Reducing welfare eligibility criteria from patchwork means-testing to solely on the basis of income as reported to the IRS should increase take-up rates, reduce stigma, and significantly cut administrative costs relative to the current safety net.

Presently, the U.S. has a number of overlapping welfare programs, requiring eligible recipients to fill out numberous forms for various agencies, presenting adminsitrative hurdles to uptake. In addition to reducing the number of eligible recipients who sign up for benefits, this imposes adminstrative costs.