Editorial policy

Our standards

• Accurate: every eligibility rule, income limit, amount and deadline comes from the agency that publishes it, and is linked.
• Clear: we write in plain English, put the answer first and explain terms the first time we use them.
• Fair: we describe programs neutrally and don't overstate what people may receive.
• Current: every page shows when it was last updated, and yearly figures are refreshed when agencies publish new ones.

Sourcing and review

Program guides link to agency sources. We distinguish the date content was updated from the date a person completed a review. An assigned reviewer is responsible for checking a guide; assignment alone does not mean the review is complete. Our process is described in how we check facts.

Use of AI and software

We use software and AI to help organize source material and prepare plain-language drafts. Pages awaiting a completed human review say so. A completed review records the reviewer and date. Agency rules and notices determine eligibility and deadlines; AI is never used as a source of program rules or figures.

Independence

Advertisers and partners have no say in which programs we cover, how we describe them or the order they appear in. They cannot review content before publication. Results from the benefits check are ranked only by estimated value to you.

How we make money

We keep the site free with two kinds of advertising:

• Display ads, clearly labeled “Advertisement.” They never appear inside the benefits check, above an Apply button, or as pop-ups.
• Partner offers, labeled “Sponsored,” for services like tax filing or phone plans. We may earn a commission if you sign up. Partner offers never replace the free, official way to apply.

Advertiser disclosure: We may earn a commission when you use partner links. Partners never affect which programs we show, how we rank them, or our editorial content. How we make money

Full details are in our advertising and affiliate disclosure.

Corrections

Errors are corrected promptly and noted on the page, with the date of the correction when it changes a figure or rule. To report an error, email [email protected] or use “Share your experience” on any program page.