data with Trump Administration – for now
More than two million Pennsylvanians receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
State officials again refuse to release Kansans’ personal data to USDA
Kansas officials stood firm against a July 30 deadline set by the federal government to turn over personal data of SNAP recipients.
New tool aims to help state and local governments collaborate on benefits modernization
The federal government’s move to cut spending for public benefits could hinder state and local efforts to modernize them. A new resource aims to help agencies connect with like-minded organizations to continue their efforts.
Feds look at new way to get food stamp data from Washington and other states
The Trump administration is taking a new approach in its attempt to snatch personal data of food stamp recipients from states.
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How one Ohio county uses tech to help residents navigate the benefits cliff
In Summit County, a centralized platform is helping social service workers better support people as they transition out of public assistance programs like Medicaid.
South Carolina takes its benefits call centers to the cloud
After “dismal” timeliness ratings, the state’s Department of Social Services modernized so its centers would be more reliable and use AI to help more quickly administer cases.
Vocational rehabilitation programs are in jeopardy — here's how digital wallets can help
COMMENTARY | Funding for individuals with disabilities seeking meaningful employment is under threat. Digital wallets can help track participant spending and reduce administrative burden.
Inside Illinois’ journey to build a centralized platform for child welfare services
A digital transformation among six child welfare agencies in Illinois is helping to break down silos and connect families with the mental and behavioral health services they need.
Missouri will hand over personal data of food aid recipients to feds
Missouri has agreed to abide by a request from the federal government to turn over personal data about anyone receiving food assistance, the state social services agency confirmed to The Independent Tuesday.
Feds cancel unemployment modernization grants for states
The grant dollars — which the Department of Labor has been doling out since Congress allocated funding for fraud and access work in 2021 — don’t align with department priorities anymore, the agency says.
Missouri upgrades system for public benefits program WIC to allow remote benefits loading
Missourians receiving federal food assistance for low-income women and children will face fewer administrative hurdles.
How states can prepare to leverage AI for benefits eligibility
As benefits application backlogs continue to mount, artificial intelligence could help ease the squeeze on already strained caseworkers, experts say.
Building modern paid family and medical leave programs
COMMENTARY | How agile development, human-centered design and an API-first strategy drive success to ensure software always aligns with user needs.
Los Angeles turns to AI to give public benefits enrollment a boost
A chatbot tool launched in Los Angeles County looks to help case workers more quickly and efficiently get vulnerable residents linked to social services.
