Cambridge Community Foundation Backs Digital Tool to Boost Benefit Access

MyFriendBen offers an anonymous, six-minute online screener that identifies eligibility for over 30 state and federal programs. Users receive a personalized report detailing available food assistance, health coverage, utility support, and tax credits, along with the estimated cash value of each. The tool is designed to remove the stigma and administrative hurdles that often prevent vulnerable households from securing the resources they are entitled to.

CCF President Geeta Pradhan noted that the partnership addresses the strain of rising costs and federal benefit cutbacks on local budgets. By simplifying the eligibility process, the foundation hopes to provide a clearer path toward economic stability for those struggling to stay afloat. Joe Diamond, executive director of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, emphasized that the tool serves as a vital extension of the intake process for the state’s 23 Community Action Agencies, which collectively assist 600,000 people annually. Cambridge residents can access the service immediately at myfriendben.org.