USAGov Benefit Finder
Last updated August 2026
Not sure what help you qualify for? The USAGov Benefit Finder at usa.gov asks simple questions about your life. Then it hands back a list of government benefits worth applying for. It takes about ten minutes. It is anonymous, and there is nothing to sign up for.
If you knew this tool as Benefits.gov, that site is gone. It was retired in October 2024, and the finder now lives on USA.gov. Old links redirect there. A Spanish version runs on USAGov en Espanol.
It covers twelve areas of help: food, health care, housing and utility bills, disability, jobs, veterans, children and families, retirement, and more. Answer honestly, not hopefully. The questions about life events, like a lost job or a new baby, are what surface programs people never think to check.
Know what the tool is not. It does not decide if you qualify, and it does not apply for you. It points you to each program and where to apply. Treat the results as your to-do list, not an answer.
Then work the list with the other doors on this site. Dial 2-1-1 for local funds and charities no federal tool knows about. And use the program pages here for the step-by-step on the big ones, like SNAP, LIHEAP, and Medicaid. Ten quiet minutes with this screener has surprised a lot of people with what they were owed.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Available to everyone
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Go to usa.gov/benefit-finder. No account, no personal information required.
- 2
Answer the questions about your household, income range, and life events honestly.
- 3
Filter the results by category and save or print your list.
- 4
Apply to each program through the agency that runs it. The finder links you to each one's application.
- 5
Then dial 2-1-1 for the local help no federal screener lists.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Is the Benefit Finder anonymous?
Yes. The screening collects no personal information unless you choose to give it, under USA.gov's site-wide privacy policy.
What happened to Benefits.gov?
It was retired in October 2024. The official screener is now the USAGov Benefit Finder at usa.gov/benefit-finder, and old Benefits.gov links redirect there.
Does the Benefit Finder apply for me?
No. It suggests programs you may qualify for and links to each agency's application. You still apply with each program directly.
What does the finder cover?
Twelve categories, including food, health, housing and utilities, disability, jobs and unemployment, veterans, families, and retirement.
Is it available in Spanish?
Yes, through USAGov en Espanol, the Spanish-language side of USA.gov.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
See all United States (federal programs) programs →Free · Private · No account needed