Timely and Accurate Benefits Act

This bill, called the Timely and Accurate Benefits Act, would require states to use an Enhanced Income Verification Platform to check income for benefit programs that use federal funds. If a state wants to keep receiving federal money for those programs, it must start using this platform within one year after the bill becomes law.

A “covered Federal benefit program” is any program run by the federal government or by a state or local government using federal funds where eligibility or benefit amounts are based, in whole or in part, on a person’s or household’s income. “State” includes the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories and possessions.

Key points:

• Who is affected: State governments, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories; programs that use federal funds and base eligibility or amounts on income; and, indirectly, people applying for those programs.
• What changes: States must procure, contract for, and use an Enhanced Income Verification Platform in order to receive federal funds for these programs.
• When: Within 1 year after the bill is enacted.