How we check our facts

Where our data comes from

We only use primary sources: the federal and state agencies that run each program. We don't copy figures from other websites or generate program rules with AI.

• USDA Food and Nutrition Service
• Internal Revenue Service
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• HHS Administration for Children & Families
• Social Security Administration
• HUD
• FCC / USAC
• State human services, Medicaid, labor and revenue departments in all 50 states and DC

How we keep it current

• Yearly: income limits and benefit amounts are refreshed when the new federal poverty guidelines and cost-of-living adjustments are published.
• Quarterly: every apply link and office page is checked automatically, and broken links are fixed by an editor.
• Continuously: readers can report wrong information on any page; reports are reviewed within five business days.

How the benefits check works

Your answers are compared with each program's published rules for your state. Results are marked Likely when you meet the main tests, and Possibly when you may qualify under rules we can't fully check, such as asset limits or state exceptions. Dollar amounts are estimates based on the official formulas.

Corrections

When we get something wrong, we fix it and note the correction on the page. Report an error.