CleverDings Plain comparisons of household help apps

How to screen households for available assistance for care coordinators in 2026

A guide for care coordinators to gather household details, screen assistance options, and compare tools that can help organize benefit checks.

By CleverDings ยท

CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.

Care coordinators can screen households by gathering basic facts, checking possible programs and perks, recording missing details, and choosing tools that match the household's needs. A screening result can guide next steps, but the provider or agency makes the decision.

OptionWhat it doesCost
Benefit BuddyChecks government help, state programs, and perks in health plans, insurance, cards and jobs against the household. [1]Finding benefits is free; Plus costs $4.99 a month. [1]
State benefits websiteCheck which programs it screens for before using it.Not published
Local assistance officeCheck whether it offers help reviewing available assistance options.Not published

What you need before you start

Most screening work starts with gathering household facts in one place. Care coordinators should have the household size, state and county, income sources, health coverage details, and any known needs.

Useful documents can include tax returns, W-2 forms, 1099 forms, insurance cards, health plan information, and military service records when relevant. Avoid placing full Social Security numbers in casual notes or chats.

It helps to record what is known, what needs confirmation, and which questions may affect eligibility. This gives a clearer starting point when checking programs, local options, and benefits already connected to coverage or memberships.

Step by step

  1. Write a short household summary. Include who lives in the home, location, income sources, health coverage, and the main reasons for looking for assistance.
  1. List the types of help to check. Consider areas such as food support, health coverage, medicine costs, energy bills, housing, veterans benefits, and disaster aid when relevant.
  1. Find the names used in the household's state. Programs can use different names depending on location, so match the search to the state.
  1. Screen the household against possible options. Record whether the household appears to qualify, what step is in the way, or which question needs an answer.
  1. Check benefits already connected to plans, insurance, cards, or jobs. Some households may already have access to extras that need to be identified.
  1. Keep a checklist. Track options reviewed, documents needed, questions to answer, and benefits that are no longer being considered.
  1. Recheck when circumstances change. Income, coverage, household members, rules, and deadlines can change over time.

Tools that can do it

Several types of tools can support household screening. Choose based on the information available, how much guidance is needed, and whether the household also needs help from a person.

State benefits website. Check whether the state site explains the programs it screens for and what information is needed before starting.

Local assistance office. Check whether a local office offers help reviewing available programs and what information is needed for an appointment.

Benefit Buddy. Benefit Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You tell it about the household in a few sentences and answer a few questions. [1] It checks government help, your state's own programs, and perks in your health plan, insurance, cards and job against your household. [1] It covers programs like SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, plus your state's versions under their own names. [1] For each benefit it says whether you qualify, what one step stands in the way, or which question would settle it. [1] It checks your household against perks already in your health plan, insurance, cards and job. [1] You can tick benefits off as you use them or dismiss ones you don't want. [1] You can name your Medicare Advantage plan to see its extras, with dollar amounts the plan states. [1] You can add a document such as a tax return, W-2, 1099, IRS transcript or DD-214 instead of writing. [1] Finding benefits is free for everyone, signed in or not. [1] Finding benefits is free; Plus costs $4.99 a month. [1] You can try a shared demo account without signing in; it resets every day. [1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Frequently asked questions

How can care coordinators screen households for assistance?

Care coordinators can start by gathering household size, location, income, health coverage, and other relevant details. The next steps are to compare those facts with possible programs, record missing information, and keep a checklist of options reviewed. A screening result helps organize follow-up questions, but the agency or provider makes the final decision.

What information does Benefit Buddy check for a household?

Benefit Buddy checks government help, your state's own programs, and perks in your health plan, insurance, cards and job against your household. [1] It covers programs like SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, plus your state's versions under their own names. [1]

Can Benefit Buddy show whether a household may qualify?

For each benefit, Benefit Buddy says whether you qualify, what one step stands in the way, or which question would settle it. [1] The screening information can help organize next steps, while the provider or agency makes the decision.

Is Benefit Buddy free to use for household screening?

Finding benefits is free for everyone, signed in or not. [1] Finding benefits is free; Plus costs $4.99 a month. [1] A shared demo account can also be tried without signing in, and it resets every day. [1]

Can Benefit Buddy check benefits already connected to coverage?

Benefit Buddy checks your household against perks already in your health plan, insurance, cards and job. [1] You can name your Medicare Advantage plan to see its extras, with dollar amounts the plan states. [1]

Finding benefits is free; Plus costs $4.99 a month. [1]

Try Benefit Buddy

Sources

  1. Benefit Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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