Information Phase Strategies
Streamlining and Supporting How Families Connect to Benefits
A key reason why eligible households don’t connect with benefit programs is that our siloed benefits system makes it difficult to understand what programs are available and how to enroll.
At best, households have to visit multiple organizations and websites to get program information, requiring significant time and effort to get connected. At worst, program information is outdated, incomplete, or hard to find and neighbors simply give up.
Benefit Illinois wants to create a different experience for Illinois families. We envision a system where no matter where a household turns for help, they can learn about the full range of benefit programs available to them, and the information they receive is all in one place, accurate, and easy to navigate.
One-Stop Learning
Allow us to introduce Illinois Benefit Hub, a one-stop learning website where households can get quality information about dozens of benefit programs in one place. By centralizing information about public benefit programs, we are making it easier for households to find and connect to all of the supports they are eligible for.
We are excited to partner with MyFriendBen to provide a comprehensive eligibility screener as part of the Illinois Benefit Hub. In an average of 6.5 minutes, users receive a personalized report of the public benefits they are likely eligible for, including an estimate of how much in benefits they qualify for, how long it takes to apply, and where to apply or get help applying.
Other features of the Illinois Benefit Hub include:
Learn about programs
Find local navigators to get help applying for or renewing benefits
Learn about program changes, including how you’re impacted and what actions you need to take
Connect to other social service supports
We are currently piloting Illinois Benefit Hub with community partners in Northern, Central, and Southern Illinois to gather user feedback and make site improvements. Illinois Benefit Hub will launch statewide in March 2026.
No Wrong Door
We are working to build and support a network of community organizations reaching every corner of the state to streamline how neighbors learn about public benefit programs.
Community organizations are uniquely positioned to connect families to information about public benefits. Low-income households regularly visit their school, food pantry, doctor’s office, and other local agencies and see them as a trusted resource.
Every community organization can play a part in helping families learn about benefits. Organizations can engage in one or multiple capacities:
Awareness: Receive resources like posters, flyers, web content, social media graphics, and outreach templates to raise awareness about the value of public benefits and connect clients to Illinois Benefit Hub to learn more.
Screening and Referral: Screen clients using our online eligibility tool and provide them with a personalized eligibility report, including information on where to apply or get help applying. Screening Partners receive training on how to use the tool and ways to integrate it into organizational operations.
Navigation: Benefit navigators can include their information in eligibility screener results to help eligible neighbors locate their services. The screener displays the organization’s contact info and the benefits you help people apply for. Navigation Partners always have the option to pause referrals if their capacity changes.
Benefit Illinois is currently recruiting organizations to join our growing statewide network. Complete our interest form to join the network and access resources.
Emerging Strategies
Benefit Illinois works with organizations to support outreach activities that best meet their client needs and organizational capacity. We meet organizations where they are so they can focus on doing what they do best – helping our people. No matter where organizations are on a continuum of engagement, we are developing tools that make it seamless to incorporate or expand benefits outreach into existing services.
Some of the strategies in development include a data dashboard with community specific data on public benefits enrollment, a technical assistance hub to access trainings and resources, and pilots to identify the most impactful outreach messages and strategies.