ANNAPOLIS, MD—Marylanders seeking vital state benefits can now apply for multiple programs through a single, mobile-friendly online application, Governor Wes Moore announced this week. The new “Maryland Benefits One Application” aims to streamline access to critical services like Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, WIC, and energy assistance.
“Today, we take a big step forward in our work to ensure that Marylanders can access the basic services they need,” said Gov. Moore. “The One Application ensures the people of our state can apply for food, cash, and emergency assistance through a single, accessible one-stop shop.”
The streamlined application, available at Marylandbenefits.gov, is part of a broader effort by the Moore-Miller Administration to improve benefits access and efficiency across state agencies. The platform, formerly known as MD THINK, has been renamed Maryland Benefits and reflects collaboration between the Maryland Departments of Information Technology, Health, and Human Services.
Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage emphasized the state’s commitment to user-friendly services. “Alongside our sister agencies, we are sweating the technical details so Marylanders receive human-centered, cost-effective government services,” Savage said.
The enhancements to Maryland Benefits, which serves 1.3 million Marylanders, are designed to make the application process more convenient, reducing the need for multiple office visits or lengthy separate applications. On average, the “One Application” takes 28 minutes to complete.
“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. “Marylanders deserve world class customer service. Using a mobile phone to access the help that a family deserves is critical.”
The platform’s operational responsibility recently transitioned from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Information Technology. This move aims to optimize data utilization, leverage cloud and enterprise software, and capitalize on economies of scale and generative AI automation to achieve greater operational and financial efficiencies.
Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani highlighted the impact on residents’ well-being. “Streamlining our benefits eligibility and enrollment technology means people can more easily sign up for and use the critical benefits they need and deserve,” Seshamani said. “This is a significant step toward ensuring every Marylander has equal opportunities to live healthy and stable lives.”
