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Paperwork, lines, hours on hold: There's a 'Time Tax' on Americans who need help most

Aug 31, 2026 · Tonya Mosley

Originally published by NPR News Read the original

Paperwork, lines, hours on hold: There's a 'Time Tax' on Americans who need help most
Hospitality workers wait in line to apply for unemployment benefits at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Hospitality workers wait in line to apply for unemployment benefits at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Annie Lowrey explores the administrative burdens people face applying for government benefits. It's not just about wasted time: "When the government treats us like this, we don't trust it," she says.

(Image credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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