What Benefits Checkup Does
Benefits Checkup is a free online tool run by the National Council on Aging that shows you which federal and state information programs you may be able to use based on your age, income, and household situation. You answer questions about yourself, and the tool returns a list of programs — including phone and connectivity programs — that match your circumstances. It does not determine whether you actually meet the requirements; it flags programs worth investigating further.
The tool covers about 2,000 programs across food information, housing, utilities, healthcare, prescription drugs, tax credits, and communications. Because you arrived from the phone and connectivity section, you already know some programs exist in that category. Benefits Checkup shows you the ones you might have overlooked, and it also reveals programs in other categories that could free up money in your budget — which then makes room for phone or internet costs you were struggling to cover.
Key Takeaways
- Benefits Checkup is a free screening tool at benefitscheckup.org that shows programs you may be able to use based on your income, age, and household details.
- The tool covers phone and connectivity programs alongside food, housing, utilities, and healthcare programs, so you see the full picture of what might be available to you.
- Results are not a information of may be able to access — they are a starting point; you still need to contact each program directly to confirm you meet their actual requirements.
- The tool takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete and asks for information like your age, income, household size, and whether you receive certain benefits already.
- You can save your results and return to them later, and you can run the screening again if your circumstances change.
How to Use Benefits Checkup
Go to benefitscheckup.org and select your state from the dropdown menu. You will then answer a series of questions about your household. The questions cover your age, income (monthly or annual), household size, whether you own or rent your home, whether you receive Social Security or other benefits, and whether you have disabilities or are a veteran.
You do not need to provide your name, Social Security number, or any identifying information. The tool uses only the details you enter to match you against program rules. Answer as accurately as you can, because the results depend on the information you give. If you are unsure about your exact income, use your best estimate — you can always refine it later when you contact a program directly.
Once you submit your answers, the tool generates a list of programs ranked by relevance. Each program shows a brief description, what it covers, and a link to more information or contact details. You can print the results, save them as a PDF, or write down the program names and phone numbers to contact later.
What Information You Need Before You Start
Have the following details ready before you begin: your age, your monthly or annual household income, the number of people in your household, your housing status (own, rent, or other), and whether you currently receive any benefits like Social Security, SSI, SNAP, or Medicaid. If you are unsure of your exact income, gather recent pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements so you can calculate it quickly.
You should also know whether anyone in your household has a disability or is a veteran, because some programs are limited to those groups. If you do not have exact figures, the tool allows you to enter estimates. The goal is to get a reasonable picture of your situation so the results are useful.
Understanding Your Results
When Benefits Checkup returns your results, programs appear in order of how closely they match your situation. The tool shows a green, yellow, or orange indicator next to each program — green means you likely meet the basic requirements, yellow means you might, and orange means you may not but should check anyway. These are not guarantees; they are rough guides based on the information you provided.
Each program listing includes the name, a short description of what it covers, and usually a phone number or website. Some programs have income limits, age limits, or other rules that the tool cannot fully assess without more detail. That is why the next step — contacting the program directly — matters. The tool narrows the field; the program itself confirms whether you actually meet their rules.
If you see a program you do not recognize, search for its name online or call the number provided. Many programs have confusing names or are run by agencies you might not expect. For example, some phone programs are run through your state's Public Utilities Commission rather than a social services agency.
Phone and Connectivity Programs in Your Results
Benefits Checkup includes several phone and connectivity programs in its database. Depending on your state and income, you may see programs like the Lifeline program (which subsidizes phone or internet service), state-specific phone information programs, or broadband subsidy programs. The tool shows these alongside other information, so you can see whether you may have access to for phone help and also for programs that might reduce other expenses.
If you do not see a phone program in your results, it may mean the tool did not find one that matches your state and circumstances, or it may mean you did not meet the income or other thresholds for the programs available. In that case, you can still contact your state's Public Utilities Commission or your local community action agency to ask about phone programs directly — Benefits Checkup is a screening tool, not an exhaustive list.
What to Do After You Get Your Results
Write down or print the programs that interest you most. For each one, contact the program using the phone number or website provided and ask whether you meet their requirements. Have your income documentation, proof of residency, and any other relevant paperwork ready, because many programs will ask for it during that first call.
Some programs have waiting lists or limited funding, so calling sooner rather than later matters. Others have straightforward phone screening and can tell you in minutes whether you may have access to. A few may require you to visit an office or mail in documents. The program staff can walk you through their specific process.
If you do not may have access to for a program, ask why — sometimes a small change in your situation (like a household member moving out or a change in income) can affect may be able to access. Keep the list and check back if your circumstances change.
When to Use Benefits Checkup Again
Run the screening again if your income changes, someone joins or leaves your household, you turn 60 or 65 (because some programs have age thresholds), or you become may be able to access for a new benefit like Social Security or disability. Program rules and funding change throughout the year, so rescreening every 6 to 12 months can reveal programs that were not available before or that you did not may have access to for previously.
You can also use Benefits Checkup to explore "what if" scenarios — for example, what programs would be available if you retired next year, or what would change if a household member moved out. This can help you plan ahead and understand how life changes might affect your access to information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benefits Checkup the same as explore for benefits?
No. Benefits Checkup is a screening tool that shows you programs you might be able to use. Using the tool does not submit an process or register you for anything. You still need to contact each program separately to actually explore.
Will Benefits Checkup affect my current benefits?
No. Using the tool does not change your current benefits or trigger any reviews. It is purely informational. However, if you then explore for a new program, that program may conduct its own review of your income and assets.
What if I do not have an exact income figure?
Use your best estimate. If you receive irregular income, average it over the past few months. You can refine the number when you contact individual programs. Many programs allow you to self-report income over the phone and verify it later with documents.
Can I use Benefits Checkup on my phone?
Yes. The website works on phones, tablets, and computers. The tool is designed to be accessible on any device, though a larger screen can make it easier to read the results.
Does Benefits Checkup work in every state?
The tool covers all 50 states and Washington, D.C., though the programs available vary by state. Some states have more programs in the database than others, and some programs are only available in certain regions.