Working families who are supported by federal benefits can sometimes find themselves in a difficult spot when a potential promotion or raise at work is not cause for celebration, but sparks worries about falling off the benefits cliff.

Those receiving federal public assistance can see a complete loss of federal resources after even a small increase in income. But the Upward Mobility Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is meant to change that. Better still, it would help streamline some of the bureaucracy that feeds off such programs.

It would create a five-year pilot program in five states to “combine funding from multiple federal anti-poverty programs into a single funding stream to eliminate benefits cliffs,” according to Husted’s office. “States would be free to utilize savings from reduced bureaucracy as well as resources from non-profit and private sectors to design and invest in programs that prevent benefits cliffs while providing for the immediate needs of vulnerable populations.”

It’s not a total solution, but sounds like an excellent start.

These programs are supposed to be a hand up, and the Upward Mobility Act certainly appears to be a way to improve their ability to be just that. Assuming the bill passes and the pilot programs prove a success, federal officials should waste no time implementing the effort everywhere.