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October 18, 2004
GovBenefits.gov Joins Aaron, Ruth and
Bonds by Scoring 712 Benefit Programs,Web site Helps Citizens
Determine Possible Eligibility for Benefits
Washington, DC - As baseball excitement
soars with the start of the playoffs, the San Francisco Giants’
unsecured playoff spot has halted Barry Bonds’ home
run battle for another season, but his record stands among
the few truly elite who have reached 700 home runs—Hank
Aaron, Babe Ruth and GovBenefits.gov. GovBenefits.gov hasn’t
been around as long as those legendary sluggers, but this
website’s 712 federal and state benefit programs are
a home run for all citizens.
Since the site launched in April 2002,
GovBenefits.gov has provided government benefit eligibility
information to more than 13 million visitors. The Web site,
managed by the U.S. Department of Labor, was established as
part of the President's E-Government strategy to create a
more accessible, citizen-oriented government. The site now
features a total of 712 federal and state-administered benefit
programs for seniors, students, children, prospective homeowners,
entrepreneurs, caregivers, veterans, retirees, people with
disabilities, farmers, ranchers and many more.
GovBenefits.gov scored this milestone by
adding 194 new state- administered benefit programs to the
site, including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,
Low Income Home Energy Assistance and State Children's Health
Insurance. Over the coming months, GovBenefits.gov will continue
adding more state programs, such as Head Start; Home Energy
Assistance (Weatherization); Special Milk; Summer Food; Women,
Infants and Children; and School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.
"Hitting our milestone of 712 programs
on GovBenefits.gov is a home run, but reaching our goal of
making 1,000 federal and state benefit programs available
through GovBenefits.gov will be a grand slam," said Patrick
Pizzella, DOL assistant secretary for administration and management
and chief information officer.
GovBenefits.gov is a collaboration of 10
federal agencies: the U.S. Departments of Labor (managing
partner), Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health and Human
Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development,
State, Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration.
GovBenefits.gov has been able to offer these new state programs
with help from federal and state agencies.
GovBenefits.gov has earned numerous awards
from private industry and government organizations, including
an Excellence.gov Award from the Industry Advisory Council
and a Gracie Award for Excellence in Government Technology
from Government Executive Magazine.
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