Reducing Administrative Burdens in Government Agencies and Public Programs

"Approaches to Reducing Administrative Burdens in Accessing and Maintaining Services from Government Agencies and Public Programs"
Presenters: Carolyn Barnes, Associate Professor, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, The University of Chicago; Elizabeth Bell, Assistant Professor, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin; Meredith Dost, PhD, IRP National Poverty Fellow in residence at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Donald Moynihan, Professor, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan
Administrative burden occurs when individuals are faced with obstacles that hinder their ability to fully participate in society and to access programs and benefits for which they qualify. This can affect many aspects of life, including voting, enrolling for health care coverage or educational opportunities, and applying for social safety net programs like SNAP, Unemployment Insurance, or the Housing Choice Voucher program. While most people will interact with one or more of these systems on a regular basis, low-income people and those from otherwise marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable to the barriers that are in place. In this webinar, the presenters will discuss their research on the causes and impacts of administrative burden as seen in several programs. They will offer applications and implications for policy and practice approaches that can alleviate administrative burden for affected individuals and communities.