ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of Maryland Benefits One Application, a new mobile-friendly tool that will help eligible Marylanders apply for vital benefits. The application will make it easier to apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Women, Infants, Children (WIC) programming, and energy assistance in a single application from a computer or smartphone.
“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. At a time when the federal government is walking back support for veterans, seniors, disabled residents, and working families, Maryland is proving there’s a better way.”
The new streamlined application is available through Maryland Benefits, the State of Maryland’s online benefits access platform. Formerly known as MD THINK, Maryland Benefits reflects the Moore-Miller Administration’s concerted and collaborative effort between the Maryland Departments of Information Technology, Health, and Human Services to stabilize benefits access through technical fixes, increased oversight, expenditure accountability, more transparent budget reporting, and improved inter-agency collaboration.
“The Maryland Department of Information Technology is using its resources and expertise to support and expand the Maryland Benefits platform, expand new forms of technology such as automation and artificial intelligence, and, most importantly, identify cross-cutting opportunities to better serve Marylanders, such as One Application,” said Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage. “Alongside our sister agencies, we are sweating the technical details so Marylanders receive human-centered, cost-effective government services.”
As the State’s largest IT asset, Maryland Benefits is now more efficient, accessible, and secure to better serve the needs of the 1.3 million Marylanders it serves. The improvements also make access more convenient, relieving the need to drive between state offices or wait in long lines to complete lengthy separate applications. On average, 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. We must continue to move with urgency to innovate with our colleagues on behalf of the people we serve.”
The launch of Maryland Benefits reflects a new chapter for the platform, which recently transitioned operator responsibility from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Information Technology. Maryland Benefits has been working to improve its technology platform and achieve greater operational and financial efficiencies by optimizing data utilization, leveraging cloud and enterprise software resources, and capitalizing on economies of scale and GenAI automation.
“Streamlining our benefits eligibility and enrollment technology means people can more easily sign up for and use the critical benefits they need and deserve,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “With the One Application, we’re removing barriers for families seeking health care, nutrition support, and energy assistance. This is a significant step toward ensuring every Marylander has equal opportunities to live healthy and stable lives.”
###