As the official benefits website of the U.S. government, Benefits.gov increases access to benefit information and program eligibility requirements to help citizens find government assistance. Financial responsibilities can be difficult to manage, but depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for financial assistance to help with your needs. Benefits.gov is here to help you understand the financial assistance resources available to you, your family, and your business.
Where can I check my eligibility for financial assistance programs?
A great way to start your search for financial assistance programs is to take the Benefit Finder questionnaire, which will automatically compare your eligibility to over 1,000 benefit programs. Curious about how the Benefit Finder works? Here are some things to know about the Benefit Finder:
- The questionnaire takes around 10 to 20 minutes to complete, but you can save time by having basic information on hand like your education and financial history.
- Benefits.gov never asks for personal information such as a phone number, address, or Social Security number and does not save your answers in the Benefit Finder.
- The more questions you answer, the better we can prescreen your eligibility for the benefits in your results list.
- Based on questions you answer about your personal situation, a list of benefits will return that you may be eligible for, along with the next steps for how to apply.
After you’ve completed the Benefit Finder, you can save your results by printing a copy or sending a copy to your email address.
What kind of programs are there to help my family?
If you find yourself facing financial hardship, there are programs available that can provide help. For example, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides funds to states and territories to provide families with financial assistance and related support services. These programs may include child care assistance, job preparation, and work assistance based on the state where you live. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for many other programs to help with food, housing, and energy costs.
To find out if you may be eligible for over 1,000 government assistance programs, take our Benefit Finder questionnaire.
What kind of programs are available to help my business?
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business and are responsible for creating two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. The SBA offers several federal programs to help with funding a small business, including grants and loans.
- Grants – Federal grants are awards of financial assistance to an individual or organization. Small businesses may be eligible for grants in specialized fields, such as nonprofits, educational institutions, and those in state or local governments for economic development. For more information, please visit the SBA’s Grant Programs page, or visit the federal government's official grants website, Grants.gov.
- Loans – Loans are different than grants because they are awarded to an individual or organization as a personal benefit or assistance. It is important to note that you are required to pay back a loan, often with interest. SBA Loan programs consist of various loan categories such as starting and expanding business, disaster, export assistance, veteran/military community, and special purpose loans. The loans cater to many different scenarios a business may experience. To explore additional types of loan offers, visit GovLoans.gov. To view additional SBA programs, browse our Loans Category.
How can I find help during the coronavirus pandemic?
During the coronavirus pandemic, many are facing unexpected difficulties. We encourage you to read our articles about assistance during the pandemic, including:
- “Where to Find Housing Assistance During the Pandemic”
- “COVID-19: Finding Food & Nutrition Programs and Shopping Safely”
- “Coronavirus Resources for Unemployment & Small Businesses”
- “Finding the Right Help During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Outbreak”
What other resources can help me on Benefits.gov?
Check out the Help Center on Benefits.gov to navigate through commonly asked questions and answers to find additional information about government benefits.
Visit our Get Involved page to access fact sheets, including a Guide to Benefits.gov and guides to finding benefit programs for families, people with disabilities, unemployment resources, senior citizens, students, veterans, and Native Americans.
Benefits.gov also publishes helpful, timely news articles to keep people informed about government benefit programs. To stay up-to-date on benefit program information, subscribe to the Compass Newsletter or follow Benefits.gov on Twitter and Facebook.
