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When we talk about access to public benefits, the conversation often centers on enrolling individuals in programs such as SNAP, WIC, or energy assistance. While this is the important first step, it does not capture the full picture. For many individuals and families, the real challenge begins after they are approved.
Staying enrolled in benefits programs requires time, consistency, and the ability to navigate systems that are often complex and difficult to understand. Recertification deadlines, missing documentation, and unclear communication can all result in people losing benefits even when they are still eligible. For example, a mailed notice requesting income verification may go unnoticed or be difficult to understand, leading to a missed deadline and termination of benefits. In this way, access is not just about getting into a program. It is about being able to remain in it.
Public benefits are intended to provide stability, yet the process of maintaining them can feel anything but stable. Many individuals are required to regularly submit documentation, track deadlines, and respond to follow-up requests from agencies. While these steps may seem manageable, they can quickly become overwhelming, especially for those balancing work, caregiving responsibilities, school, or multiple jobs.
Missing a single deadline or misunderstanding a notice can lead to a loss of benefits. As a result, individuals may cycle in and out of programs, not because their needs have changed, but because the system itself is difficult to navigate. For example, research shows that participation in programs like SNAP varies widely by state, ranging from about 53% to over 80% of eligible individuals, largely due to differences in administrative burden and program design. This means eligible families in some states are much more likely to receive consistent food assistance, while others may miss out on support entirely. Not because they do not qualify, but because the system is more difficult to navigate.
Interruptions in public benefits are not just administrative issues. They have direct consequences for health. Programs like SNAP and WIC support nutrition, while others, such as HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) and Lifeline, help cover housing costs, utilities, and access to communication. When these supports are disrupted, individuals may experience food insecurity, increased stress, and challenges in managing chronic conditions.
Health is shaped by more than clinical care alone. When people are unable to maintain consistent access to essential resources, it becomes significantly more difficult to achieve and sustain positive health outcomes. In fact, the conditions in which people live, such as access to stable housing, nutritious food, transportation, and economic security, play a major role in shaping health, often outweighing the impact of medical care itself.
Without these foundational supports, individuals may face increased risk of chronic illness, higher rates of hospitalization, and even premature death. Research shows that barriers like financial hardship and lack of transportation are directly associated with increased healthcare use and higher mortality risk, highlighting how inconsistent access to basic needs can translate into worse health outcomes over time.
Access is often measured by enrollment numbers. However, enrollment alone does not ensure meaningful or sustained support. A more comprehensive understanding of access asks different questions. For example, are individuals able to stay enrolled over time? Do they understand how to navigate the system? Are they able to fully utilize the benefits available to them?
Access should not be viewed as a one-time achievement, but as an ongoing process that requires continued support, clarity, and system-level improvements.
At Link Health, access is understood as more than enrollment. It is about ensuring individuals can successfully navigate and sustain the benefits they rely on. By partnering with clinics, Link Health connects patients to essential public benefits such as SNAP, WIC, and energy assistance. Through patient navigation and technology, individuals receive support not only with initial applications but also with the ongoing steps required to maintain coverage.
This includes assistance with submitting documentation, understanding program requirements, and completing recertification. By addressing these barriers, Link Health helps reduce disruptions in benefits and supports more consistent access to the resources that shape health.
By embedding this work into healthcare settings, Link Health bridges the gap between clinical care and the social conditions that influence well-being, thus ensuring that patients are supported both inside and outside of the clinic.
Improving access to public benefits is essential, but access alone is not enough.
If systems remain difficult to navigate and maintain, individuals will continue to experience gaps in support, even after being approved. Addressing these challenges requires shifting how we define success and moving from just initial enrollment to sustained access over time. Ensuring that people can not only enroll in benefits but also remain enrolled and effectively use them is critical to building a more equitable and supportive system.
Author: Regina Agyemang
