To empower people to find out about benefits they might be eligible for and apply on their own or with support.
To help communities thrive: In Colorado, half of MyFriendBen users apply for new benefits. This leads to an average savings of $1,500 per household.
MyFriendBen was created by Gary Community Ventures, a Denver-based organization. MyFriendBen expanded to North Carolina with the technical expertise of Code the Dream, a North Carolina-based national nonprofit. MyFriendBen is not directly associated with or affiliated with a government agency.
Not at the moment. Users see where they can apply and what information they will need, as well as how to get help applying.
Yes! No names or personal information is required to use MyFriendBen. Users have the option to be contacted when they qualify for new benefits.
No. On the results page, users can filter benefits based on immigration status. But, sharing immigration status is not required to use the screener.
Using MyFriendBen will not impact your immigration status or visa application, but before applying for any benefits, we recommend reviewing the North Carolina Justice Center’s information on the Public Charge Rule.
Yes! The tool is available in 12 languages.
MyFriendBen is useful for everyone. It connects users to long-term benefit programs for stability. It also links them to local resources for immediate needs.
MyFriendBen offers more than 14 benefits, tax credits, and programs. These can help people reduce their utility, food, health, and child care expenses.
We think everyone should know the estimated value of the benefits for which they are eligible. By looking at the value of these programs and the eligibility requirements, we can provide that estimate.
However, many programs have separate applications and are run by different government agencies or organizations. We aren’t able to combine these applications into MyFriendBen, but we can tell you where to apply, and you can decide to share your results with a benefits navigator who can help you apply.
Updates are made biweekly based on feedback and to reflect any changes in program rules. Please contact MyFriendBen if you see an update that is missing.
