Digital Authentication and Identity Proofing in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Applications
By Elizabeth Bynum Sorrell, Researcher and Ariel Kennan, Fellow
Digital Benefits Network at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University
May 19, 2023, last updated May 19, 2023
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On this page, we share data and observations about authentication and identity proofing steps for online TANF applications. Because some states combine or integrate applications for multiple programs, this page includes data on a mix of standalone TANF applications and integrated applications. For entries that include combined or integrated applications, our data demonstrates a claimant’s experiences if they are applying for every available benefits program included in our data collection such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), TANF, and Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Medicaid. We decided to approach data collection this way both for practicality and also to document the most comprehensive possible experience for each application flow.
The findings below outline our current understanding of online authentication and identity proofing requirements and practices for this benefit program. As we continue to gather feedback and update our datasets, these numbers may change. These points should be taken as general observations designed to help users quickly make sense of this dataset. You can also view the Digital Benefits Network’s data on authentication and identity proofing practices across core benefits programs on the Digital Benefits Hub.
Digital Authentication and Identity Proofing in TANF Applications Dataset: Spreadsheet
Digital Authentication and Identity Proofing in TANF Applications Dataset: Gallery
High-level Findings
Integrated Applications
Most TANF applications are combined applications that allow users to apply for multiple benefits at once such as TANF and SNAP, TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid, or TANF, SNAP, and child care.
- Of the 51 applications in our dataset that include TANF, only three were standalone TANF-specific applications. In general, TANF was often included on combined applications with SNAP as well as Medicaid and child care.
Login and Registration Requirements
Most applications that include TANF require users to login to start an application.
- Overall, 38 out of 51 (75%) of applications that include TANF require users to login to start an application.
- Another nine applications make it optional to create an account before initiating an application.
- Of the 48 applications that include an account registration process, email is required in 50% of those cases.
- Of the 48 applications that include an account registration process, 42 of them use additional account authentication measures. These measures most commonly include security questions in addition to email validation links or authentication codes sent via email.
Identity Proofing Requirements
Very few applications that include TANF require users to take active identity proofing steps to submit online.
- Only two applications that include TANF—Kentucky’s combined kynect and Oregon’s ONE application—require users to take active or front end steps to prove their identities. Both use knowledge-based verification (KBV) provided by Experian before applicants initiate the application.
- Another 11 applications that allow users to apply for TANF include identity proofing prompts that are optional. This means a user can immediately skip the prompt or, if their identity cannot be verified online, they can still continue. Six of these applications place identity proofing prompts before users can initiate an application, four prompt identity proofing during the application process. It was unclear when identity proofing is used for Washington DC’s District Direct application. At least nine of the 11 applications use KBV for identity proofing, and at least six are using Experian as an identity proofing vendor.
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Requested
Applications that include TANF typically make it possible to submit online without having to disclose applicant Social Security numbers (SSNs).
- Applicants seeking TANF are required to provide their SSN as a condition of eligibility. How questions about SSN are presented in applications that include TANF vary, however.
- In 38 applications that include TANF it appears to be possible for applicants to submit online without disclosing their SSN. Three other applications explicitly inform applications that providing SSNs is optional or strongly recommended.
- Four applications that include TANF required applicants to provide their SSN.
- Five other applications that include TANF required applicants to provide their SSN if they already indicated that they have one.
Feedback and Engagement
We are publishing this dataset openly and publicly at this stage of our research to share knowledge and also to solicit feedback and engagement from various stakeholders and users. We envision this dataset as a starting point, and hope that people who visit the dataset will help ensure the accuracy of the data, fill in any gaps, conduct their own analysis, and share ideas for further extensions of this work.
This data represents a point in time. We also know that the information we were able to access may not reflect the most up-to-date experiences of claimants, and that application requirements and processes can be complex. For that reason, this data is not meant to be a guide for claimants seeking benefits. This project also does not provide context on state level policies.
To submit general feedback or specific feedback about an application included in the dataset, you can use our designated feedback form.
Data Collection: SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, and Child Care Applications
To collect data on SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid and child care applications we collaborated with Code for America (CfA) during data collection for their 2023 Benefits Enrollment Field Guide. Our team assisted with a select number of assessments for CfA’s project and established a data sharing partnership to access their data and share our own data focused on authentication and identity proofing. CfA’s protocol involved creating accounts (if required) and filling in applications with sample applicant data without submitting it. This gave us access to additional information and texture about the process of applying for SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, and child care online.
We built out this data for SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, and child care applications between October, 2022 and February, 2023. After inputting data, we conducted an internal review of each application entry in February and March of the same year to ensure accuracy and consistency. Our team spent approximately an hour working with each application. We have also used the “Public notes” column in the dataset to document complexities and open questions.
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