Benefits.gov is available to help with finding the benefits that you need!

These are trying times for many people in our community. The coronavirus has led to business closures and layoffs, and people are struggling. If you need help but don’t know where to start, take a look at Benefits.gov. It is the official benefits site for the US Government, with information on over 1,000 federal and state benefit programs. You can find information on coronavirus-related resources by clicking the coronavirus (COVID-19) resources link in the blue banner on the home page or by going to the Help Center and selecting the coronavirus category.

Benefits.gov goes beyond coronavirus assistance. The categories include family and children services, education and training, employment and career development, financial assistance, food and nutrition, grants, healthcare and medical assistance, housing and public utilities, immigration and refugee assistance, military: active duty and veterans, social security and retirement, and more. Once you select a topic, select your state and a subcategory to get more specific results. You can also browse by government agency or search for a particular program.

The main feature on the Benefits.gov home page is the benefit finder. You can use the benefit finder to see which benefits you are eligible for based on your answers to some questions. Your answers are neither saved nor shared. This tool is helpful if you don’t know exactly what you are qualified to receive or if you want to see all of your options.

Benefits.gov is a site for information about benefits. It is not the place to apply for benefits, but it will direct you to where you need to go. The website does not accept or manage applications, handle individual cases, or accept personally identifiable information. Contact the appropriate agency if you have a question regarding your benefits.

Thanks to our reference librarian, Alison, for finding this resource to share with patrons!