Writing + Publications
Research
I conduct action-oriented, foundational research on emerging topics of public benefits technology and service delivery, including eligibility Rules as Code, digital identity, artificial intelligence, customer experience, and integrated benefits through partnerships with nonprofits and government agencies. I am also the executive sponsor for additional research projects where I advise on topics and approaches and offer team mentorship.
Forthcoming: Implementing Benefits Eligibility + Enrollment Systems: A Review of State Practices
Ariel Kennan, Jason Goodman | Digital Benefits Network, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Georgetown University | 2025 This research documents states’ current processes for building and maintaining integrated eligibility and enrollment systems for public benefits, including how they interpret and translate policies into code. Throughout summer 2025, the Digital Benefits Network conducted interviews with leaders from seven states which operate or are building IEEs for core programs The first publication explores how states are responding to recent policy changes from federal agencies and Congress, including those enacted under H.R. 1.
Digital Doorways: Beneficiary Experiences with Digital Identity
Executive Sponsor | Elizabeth Bynum Sorrell and Rachel Meade Smith | Digital Benefits Network, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Georgetown University | 2025
Led by the Digital Benefits Network in partnership with Public Policy Lab, the Digital Doorways research project amplifies the lived experiences of beneficiaries to provide new insights into people’s experiences with digital identity processes and technology in public benefits. This report details the project’s findings, directly highlighting the voices of beneficiaries through videos and photos.
AI-Powered Rules as Code
Ariel Kennan, Lisa Singh, Alessandra Garcia Guevara, Mohamed Ahmed, Jason Goodman | Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation and Massive Data Institute, Georgetown University | 2025
Public interest technologists are still early in our understanding of how to effectively use large language models (LLMs) to translate policy into code. This report documents four experiments conducted to evaluate the current performance of commercially-available LLMs in translating SNAP and Medicaid policies into plain language summaries, machine-readable pseudocode, or usable code within a Rules as Code process. We found that LLMs are capable of supporting the process of generating code from policy, but still require external knowledge and human oversight within an iterative process for any policies containing complex logic.
BalanceID: Enabling Secure Access and Managing Risk in SNAP and Medicaid
Executive Sponsor | Connie LaSalle, Ryan Galluzzo, Katya Delak, Elizabeth Laird, Hannah Quay-de la Vallee, Ariel Kennan, Elizabeth Bynum Sorrell, Elisa Fox, Quinny Sanchez Lopez, Rachel Meade Smith | Digital Benefits Network, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Georgetown University, Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | 2024-2025
A collaborative research and development project to adapt NIST’s digital identity guidelines to better support the implementation of public benefits policy and delivery while balancing security, privacy, equity, and usability.
In April of 2025 we published our draft, Digital Identity 101: An Introduction to Digital Identity in Public Benefits Programs, which explains the core concepts of digital identity and how they apply to public benefits programs. This is meant to be an introductory tool for state agencies engaging in a Digital Identity Risk Management (DIRM) process.
Exploring Rules Communication: Moving Beyond Static Documents to Standardized Code for U.S. Public Benefits Programs
Ariel Kennan, Lisa Singh, Bianca Dammholz, Jason Yi, Keya Sengupta | Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation and Massive Data Institute, Georgetown University | 2023
This brief analyzes the current state of federal and state government communication around benefits eligibility rules and policy and how these documents are being tracked and adapted into code by external organizations. This work includes comparisons between coded examples of policy and potential options for standardizing code based on established and emerging data standards, tools, and frameworks.
Digital Authentication and Identity Proofing in Public Benefits Applications
Executive Sponsor | Elizabeth Bynum Sorrell, Ariel Kennan | Digital Benefits Network, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Georgetown University | 2023 + 2024
Open dataset and analysis documenting authentication and identity proofing requirements across online SNAP, WIC, TANF, Medicaid, child care (CCAP), and unemployment insurance applications. We updated the data in 2024.
Benefit Eligibility Rules as Code: Reducing the Gap Between Policy and Service Delivery for the Safety Net
Ariel Kennan, Sara Soka | Digital Benefits Network, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Georgetown University | 2022
This report examines how the U.S. federal government can enhance the efficiency and equity of benefit delivery by simplifying eligibility rules and using a Rules as Code approach for digital systems.
Accessible Benefits Information: Reducing Administrative Burden and Improving Equitable Access
Ariel Kennan, Sara Soka | Digital Benefits Network, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Georgetown University | 2022
This guide highlights best practices in benefits access, showcasing how Michigan, New York City, and San José improve accessibility through plain language, multilingual translation, resident co-creation, and technology tools.
Articles + Blogs