Many qualified Americans fail to receive welfare benefits due to complex eligibility criteria and paperwork.
Means testing aims to target resources but can lead to higher administrative costs and less effectiveness in poverty alleviation.
Strict income thresholds may discourage recipients from pursuing better-paying jobs, trapping them in poverty.
Universal welfare programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, are easier to administer and less stigmatizing.
Recent initiatives, like Minnesota's free school meal program, illustrate the benefits of removing means testing and fostering greater program acceptance.
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