# The HOPE Act of 2021: Making Government Benefits Easier to Access

The HOPE Act is designed to fix a major problem: millions of low-income Americans struggle to access the government benefits they're eligible for because the process is confusing, time-consuming, and scattered across multiple agencies. This bill creates pilot programs in select communities to test a simpler, technology-based approach to help people navigate and apply for assistance.

**What the bill actually does:** The HOPE Act authorizes three main pilot programs. First, HOPE Accounts would give low-income people a single digital account—accessible through a smartphone app—where they can apply for multiple benefits at once instead of visiting different government offices. The app would show them which programs they qualify for, help them apply online, track their benefits in one place, and even help them file taxes to claim credits they're owed. Second, HOPE Action Plans would create partnerships between individuals, government agencies, and nonprofits to develop personalized long-term plans for economic improvement—whether that's avoiding homelessness this year or saving for a home down payment over time. Third, the bill funds technology contracts to develop the apps and digital tools that make these systems work. The federal government would award grants ranging from $250,000 to $3 million to communities willing to run these pilot projects from 2021 through 2026.

**Who this affects:** The bill targets people living in poverty or near poverty—those earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line, people experiencing food insecurity or homelessness, and anyone eligible for programs like food stamps, housing assistance, or welfare. It also affects the government workers and nonprofits running these programs, who could potentially spend less time processing paperwork and more time helping people directly.

**The practical impact:** If successful, these pilots could save low-income families enormous amounts of time and stress. Instead of taking a day off work to visit multiple offices with stacks of paperwork, someone could apply for several benefits from their phone in an hour. The bill includes strong protections: it won't reduce anyone's current benefits, won't make it harder to get help, and won't let the government share personal data with immigration enforcement. The bill also requires at least 10 percent of funding to go to the poorest counties, ensuring rural and deeply impoverished areas aren't left behind.

HOPE Act of 2021

Morelle, Joseph D.

Health, Opportunity, and Personal Empowerment Act of 2021 or the HOPE Act of 2021 This bill establishes two Health, Opportunity, and Personal Empowerment (HOPE) pilot projects to improve economic security for individuals who meet income or other requirements. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development must collaborate on the projects. The first project provides awards to certain government entities to assist eligible individuals in establishing HOPE accounts through banks, credit unions, or governmental agencies. HOPE accounts must (1) provide access to specified financial services and information on public benefits, health insurance, and other topics; and (2) facilitate activities such as applying for government benefits and filing taxes. HHS must hold a competition to award contracts to private businesses and nonprofits to develop technology applications and other tools for HOPE accounts. The second pilot project provides grants that allow government and nonprofit organizations to enter voluntary agreements with eligible individuals to carry out long-term plans related to improving economic security and upward mobility.