GovBenefits.gov Undergoes Major
Enhancements
Nov.
10, 2003 - The launch of a new version of GovBenefits.gov, a Web site
developed to serve citizens as the first government-wide resource for
citizen benefit information and eligibility screening, was announced
today.
The
U.S. Department of Labor, in conjunction with the Office of Management
and Budget, made the joint announcement today.
In
addition to federal benefit programs, this new version of
GovBenefits.gov also includes state benefit programs from: Alabama,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah. The
State benefit program information that can now be found on the site
includes: Food Stamps, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
and State Children's Health Insurance Programs. With these enhancements,
GovBenefits.gov has taken concrete steps toward providing a single place
for both Federal and State benefit program information, according to the
government.
GovBenefits.gov has also undergone important upgrades:
--
Homepage Redesign -- Includes new look and feel, and more ways for
visitors to obtain Federal and State benefit information.
--
More Streamlined Questionnaire -- Results in significantly fewer
questions for visitors to answer and allows visitors to stop at any time
while completing questionnaire and see what benefits are available up to
that point.
--
Greater Access -- Provides additional ease of use for those who employ
screen readers or other assistive devices.
--
GovBenefits.gov Survey -- Helps measure customer satisfaction and guide
future improvements.
To
view all of these the new site features, visit:
http://www.govbenefits.gov/.
"GovBenefits.gov
is dedicated to making government benefit information easier for
citizens to obtain," said Patrick Pizzella, assistant secretary for
administration and management and chief information officer at the
Department of Labor. "One important way the site has done that is by
exploring the previously uncharted territory of providing a single place
for both Federal and State benefit program information."
GovBenefits.gov is one of 24 key initiatives that comprise the
President's E-Government Strategy, an integral part of President Bush's
Management Agenda, which focuses on: creating a more accessible
government, saving taxpayer dollars, and streamlining
citizen-to-government transactions. GovBenefits.gov is the collaborative
effort of 10 federal agencies including: Departments of Labor (managing
partner), Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services,
Housing and Urban Development, State, Veterans Affairs, Homeland
Security, and the Social Security Administration. |
