Welfare simplification: Thirty-two states' views on coordinating services for low-income families : fact sheet for Congressional requesters

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on states' responses to selected questions on the unification of human services programs to: (1) allow access to and use of benefits by all clients; (2) improve effectiveness of service delivery; and (3) achieve efficient use of human services resources.
GAO found that, of the 32 states that responded to the questionnaire: (1) 31 would like to achieve more service integration; (2) 19 have started at least one service integration demonstration project since January 1, 1983; (3) 11 have considered legislation related to service integration since January 1, 1985; (4) most offer service integration for the Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Food Stamp, and Medicaid programs; (5) most indicated that certain desirable outcomes, such as increased client use of benefits and decreased federal and state administrative costs, could result from more service integration; (6) most indicated that the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have already encouraged or will encourage service integration to some extent; (7) only 1 stated that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has encouraged or will encourage integration beyond a moderate extent; and (8) 25 believe that eligible families may not be receiving benefits due to transportation difficulties, while 21 believe it is due to lack of local outreach services.