Government Benefits
How to find U.S. government benefits and apply through official channels
This independent guide shows people in the U.S. how to find government benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid and Social Security, and apply on official government websites instead of paid middlemen.
We are not a government agency and have no connection with any agency. USAGov describes its benefit finder as a free, official resource, and each program has its own eligibility rules, application process and deadlines.
Benefits.gov has closed, and its address now sends visitors to USAGov's benefit finder, which sorts programs into categories such as food, health, housing and utilities, and jobs and unemployment. You then apply with the agency that runs each program: the Social Security Administration for Social Security and SSI, or your state for SNAP, Medicaid and unemployment.
Watch for scams. The FTC says offers of free money from government grants for personal needs are scams, and that no government agency will demand payment to get a grant. Only the agency that runs a program can decide whether you qualify.
At a glance
- Official starting point
- USAGov's benefit finder at usa.gov/benefit-finder
- Benefits.gov
- Closed; the address redirects to USAGov's benefit finder (checked September 30, 2026)
- Cost of official help
- USAGov's finder is free; SSA says there is no charge to apply for SSI
- Who decides eligibility
- The agency or state office that runs each program
- Report a scam
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov; Social Security scams to oig.ssa.gov/report
What you'll learn
- Where to start: USAGov's benefit finder and the agencies behind each program
- How applying works for Social Security, SSI, SNAP, Medicaid and unemployment
- How to spot fee-charging and imposter sites, and where to report them
Who it suits
- People in the United States who want to see which government programs might apply to their situation
- Anyone who has seen an ad or message promising free government money and wants to check it
- Family members helping someone else find the right official application
Check before you decide
- We are not a government agency. We cannot tell you whether you qualify, and we do not take or process applications.
- Rules differ by program, and for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF and unemployment they also differ by state.
- This guide covers U.S. federal and state programs only.
- Program details change; check each program's official page before you apply.
Opens the full guide on this site, with more detail and the sources we used.
Based on 21 sources. How we research our guides