Supporting Access to Government Benefits

Government benefits can be a lifeline to people and families in need. Whether it’s helping bridge a gap after losing a job, supporting vulnerable populations, stimulating local economies or broadly providing a social safety net – it’s critical to connect people with the resources they need as quickly and easily as possible. It’s also important for government agencies to be responsible stewards of their services; helping ensure that eligible beneficiaries get their benefits in a timely manner.

Equifax data solutions help eligible applicants obtain (or maintain) critical government benefits in many ways. One example is through The Work Number® (TWN), a database that contains employment records from over 2.8 million U.S. employers. If you’ve ever bought or leased a home, apartment or car – without having to take extra steps to help your lender verify your income or employment – you likely benefited from automated digital verifications from a service such as The Work Number. 

 

 

Working in collaboration with Equifax, U.S. federal and state social service agencies use The Work Number to help people in need secure access to healthcare, food, housing and financial assistance. Some of these programs include Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Housing Choice Vouchers, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and more. 

Since eligibility for such programs is typically based on income or employment status, social service agencies verify this information for each applicant initially, and also during the renewal or recertification process. When it comes to determining eligibility and getting benefits in the hands of people in need, speed and access to information matter. That’s where The Work Number can make a big difference.

Historically, when people applied for social service benefits, they would need to find, print and provide pay stubs or other documents showing their income information. The Work Number removes this burden from the applicant – by digitizing and automating the experience. It’s more seamless, secure and can help expedite determinations so eligible applicants receive their benefits faster. Similarly, case workers and employers no longer need to spend as many administrative hours to locate and share income and employment information with the social service agencies. Government agencies have instant, direct access to the data so they can make more efficient eligibility decisions. As a result, the entire system can operate more smoothly and securely, helping expand access to vital social service benefits.

Helping people access the tools and resources they need, when they need them, is part of our commitment to driving greater financial inclusion. Learn more about how we help people live their financial best at equifax.com/financialinclusion.