Bill Summary
The "Timely and Accurate Benefits Act" is a piece of legislation aimed at improving the accuracy and efficiency of income verification for individuals applying for federal benefits. Under this act, states are required to implement an Enhanced Income Verification Platform within one year of the law's enactment in order to qualify for federal funding for specific benefit programs.
The act defines "covered federal benefit programs" as any program where eligibility or benefit amounts are determined, at least in part, by an individual or household's income. It outlines what constitutes "enhanced gross income," which includes a wide range of income sources, such as wages, unemployment benefits, Social Security payments, rental income, and various forms of assistance and support.
The Enhanced Income Verification Platform is designed to utilize automated data matching and analytics to identify and verify income sources more accurately. It aims to detect instances of unreported or underreported income and other indicators that could affect eligibility or payment amounts. Additionally, it will allow for the analysis of deposit account transaction data, enhancing the verification process and minimizing errors or fraud.
Overall, this legislation seeks to streamline the benefits application process, ensuring that financial assistance is provided accurately and to those who truly qualify.
Possible Impacts
The "Timely and Accurate Benefits Act" could affect people in the following ways:
1. **Increased Accuracy in Benefit Eligibility**: The implementation of the Enhanced Income Verification Platform may lead to more accurate assessments of individuals' incomes. This could help ensure that only those who genuinely qualify for federal benefit programs receive assistance, potentially reducing fraudulent claims. However, individuals who experience fluctuations in income, such as gig workers or those with multiple income sources, may find it more challenging to prove eligibility, which could affect their access to benefits.
2. **Streamlined Benefits Process**: With the automated and real-time data matching capabilities of the Enhanced Income Verification Platform, the process of applying for and receiving benefits could become more efficient. Individuals may experience shorter wait times for approval and disbursement of benefits, which could be particularly beneficial for those in urgent need of financial assistance. However, this reliance on technology could also create barriers for individuals who may not have easy access to digital platforms or who are less technologically savvy.
3. **Privacy Concerns and Data Security**: The requirement for applicants to provide permission for access to their deposit account transactional data may raise privacy concerns among individuals. Many may be uncomfortable with the idea of their financial data being analyzed to verify income, leading to hesitance in applying for benefits. Additionally, there are potential risks related to data security and the handling of sensitive personal information, which could expose individuals to identity theft or unauthorized access to their financial records.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1755 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1755
To require an income verification platform for certain Federal benefit
funds, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2025
Mr. Timmons (for himself, Ms. Greene of Georgia, and Mr. Fallon)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require an income verification platform for certain Federal benefit
funds, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Timely and Accurate Benefits Act''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS OF STATES; ENHANCED INCOME VERIFICATION PLATFORM
REQUIRED.
To be eligible to receive Federal funds for a covered Federal
benefit program, a State, not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, shall procure, contract, and use an Enhanced
Income Verification Platform.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Covered federal benefit program.--The term ``covered
Federal benefit program'' means any program administered by the
Federal government, or by a State or local government using
Federal funds, in which eligibility for benefits, or the amount
of benefits, is determined, in whole or in part, based on the
income of an individual or household.
(2) Enhanced gross income.--The term ``enhanced gross
income'' means--
(A) wages, salaries, tips included and not included
on pay stubs, and other compensation from all forms of
employment, including traditional W-2 employment not
provided by existing data sources, contract work, self-
employment, and participation in the gig economy;
(B) unemployment compensation;
(C) Social Security benefits, including retirement,
disability, and survivor benefits;
(D) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments;
(E) interest and dividends;
(F) short-term and long-term rental income;
(G) royalties;
(H) child support and alimony payments received;
(I) cash assistance from government programs;
(J) regular or recurring gifts or contributions
from individuals or organizations;
(K) distributions from trusts or estates;
(L) any other source of income, whether taxable or
non-taxable, that is available to the individual or
household to meet their needs, as determined by the
Secretary; and
(M) other income identified and verified through
consumer-permissioned direct access to deposit account
transaction data.
(3) Enhanced income verification platform.--The term
``Enhanced Income Verification Platform'' means--
(A) services incorporating automated, real-time
data matching and analytics to proactively identify and
verify potential instances of unreported or
underreported enhanced gross income, inconsistent
income reporting, or other indicators of potential
ineligibility or improper payments;
(B) receiving and analyzing applicant-permissioned
deposit account transactional data that identifies and
verifies sources of enhanced gross income not currently
obtained through existing data sources that provide for
payroll, new-hire and latent State and Federal tax
data, with the option for the claimant to review and
attest to the accuracy of the data; and
(C) the ability to identify and consolidate
overlapping data to avoid double-counting of financial
records.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, and each territory and
possession of the United States.
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