简体中文
EnglishHow to Find a Government Service or Benefit on USAGov
Updated
Start with the task you need to complete, not the agency name. On usa.gov, the fastest route is usually the "How do I ..." quick links for common actions such as checking voter registration, getting or renewing a passport, finding housing help, or searching for unclaimed money. If your task is not listed there, go to "All topics and services" and choose the subject area that matches your need, such as health, education, money and credit, laws and legal issues, or military and veterans. Topic pages are where you find explanations of eligibility and how to apply. When a task requires a specific federal department, follow the agency link from the relevant topic page rather than guessing the agency first.
Use the "How do I ..." quick links for common tasks
USAGov places a short set of high-demand actions directly on its homepage. These are the right starting point when your need matches one of them:
- Check my voter registration
- Get or renew a passport
- Get housing help
- Find unclaimed money
Each link takes you to a page that explains the steps and points to the responsible agency. Use this route when you already know exactly what you want to do and it appears in the list.
Browse "All topics and services" when your task is broader
If your need does not appear in the quick links, open "All topics and services". The homepage organizes services into subject areas, including:
| Subject area | What you can find |
|---|---|
| Government benefits and financial assistance | Programs that may help pay for food, housing, health care, and more, plus how to apply |
| Voting and elections | Voter registration, polling locations, how presidential elections work |
| The U.S. and its government | U.S. laws, history, buying government property, contacting elected officials and federal agencies |
| Complaints | Filing complaints about government agencies, telemarketers, products and services, travel, housing, and banking |
| Disability services | Benefits and programs for people with disabilities and their families |
| Disasters and emergencies | Disaster assistance and benefits for other emergencies |
| Education | Federal Student Aid, studying in the U.S., early intervention, special education, Head Start |
| Health | Health insurance information, mental health help, testing, paying medical bills |
| Housing help | Rental and buyer assistance, emergency housing, avoiding eviction |
| Immigration and U.S. citizenship | Residency, Green Cards, citizenship requirements |
| Jobs, labor laws, and unemployment | Job resources, unemployment insurance, labor laws |
| Laws and legal issues | Replacing vital records, child support enforcement, finding legal help |
| Military and veterans | Joining the military, benefits and services for members and veterans |
| Money and credit | Government grants, loans, unclaimed money, taxes, credit reports and scores |
| Scams and fraud | Identity theft, Social Security scams, and how to report them |
Pick the row that matches your situation. If more than one seems relevant, start with the one closest to the outcome you need, such as "Housing help" rather than "Money and credit" when you are facing eviction.
Follow the topic page to eligibility and application steps
Topic pages are not just link lists. They explain what a program is for and how to apply. For example, the Government benefits area is described as helping you find programs that may help pay for food, housing, health care, and more. Read the page for the specific benefit to see who it is for and what the application process involves before you contact an agency.
Go to the agency when the task requires a specific department
Some tasks cannot be completed on USAGov itself. Passports, Social Security, and taxes each belong to a specific federal agency. USAGov's role is to help you locate and understand the service and then send you to the right place. Use the agency link on the topic page when you are ready to apply, check a status, or contact an official.
A practical example
Suppose you need rental assistance. The quick links do not list it directly, so you open "All topics and services" and choose Housing help. That page covers rental and buyer assistance programs, emergency housing, and avoiding eviction. You read the program description to see whether you may qualify, then follow the link to the agency that administers the program to begin an application. If you also need food assistance, return to "All topics and services" and open Government benefits instead of repeating the housing path.
Common sticking points
- Searching by agency name first. Most visitors know the task, not the department. Start with the task and let USAGov route you.
- Stopping at the topic list. The subject headings are entry points; the eligibility and application details are on the pages behind them.
- Assuming one page covers everything. Benefits for food, housing, and health care sit in different areas, even when one household needs all three.
- Skipping the complaints area. If your issue is a problem with a business, a telemarketer, or a government agency rather than a benefit, the Complaints section is the correct starting point.