In 2002, Benefits.gov was founded as the official benefits website of the U.S government. Our website was created to make it easier to find information on government benefits in one place. For 20 years, we have helped millions of people find benefit programs they may be eligible for, and how to apply. We’ve listened to your feedback and created online tools to meet citizen needs, providing ways to pre-screen your eligibility for benefits, easy navigation to programs based on your location, online support through our Chatbot, and user-friendly design that is both accessible and responsive on all devices.
We are proud to recognize our 20th anniversary as a free resource for the American public, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and 15 federal agencies. Here are three ways Benefits.gov can help you on your path to government assistance:
- Take the Benefit Finder Questionnaire: If you need help from the government, but don’t know where to start, the Benefit Finder can recommend benefits you may be eligible for. Based on your answers to a series of questions, a list of benefits will return, with next steps for how to apply. The Benefit Finder can pre-screen your eligibility for over 1,000 programs to help meet your current needs. The questionnaire takes around 20 minutes to complete, but you can save time by having information on hand like your education and financial history. If you recently experienced a major life event, like job loss or became a new parent, you may be eligible for new or different benefits. Benefits.gov is a free resource and will never ask for payment or for your personal information, like Social Security number or bank account.
- Browse Benefits: If you know the type of help you need, use our Browse by Category feature and select the type of benefits you want to learn more about. Select your state or a subcategory filter to find more relevant information faster. Whether you’re looking for financial help for your family, housing repairs after a hurricane, or employment, there are government programs available to meet your needs.
- Search the Benefit you Need: If you know the name of the benefit you're looking for, enter the program name in our search bar. You can type in a phrase or keyword like SNAP to find the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program page. Use the filters to see the most relevant information to your search. Once you’re on the program page, fill out the short questionnaire to check if you may be eligible for the benefit.
How else can Benefits.gov help?
Our news articles can help keep you informed about government benefits and updates that may affect you, with article topics by category like Healthcare, Military, or Social Security. To stay up to date on benefit information, subscribe to our Compass Newsletter or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Check out our Help Center to find answers to common questions about benefits on Benefits.gov or to share feedback on our features. Try the Chatbot for instant response to your questions, reducing the wait time for locating information. Also, check out our video guides to help you navigate the website.
Visit our Get Involved page for guides to finding government aid for families, people with disabilities, unemployed, seniors, students, veterans, and Native Americans. With information on over 1,000 programs, the help you’re looking for could be just a few steps away.
Since 2002, we have helped more than 175 million people access over 1,000 benefits from 16 federal agencies. Our mission is important as ever, with millions seeking relief from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand navigating government services can be a challenge and we are dedicated to helping you on your journey to find the right programs.
