Illinois
MYFRIENDBEN · ILLINOIS
LIVE NOW
Illinois, meet the
navigator in your pocket.
Now available through 211 Metro Chicago.
Answer a few questions in about six minutes, with no name and no Social Security number, and see the food, health, cash, child care, utility and transportation help your household may qualify for in Illinois.
✓ Free ✓ 100% private ✓ Available in your language
ILLINOIS
In partnership with
211 Metro Chicago, operated by United Way of Metro Chicago, now connects Cook County residents with public benefits and tax credits through MyFriendBen, with local Resource Navigators ready to help by phone, text or chat. MyFriendBen Illinois is supported by the JB & MK Pritzker Family Foundation.
~6 min
to see everything you may qualify for
40+
benefits, tax credits & programs screened in Illinois
8
states live nationwide
175K+
households served nationwide
MyFriendBen usage data, September 2026.
BENEFITS IN ILLINOIS
What Illinois families can find with MyFriendBen
One short screener checks eligibility across the programs Illinois families rely on most, estimates what each one is worth to your household and shows you exactly where to apply. Available in English, Spanish and more.
Food
SNAP, WIC and free school breakfast and lunch
Health coverage
Medicaid, All Kids, FamilyCare, Moms & Babies and Get Covered Illinois savings
Cash & tax credits
TANF and SSI cash assistance, plus federal and Illinois Earned Income and Child Tax Credits
Child care
Child Care Assistance Program, Head Start and Preschool for All
Home energy & utilities
LIHEAP energy assistance, home weatherization and Lifeline phone and internet discounts
Transportation & more
Reduced and free transit fares, senior property tax relief and local programs
Not sure if you qualify? That is exactly what the screener is for. Most people who use MyFriendBen find at least one program they did not know about.
THE NAVIGATOR SYSTEM
One promise: no one navigates alone.
Finding a benefit is a moment. Getting it is a journey. MyFriendBen walks with you from the first question to the application, and checks back in along the way.
1
SCREEN
Six private minutes reveal the Illinois programs your family may qualify for, with no name, no Social Security number, in your language.
2
NAVIGATE
Benji, the AI navigator inside your results, explains each program, gathers what you need and walks the application through with you.
3
STAY CLOSE
Opt in to texts and MyFriendBen checks back in on renewals, reporting deadlines and new benefits you unlock along the way.
4
GET LOCAL HELP
When a person should take over, we connect you to 211 Metro Chicago Resource Navigators and trusted Illinois organizations.
MEET BENJI
A friend who knows the paperwork.
Benji
LIVE
Ask “am I really eligible?” and Benji explains the program in plain language, tells you what documents to gather and walks you through the application step by step, in your language, at your pace.
Benji is built for the moments that trip people up: work-requirement reporting, renewals and the forms that change from one year to the next.
2-1-1
Need help today? A local navigator is one call away.
In Cook County, 211 Metro Chicago is free, confidential and available 24/7. Call 2-1-1 (or (773) 362-4401) to talk to a local Resource Navigator, text your zip code to 898211, or visit 211MetroChicago.org to search or chat.
VOICES
Don’t take our word for it.
“It felt as though it was holding my hand, telling me exactly where to tap.”
— Camila, MyFriendBen user, from the Urban Institute’s independent evaluation
PARTNER WITH US
Become a Friend of Ben in Illinois
Community agencies, health systems, schools and government offices across Illinois can put MyFriendBen in front of the families they already serve, with a free partner link, training for staff and a dashboard that shows what your community is finding.
- A free partner link that credits every screening to your organization
- Live training for navigators, caseworkers and front-desk staff
- A partner dashboard showing screenings, top programs found and how people find you
- Monthly usage reports you can share with your board and funders
Who partners with MyFriendBen
2-1-1s
Navigators screen callers live and text results
Health systems
Social-needs screening at the point of care
Schools
Family liaisons screen alongside parents
Nonprofits
Intake, case management and outreach
Government
Front doors for state and county programs
Backed by believers, built with partners
…plus 211s, community organizations, health systems, state agencies and Code the Dream across the country.
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Ready, Illinois?
Six minutes. No name. No Social Security number.
See the help your household may already qualify for, then let Benji and your local navigators walk you the rest of the way.
