Welfare Simplification
States' Views on Coordinating Services for Low-Income Families Gao ID: HRD-87-110FS July 29, 1987In response to a congressional request, GAO summarized states' responses to selected questions on efforts to integrate services under six human resources programs which provide benefits to low-income families.
GAO found that: (1) 23 states have integrated all their service delivery units for the Food Stamp, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and Medicaid programs; (2) 48 states would like to achieve more service integration; (3) 38 states have started at least one service integration project; (4) 14 states have considered legislation related to service integration; (5) nearly all of the states indicated favorable outcomes from more service integration; (6) most states indicated that most of the obstacles to service integration were at the federal level; (7) among the obstacles states frequently cited were too many regulations and differing financial requirements among programs; (8) 20 states plan to increase integration of their programs, while 18 plan to increase the number of delivery units offering integrated services; and (9) the states indicated that eligible families may not receive benefits because of transportation difficulties, lack of local services, and insufficient funds for limited-funding programs.