How MyFriendBen Is Helping Coloradans Unlock Public Benefits

A few years ago, many Coloradans struggled to navigate the complicated web of public benefit programs — not because help doesn’t exist, but because finding which ones you qualify for can be confusing, time consuming, and opaque. That’s the gap MyFriendBen now aims to fill.

In January 2024, The Colorado Sun published a report on the launch of MyFriendBen — a tool created by nonprofit Gary Community Ventures — designed to help people discover public benefits for which they might be eligible. The Colorado Sun The idea: in just a few minutes, users can get a clearer picture of what supports they may access, from food assistance to heating help.

Why it matters

Many people who qualify for government assistance either don’t know it, or find the process too complex. A social worker quoted in the Sun article shared this example: a single, pregnant mother had already applied for two food programs and was asking what other supports she might receive. She was referred to MyFriendBen as a streamlined option. The Colorado Sun

Because public benefits systems vary by locality and require handling multiple agencies, caseworkers often have to learn dozens of program rules. MyFriendBen aims to simplify that by consolidating eligibility screening across more than 40 federal, state, and county programs. The Colorado Sun

How the tool works

• Quick screening: On average, the process takes about six minutes. The Colorado Sun

• No personal identifiers required up front: The tool asks about income, household size, expenses, health status, age, location, and more, but not precise identifying information or citizenship status. The Colorado Sun

• Language & accessibility: The questions are designed to be readable at a middle-school level and are offered in multiple languages. The Colorado Sun

• Output: Users receive an estimate of the monthly value of benefits they might qualify for, along with likely time required to apply. The Colorado Sun

• Upgrades planned: MyFriendBen is working toward adding an “application preparation list” — a checklist of documents needed to make applying easier. The Colorado Sun

The tool is especially helpful for people whose circumstances shift — for example, moving across counties, losing a job, or experiencing a life transition — where eligibility might change suddenly. The Colorado Sun

Early results & impact

Although still early in its rollout, MyFriendBen has already shown promise in Colorado. By the end of 2023, nearly 5,500 Colorado households had completed the screening process. Across those users, the tool identified an aggregate of about $30 million in potential assistance. Out of that, some $5 million in benefits were estimated to have already been accessed by users. The Colorado Sun

In December alone, the tool saw 1,300 users in Colorado. The Colorado Sun During winter months, MyFriendBen leaders anticipate more users seeking help with heating and utility programs. The Colorado Sun

In response to early usage, the team is embedding MyFriendBen in county and agency websites (e.g. Jefferson County) to make it more discoverable. The Colorado Sun They’re also partnering with immigrant/refugee support organizations, which frequently serve clients with little or no documented income — groups the tool can help in a low-barrier way. The Colorado Sun

Interestingly, about half of users in early pilots reported they intended to apply for a new benefit after using the tool. The Colorado Sun

The comparison to New York’s Access NYC tool also surfaced — Gary Community Ventures drew inspiration from that model in building MyFriendBen. The Colorado Sun

What’s next

Beyond Colorado, the MyFriendBen team is preparing to expand to new states. A North Carolina version is planned for rollout in fall (as reported by The Colorado Sun). The Colorado Sun

As the platform grows, the team’s goals include improving accuracy, expanding program coverage, refining the user experience, and increasing awareness among those who might benefit most but don’t yet know MyFriendBen exists.

Credit: This post is based on “New online tool helps Coloradans quickly determine which public benefits they might be eligible for” by The Colorado Sun.