For over 20 years, Benefits.gov has served as the official benefits website of the U.S. government and the go-to site to explore federal and state resources and programs. In September, Benefits.gov is shutting down and federal government benefits information will be available on USA.gov. This transition marks the continuing dedication of the Federal Government to provide critical government resources for the public.
Benefits.gov’s Legacy
The Benefits.gov website was founded in 2002 to increase citizen access to benefit information while reducing the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government. Since then, Benefits.gov has served over 220 million people, and increased access to more than 1,100 government benefits.
As an early e-Gov initiative, Benefits.gov was one of the first websites to make government information accessible to the public through the internet. The website set the gold standard for government websites, receiving 52 industry award accolades for excellence in website design and digital experience.
Benefits.gov developed and utilized innovative technology to simplify how people explore government assistance programs. One such feature included the launch of the Benefit Finder tool to help site visitors begin their benefits journey across the 16 benefit categories available on the site. Through a simple questionnaire, the Benefit Finder helps users prescreen their eligibility for programs and quickly navigate to information on how to apply for relevant benefits.
Multiple search capabilities were also featured on Benefits.gov, including the Search by Agency, Category, State, and Life Event functions, to help users find benefits intuitively. Other Benefits.gov innovations included using a mobile-responsive framework, a user-friendly Chatbot powered by machine learning, and personalization features to customize users’ experiences.
A Cross-Government Collaboration
With 16 federal agency partners and state affiliates, the website is an outstanding example of cross-government collaboration. The Benefits.gov partnership, managed by the Department of Labor, shared a vision that ensured the integrity of the site for more than two decades and served as a model for other e-Gov programs.
Under the leadership of the Partnership, the website’s platform was shared as a solution to develop DisasterAssistance.gov, SSABest.gov, and GovLoans.gov. The Benefits.gov platform and program promoted intergovernmental collaboration, reduced the cost of conducting business across the government, and better connected the public with government assistance.
The Next Step for Government Benefits Information
Your new resource for government benefits information is USA.gov. Like Benefits.gov, visitors can search for food assistance, housing help, health insurance, and more. We recommend bookmarking USA.gov for accessing benefits information. Benefits.gov will no longer be available once the transition is complete, making USA.gov the new hub for all federal benefit information. Our associated sites, GovLoans.gov and SSA BEST (SSABEST.Benefits.gov) will also be shut down following this transition. Loan information will be housed on USA.gov’s grants and loans page, and Social Security information and eligibility requirements will be available on the Social Security Administration's webpages.
It has been a pleasure to serve the American public as the official benefits website of the U.S. government, and we are pleased to take this next step in ensuring the accessibility of these resources for future generations.
Follow @USAGov in English on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, and @USAGovEspanol in Spanish on X and Facebook to get updates on the transition. Sign-up for the USA.gov newsletter in English or in Spanish to receive email updates on topics ranging from health and benefits to money and housing.
