Digital public servant Amanda Renteria has seen that the millions of people who rely on government welfare services are often discouraged from seeking them out, frustrated by long lines and unnecessarily complicated processes. At Code for America, Renteria is helping develop human-centered technology that "respects you from the start, meets you where you are and provides an easy, positive experience." She details the four factors that hinder effective delivery of government benefits and explains Code for America's plan to bring user-centric, digital-first social services to more than 13 million Americans and unlock 30 billion dollars in benefits for low-income families. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

Amanda Renteria: A bold plan to transform access to the US social safety net

A bold plan to transform access to the US social safety net

Transforming social safety nets: Code for America redesigns California's food aid to a mobile-first, multilingual platform.

A crisis reveals systemic flaws: Pandemic lines for food assistance spotlight the urgent need for streamlined government benefits.

Code for America's bold strategy: Partnering with 15 states to unlock $30 billion in benefits, reaching 13 million more Americans.