GAO Calls for Clearer OMB Instructions to Reduce Barriers to Federal Benefits

Each year, billions of dollars in federal benefits go unclaimed by eligible Americans, partly due to the complex and time-consuming application processes required to access them. A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that efforts by federal agencies to assess and reduce these administrative burdens are being hindered by unclear instructions from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which oversees the review of such efforts.

The GAO examined a sample of 51 information collection requests submitted to OMB between April 2022 and April 2024. These requests, drawn from major agencies and involving high public engagement, often lacked documentation of key administrative burdens such as the time needed for individuals to determine their eligibility for programs and navigate application procedures. This omission stems from OMB’s current instructions, which do not require agencies to report on such learning or psychological burdens in their supporting statements.

Without this information, the GAO notes that agencies may be failing to fully assess the impact of their requirements on individuals and households. This gap limits the transparency of the burden imposed and may prevent the identification of more effective strategies to ease access to essential federal programs, such as food assistance and cash aid.

Some federal agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration, have made strides toward improving customer experience. These agencies have set up dedicated offices that collect feedback and analyze administrative challenges in order to better align services with user needs. Their efforts have also included incorporating burden reduction goals into strategic planning, signaling a broader commitment to accessibility.

The GAO report urges OMB to revise its instructions for supporting statements to fully reflect its own burden reduction guidance issued in 2022. Currently, the lack of alignment between OMB’s guidance and instructions limits the effectiveness of ongoing federal initiatives to streamline benefit access. The GAO’s recommendation remains open, with no formal response from OMB as of the report’s release.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Government Accountability Office press release

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