Washington Connection benefit portal open for business 24/7
Government offices are closed today for the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday. But the new Washington Connection benefit portal is open for business all day, every day.
The website, created with the help of the Gates Foundation, offers one-stop service for a variety of government programs offered by the state and city of Seattle -- everything from the Basic Food program (formerly called Food Stamps) and child care, to utility and medical assistance.
You enter you information once and it goes to the state or city, based on what you choose.
"So it's a great time-saver. And it's much easier than completing a lot of separate paper applications," said Jerry DeGrieck, senior policy advisor to Mayor Mike McGinn. "There's an eligibility component to it, so that you're able to enter your information and see which benefits you are likely to be eligible for both at the state level and the city level. Then you can decide which benefits you want to apply for."
DeGrieck says there are nine city programs that you can access via Washington Connection.
"Some of the city's benefits, like with some of the utility and energy assistance programs, actually apply to a broader population than just city residents, because the City Light area and the Seattle Public Utilities area is larger than just the city of Seattle," he said.
By now, you might be asking: What if someone needs help but doesn't have a computer or Internet access at home?
"They can actually go to a public library of a City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Service Center, or a Parks Community Center and apply. But we're also working with a cadre of community-based organizations who are helping their clients to apply for public benefits,' said DeGrieck.
Those organizations include the Denise Louie Child Care Center, Wellspring Family Services, Somali Community Service Center and Central Area Motivation Program.
The website, created with the help of the Gates Foundation, offers one-stop service for a variety of government programs offered by the state and city of Seattle -- everything from the Basic Food program (formerly called Food Stamps) and child care, to utility and medical assistance.
You enter you information once and it goes to the state or city, based on what you choose.
"So it's a great time-saver. And it's much easier than completing a lot of separate paper applications," said Jerry DeGrieck, senior policy advisor to Mayor Mike McGinn. "There's an eligibility component to it, so that you're able to enter your information and see which benefits you are likely to be eligible for both at the state level and the city level. Then you can decide which benefits you want to apply for."
DeGrieck says there are nine city programs that you can access via Washington Connection.
"Some of the city's benefits, like with some of the utility and energy assistance programs, actually apply to a broader population than just city residents, because the City Light area and the Seattle Public Utilities area is larger than just the city of Seattle," he said.
By now, you might be asking: What if someone needs help but doesn't have a computer or Internet access at home?
"They can actually go to a public library of a City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Service Center, or a Parks Community Center and apply. But we're also working with a cadre of community-based organizations who are helping their clients to apply for public benefits,' said DeGrieck.
Those organizations include the Denise Louie Child Care Center, Wellspring Family Services, Somali Community Service Center and Central Area Motivation Program.
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