Nudges to Increase Completion of Welfare Applications: Experimental Evidence from Michigan

Authors

Christopher J. O'Leary, W.E. Upjohn Insitute for Employment ResearchFollow
Dallas Oberlee, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment ResearchFollow
Gabrielle Pepin, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment ResearchFollow

Upjohn Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3372-7527

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3156-0268

Series

Upjohn Institute working paper ; 20-336

**Published Version**

In Journal of Behavioral Public Administration 4(2): 1-8

DOI

10.17848/wp20-336

Issue Date

October 2020

Abstract

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides cash assistance to very-low-income families with children. Application procedures to receive TANF benefits, however, often involve substantial transaction costs likely to reduce take-up. We estimate, through a randomized controlled trial design, the effects of a detailed telephone-call reminder to increase TANF application completion in southwest Michigan, where applicants must visit a regional public employment office at least four times to be eligible for benefits. We do not find that personalizing reminder calls increased participation in the initial appointment at the public employment office. However, conditional on attending the initial session, applicants who received reminder calls before additional appointments were more likely to complete all application requirements, compared to those who did not receive reminders. Evidence suggests that reminder calls increase attendance at public employment office appointments but that personalizing such calls has limited impact.

Subject Areas

UNEMPLOYMENT, DISABILITY, and INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAMS; Poverty and income support; Income support programs