Biden Takes On Nightmare Government Paperwork

Past presidents have largely failed to make federal services more user-friendly

By Andrew Restuccia of The WSJ. Excerpts:

"Government forms have gotten so awful that the administration is overhauling applications for a range of federal benefits and services—a bid to remake a notoriously stubborn bureaucratic system that has exasperated Americans for generations. The effort faces considerable hurdles, given previous administrations have tried and failed to cut red tape from federal services.

Paperwork can run more than a dozen pages, contain confusing and repetitive questions and include documentation requests that take days to complete. The complex system makes it difficult for tens of millions of Americans to access disability benefits, secure farm loans, obtain passports and tap in to other government programs. At least $142 billion in potential aid goes unclaimed every year across food stamps, welfare and other programs, in part because of the burdens associated with applying, according to Matthew Desmond, a sociologist at Princeton University."

"“It can feel demeaning and degrading to have to fill out a form for the 80th time and all you want is access to this benefit program that’s necessary to put food on the table for your kids, to provide money you need for rent or a car payment,” said Sam Berger, one of the White House officials who is overseeing the effort.

The effort carries risks that the government makes it so easy to apply for public benefits that Americans who aren’t qualified could gain access to the programs. The White House said it will remain vigilant to prevent abuse."

"For disability recipients, the Social Security Administration earlier this year released a new version of form SSA-454-BK that is a few pages shorter, asks for less detailed information and eliminates redundant questions. 

"The old form, at 15 pages, required beneficiaries, many with serious physical and mental disabilities, to provide information about doctors’ visits, hospital stays, medications, medical tests and procedures, including the dates they occurred. Legal aid workers said beneficiaries sometimes spend days collecting information from medical providers, some of which the SSA already has.

“When people are given these massive forms, it has a deterrent effect,” said Jen Burdick, who helps people fill out the form as a lawyer at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia."