The state of Maryland on July 15 unveiled its new Benefits One application that residents can use to apply for multiple assistance programs through a single application.
The new, mobile-optimized app allows state residents to apply for numerous programs including Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and energy assistance.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s office said the Benefits One application aims to eliminate the need to fill out multiple forms or travel between agencies and help residents get the support they need more quickly and conveniently, especially with some Federal government safety net programs coming under increasing pressure.
By collaborating across departments, the state is improving technical oversight, budget transparency, and inter-agency coordination to ensure smoother delivery of services, Gov. Moore’s office said.
“The Maryland Department of Information Technology is using its resources and expertise to support and expand the Maryland Benefits platform, expand new forms of technology such as automation and artificial intelligence, and, most importantly, identify cross-cutting opportunities to better serve Marylanders, such as One Application,” said Katie Savage, who is secretary of the Maryland Department of Information Technology.
“Alongside our sister agencies, we are sweating the technical details so Marylanders receive human-centered, cost-effective government services,” Savage said.
“All across the state, we’ve heard our customers loud and clear: it shouldn’t be so hard to sign up for benefits,” said Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary Rafael López. “Using a mobile phone to access the help that a family deserves is critical. We must continue to move with urgency to innovate with our colleagues on behalf of the people we serve.”
The launch of the Benefits One app marks a new chapter for Maryland Benefits, “which recently transitioned operator responsibility from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Information Technology,” the governor’s office said.
The platform’s improvements include better use of data, expanded cloud services, and increased use of generative AI to optimize operations.
