| Are You Eligible for Federal Aid? | |
How can the government help me? A new Web site from the U.S. Department of Labor answers that often-asked question by helping Americans determine their eligibility for hundreds of federal and state assistance programs.
The new Web site, GovBenefits.gov (www.GovBenefits.gov), offers a totally free, easy-to-use and completely confidential way to find out what government benefits programs you may be eligible for and how to apply for them.
Everybody knows about government assistance programs like Social Security and Medicare but what about Crop Insurance, Weatherization Assistance, or the Teacher Next Door Home Sales Program? Whether it's a direct payment, a loan, insurance, training, or other services - there may be government benefit programs available to help you.
In announcing GovBenefits, Deputy Secretary of Labor D. Cameron Findlay referred to the Web site as the first result of President Bush's e-government initiatives to make the government "more citizen-centric."
"GovBenefits gives people easy access to the information they need about government programs to help them when they need it most," Findlay stated in a press release. "This new Web site harnesses the power of e-government to better serve citizens across the country"
Office of Management and Budget Associate Director for Information Technology and E-Government Mark Forman called GovBenefits, "a great example of what the President meant when he talked about 'citizen-centered' government."
"In addition to enhancing service delivery to citizens," said Forman, "GovBenefits will help agencies increase the efficiency of their benefit programs This is a start on reducing the confusion of the welfare bureaucracy. It should not be necessary to wade through the morass of paperwork, forms, and organizations just to get help when in need."
