The updates come as federal policy changes stemming from H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, require millions more adults to demonstrate work activity to maintain access to critical food and health-care benefits.
At the heart of the effort are service blueprints or detailed maps of the SNAP and Medicaid process that highlight common pain points when applying for benefits. States can adapt the tools to their specific systems and to specific processes, from determining exemptions to processing renewals.
To develop the blueprints, CfA consulted with caseworkers to identify typical challenges state agencies face, and produced recommendations for improvement. Their suggestions focus on simplifying reporting, providing dedicated help in plain language, automating exemptions using existing data, and updating forms to reduce redundancy. The nonprofit also encouraged states to extend verification periods, lower administrative costs and make the process more manageable for beneficiaries.
Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America, outlined the significance of the initiative in a news release.
“The Trump administration’s expansion of work reporting requirements jeopardizes access to critical benefits for people who are doing everything right but still need support to feed their families and access life-saving healthcare,” she said in a statement. “Through these new tools, Code for America is demonstrating our commitment to support states through this period of uncertainty and take the necessary steps to prepare for these changes.”
These new tools are part of Code for America’s Safety Net Innovation Lab, a multiyear initiative partnering with 15 states to expand access to $30 billion in benefits for roughly 13 million people.
