Making It Easier To Access Benefits And Tax Credits
What Could Be
The social safety net is easy to understand and access
Should Be
One online tool tells families what benefit programs and tax credits they’re eligible for, the amount they can expect to receive and the time to apply
From social workers with full caseloads to parents with busy schedules, navigating the public benefits system entangles nearly everyone in a web of eligibility guidelines and fragmented programs. With no clear starting point, Colorado families told us it’s simply too hard to get the food, housing and medical care they need.
Gary’s Ventures team took this feedback and, through a rapid prototype process, launched MyFriendBen. The online platform, co-designed with families, quickly tells users what benefits and tax credits they’re eligible to receive and helps them make a plan before they apply.
Used by individuals, benefit navigators and government agencies, MyFriendBen has helped more than 55,000 Colorado households apply for $33 million in benefits within two years of launching.
After a successful launch in Colorado, MyFriendBen received additional philanthropic funding outside of Gary to expand nationally. To scale and exit the venture, our Ventures team brought on a new CEO of MyFriendBen who was charged with spinning the program out as a new, separate entity. The organization now operates as an independent nonprofit, with the national hub in Denver launching new versions of MyFriendBen in five states in 2025.
Starting with a simple tech tool that makes it easier to access the social safety net, MyFriendBen will continue to reshape access to government programs and services for generations to come.
“I can always use help with food. I found a good delivery program, which is great for me because I get around on my bike.”
Jeffrey R.Denver Resident and MyFriendBen User
Better Together
The Partners who Helped Develop MyFriendBen
Ben Is Just The Beginning
The code that powers MyFriendBen is open source, so state agencies, community organizations and civic tech partners can adapt and build on it quickly. We’ve already seen that innovation activated in multiple ways.
Colorado Child Tax Credit Calculator
Developed with state partners to boost uptake of the Colorado Child Tax Credit. The tool has already reached thousands of households and is estimated to have identified more than $177 million in tax credits for families with children.
Colorado Energy Savings Navigator (CSEN)
Launched statewide with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and Colorado Digital Service, CSEN (pronounced Season) uses MyFriendBen code to create a savings calculator that includes rebates and public benefit programs.
The Social Safety Net Matters
If seven of the largest social safety net programs were fully funded and everyone who is eligible participated, poverty in Colorado would fall by as much as 43%. Yet current benefit usage indicates that more than $60 billion goes unclaimed each year in the United States.
