Benefits.gov website adds location-based technology to personalize, enhance user experience

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that the Benefits.gov – official federal government benefits website – now customizes the user’s search for government benefits based on the user’s location. By personalizing the content on government benefits and other information – and providing content most commonly requested – the site now provides a better and more efficient tool for its users. 

A collaborative effort of 17 federal agencies, Benefits.gov offers information and more on 1,200 federally funded benefit and assistance programs. Launched in 2002, the site is piloting location-based, personalization technology for the first time – both on the site’s homepage and each of its “Benefit Details” pages.

On the Benefits.gov homepage, a list of five popular benefits near the site visitor’s location appears. Users can then click on the benefit to view more information. The Benefit Details page contains information on eligibility, the application process and program contact information. The page also has a list of popular benefits on the right-hand side of the page, alongside the program information.

The introduction of these new features is part of a broader initiative to personalize the user experience on Benefits.gov. The next step in this personalization effort will incorporate dynamic search, allowing users to enter a search term on Benefits.gov and receive a list of other similar and popular topics. Currently in development, this enhancement will help users gain a more holistic view of the site’s offerings.

Personalization is the latest of the site’s innovations. Since its launch, Benefits.gov underwent a complete site redesign in 2010 and a more recent upgrade to make the site responsive to mobile devices. These and other efforts will help keep Benefits.gov at the forefront of government technology, and ensure a more efficient and seamless user experience.

Operated, managed and supported by federal agency partnerships, Benefits.gov provide citizens with easy, online access to government benefit and assistance programs. The U.S. Department of Labor serves as the managing partner of Benefits.gov is collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Social Security Administration.