How to tell whether a benefits website is the official one

Official government benefit sites in the United States almost always end in .gov. Only verified U.S. government organizations can register a .gov address, so it is the single fastest check you can make. Look-alike sites often use .com, .org or .us addresses with official-sounding words in them.

Check 1: read the address, not the page

Logos, flags and colors are easy to copy. The web address in your browser bar is much harder to fake. Read it from right to left: the part just before the first single slash is who actually runs the site.

Check 2: applying should not cost you anything

Applying for most public programs is free. Be cautious of any site that asks for a fee to "process", "speed up" or "guarantee" an application.

Check 3: watch how they ask to be paid

The FTC (the federal consumer protection agency) warns that government agencies do not ask you to pay with prepaid cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency. A request like that is a strong sign of a scam.

Check 4: be suspicious of urgency

Messages that say you must act "today" or lose something are a classic pressure tactic. Real agencies send written notices with dates and a way to reach them.

Check 5: go around the link

If a text or email sends you to a site, do not tap the link. Type the agency's address yourself, or search for the agency by name and pick the .gov result.

If something feels off

You can report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you already shared a Social Security number, IdentityTheft.gov walks through next steps.

Maybe I Have is an independent information resource and is not a government website. We do not take applications.