Short answer: Benefits.gov has closed. The government's benefit-finder tool now lives at USA.gov/benefit-finder. It is free, it is official, and in about five minutes it can match you to government programs you may qualify for, including help in your own state. This guide shows you what changed and how to use the new tool.
What happened to Benefits.gov?
For years, Benefits.gov was the government's one-stop website for finding federal assistance programs. It has now closed. The government moved its benefits information and its Benefit Finder tool over to USA.gov, the government's main public information site. Two related sites, GovLoans.gov and SSABest, were also closed in the same move.
If you have an old bookmark or saw an older article pointing to "Benefits.gov," it will now redirect you, or you can simply go straight to the new home: USA.gov/benefit-finder. More than 1,500 old pages were mapped over to their new spots on USA.gov.
What is the Benefit Finder?
The Benefit Finder is a free, confidential tool. You answer a short set of simple questions about your situation, and it shows you a list of government programs you may be eligible for. It covers more than 1,000 state and federal programs across areas like health care, housing, food, unemployment, disability, and more.
The questions are non-identifying, meaning you are not asked for your name or Social Security number just to see results. It asks things like your life situation, age range, income range, state, and military status.
How to use it, step by step
- Go to USA.gov/benefit-finder.
- Pick a category or life event that fits you, such as disability, retirement, a new child, or recovering from an emergency.
- Answer the short questions about your household honestly. Accurate answers give you accurate matches.
- Review your results. The tool lists programs you may qualify for, each with a short explanation of what it offers.
- Click any program that interests you to go to the official agency page, where you can start the application.
The whole process usually takes under five minutes, and the tool is available in English and Spanish.
Looking for your state's benefits?
Many people search for their state by name, such as "Maryland benefits" or "Texas benefits." You do not need a separate state website. The Benefit Finder already includes state programs alongside federal ones. When you enter your state in the tool, it factors that in and shows you programs available where you live. One tool covers both.
A few tips to get the most out of it
- Answer honestly and completely. The matches are only as good as the details you give.
- Re-check after a big life change. Marriage, a new baby, a job change, or a move can open up new programs you did not qualify for before.
- Follow through on the official page. The finder points you to programs, but you still apply on each agency's own site.
- It is free. You never pay to use the official finder, and it will not ask for payment.
Watch out for copycats
Because "benefits finder" is a popular search, some apps and websites copy the name and are not official. The real tool is on USA.gov, a government (.gov) website, and it is free. Be cautious with any app or site that charges a fee, promises to "guarantee" benefits, or asks for payment to check your eligibility.
Quick recap
- Benefits.gov closed and moved to USA.gov/benefit-finder.
- The free Benefit Finder matches you to 1,000+ state and federal programs in about five minutes.
- It covers your state's programs too, so no separate state site is needed.
- It is free and official. Watch out for copycat apps that charge fees.