Our Mission
As the official benefits website of the U.S. government, our mission is to reduce the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government while increasing citizen access to benefit information.
Our History
Launched in 2002, Benefits.gov (formerly GovBenefits.gov) was one of the earliest “E-Government” initiatives to launch as part of the President’s Management Agenda and was established as the official benefits website of the U.S. government. The White House began an intensive effort to build, launch and manage a diverse portfolio of government-to-citizen, government-to-business and government-to-government websites. Operated, managed and supported by a Federal agency partnership, Benefits.gov provides an innovative, technology-based solution to benefit information delivery. The beneficiaries include U.S. citizens, businesses and Federal and state government entities.
Prior to Benefits.gov, citizens looking for government benefit information had to search through a complicated maze of web pages, often unsuccessfully. There was no easy-to-use, single source of benefit information to help citizens understand which benefit programs they may be eligible for, or how to apply. Today, millions of citizens have easy, online access to information from across 17 Federal agencies on Benefits.gov.
Our Partners
Benefits.gov is a cross-governmental collaboration between 17 Federal agencies referred to as 'Partners.' Our Partner agencies share in the governance and strategic guidance of the Program, approve the features and enhancements to the site, provide the benefit program content, and contribute funding. The U.S. Department of Labor serves as the Managing Partner for Benefits.gov.
Become a Partner
Are you interested in becoming a Benefits.gov Partner? Benefits.gov is committed to providing easy, online access to government benefit information while reducing the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government. Any Federal, state or local government organization who has oversight of benefit programs is eligible to become a Partner. Once accepted as a Partner, information on your benefit programs will be placed on the Benefits.gov website and you will be able to serve as a strategic advisor to the Program. If your organization is interested in becoming a Benefits.gov Partner, please contact us via the Benefits.gov Contact Us page.
To learn more about the Benefits.gov Program and how benefit programs are selected, please view the following resources:
Our Platform
Sharing our technology platform as a service. We use a host of technologies to manage our site, including cloud hosting, an enterprise content management system, mobile capabilities, digital communications tools, and analytics reporting services. Our cutting edge suite of capabilities helps us to better serve all citizens as the official benefits website of the U.S. government.
Creating 'Customized Connections.' Benefits.gov promotes intergovernmental collaboration and reduces the cost of conducting business across the government. Through "Customized Connections," our shared service, Benefits.gov allows Federal agency Partners to reuse our platform as a solution to pressing issues for their unique constituencies. The Benefits.gov Program has expanded to include DisasterAssistance.gov (Federal Emergency Management Administration), BEST.SSA.gov (U.S. Social Security Administration), NativeOneStop.gov (U.S. Department of the Interior), and GovLoans.gov. Benefits.gov has also served as a strategic partner in the modernization of DOL.gov and OSHA.gov (U.S. Department of Labor).
Personalizing the user experience. The site's core function is the eligibility prescreening questionnaire or "Benefit Finder." Answers to the questionnaire are used to evaluate a citizen’s situation and compare it with the eligibility criteria for more than 1,200 Federally-funded benefit and assistance programs. Each program description provides citizens with the next steps to apply for any benefit program of interest. Our site also features a recommendation engine that customizes the user’s search for benefits based on their location or interest in a particular category.
Recognition
"These awards highlight our team’s commitment to providing citizens in need with easy, online access to government benefit information."
- Al Sloane