Privacy Policy

a) Information You Provide Voluntarily

• Screener responses (age group, income range, household size, needs) — entered anonymously to match you with programs
• Contact information if you choose to submit a question or feedback form

b) Information Collected Automatically

• Browser type and version, operating system
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, referring URLs
• IP address (anonymized where technically feasible)
• Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 5)

c) Information We Do NOT Collect

• Your full Social Security Number or government ID numbers
• Full financial account information
• Precise medical diagnoses or disability details
• Immigration status specifics beyond what is needed for program matching

We use collected information to:

• Match your screener responses to relevant government benefit programs
• Improve and personalize the content and features of our site
• Analyze usage trends to better serve users seeking assistance
• Prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• Comply with applicable legal obligations

We do not use your data to make automated decisions that produce legal effects, sell your data to third parties, or use it for targeted advertising without your explicit consent.

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Legitimate Interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR): To operate and improve our service, analyze usage patterns, and ensure security.
• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR): For non-essential cookies and analytics tracking. You may withdraw consent at any time via our Opt-Out page.
• Legal Obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR): When required by applicable law.

We may share your information with:

• Service Providers: Third-party vendors who help us operate the site (e.g., hosting, analytics). These parties process data only on our behalf under data processing agreements.
• Analytics Partners: Aggregated, anonymized data may be shared with analytics platforms to understand site performance.
• Legal Authorities: When required by law, court order, or to protect rights and safety.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

We use cookies and similar technologies including:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies: Required for the site to function. Cannot be disabled.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our site. These are only placed with your consent.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices (e.g., screener progress).

You can manage cookie preferences via our Opt-Out page or through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality.

If you are located in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, you have the following rights:

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@benefithelpers.org. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents have the right to:

• Know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• Delete personal information we have collected (subject to certain exceptions)
• Opt-Out of the sale or sharing of personal information
• Correct inaccurate personal information
• Limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal information
• Non-Discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information: We do not sell personal information. To opt out of data sharing for analytics purposes, visit our Opt-Out page.

To submit a CCPA rights request, email privacy@benefithelpers.org or use our Opt-Out page. We will verify your request and respond within 45 days.

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Screener session data: 90 days unless you create an account
• Analytics data: Up to 26 months in aggregate, anonymized form
• Communication records: Up to 3 years for customer service purposes
• Legal/compliance records: As required by applicable law

Our servers are located in the United States. If you access our site from outside the U.S., your data may be transferred to and processed in the U.S. For EEA/UK users, such transfers are made under Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or other lawful transfer mechanisms as required by GDPR.

Our service is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in certain jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child, please contact us immediately at privacy@benefithelpers.org.

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encryption in transit (TLS), access controls, and regular security reviews. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy with a new effective date. Your continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

For privacy inquiries, rights requests, or complaints: