BenCon
The Digital Benefits Conference — BenCon — is the signature event hosted by the Digital Benefits Network.
BenCon 2024
The Digital Benefits Network (DBN) at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation hosted the Digital Benefits Conference (BenCon) for a second year on September 17–18, 2024. This year we welcomed more than 200 practitioners from more than 100 organizations in Washington, D.C., at the new McCourt School of Public Policy on Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus. Nearly 600 practitioners from more than 350 organizations signed-up to join plenary sessions online.
BenCon 2024 brought together government leaders, cross-sector practitioners, researchers, advocates, and students who are improving digital delivery of vital programs including SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, TANF, unemployment insurance, child care, basic income, and more. Together we explored core topics to navigate accessible, effective, and equitable technology in public benefits. Core themes included improving digital service delivery, digital identity, automation and artificial intelligence, and timely topics in public benefits. We sought to position ourselves in the moment we’re in—socially, politically, and technologically—to continue to chart the course to excellence in digital benefits delivery.
Read the two recaps below, followed by all plenary session videos. You can also watch our playlist on Youtube.
BenCon 2024 Recap
A recap of the two-day conference focused on charting the course to excellence in digital benefits delivery hosted at Georgetown University and online
Policy2Code Demo Day Recap
A recap of the twelve teams who presented during the Policy2Code Prototyping Challenge Demo Day at BenCon 2024.
Digital Public Benefits: Outlook 2025 at BenCon 2024
A panel of non-profit leaders discuss the future of digital public benefits, highlighting potential challenges and opportunities for 2025.
Digital Benefits Beacons: Where Policy Meets Practice at BenCon 2024
Michigan's UIA director, Julia Dale, is leading the agency through transition by prioritizing lived experience, hope, grit, and values. Virginia's SNAP Program Manager, Michele Thomas, highlighted the success of Sun Bucks, a summer EBT child nutrition program that fed over 700,000 kids in its first year.
Friction! What Makes Getting Public Benefits So Hard and How Understanding Administrative Burdens Can Increase Access at BenCon 2024
Don Moniyhan shares specific burdens and how to measure their impacts.
Emerging Legal and Policy Trends in State and Federal AI Governance at BenCon 2024
BenCon 2024 explored state and federal AI governance, highlighting the rapid increase in AI-related legislation and executive orders. Panelists emphasized the importance of experimentation, learning, and collaboration between government levels, teams, agencies, and external partners.
AI Technologies Today at BenCon 2024
Sarah Bargal provides an overview of AI, machine learning, and deep learning, illustrating their potential for both positive and negative applications, including authentication, adversarial attacks, deepfakes, generative models, personalization, and ethical concerns.
Unpacking How Long-Standing Civil Rights Protections Apply to Emerging Technologies like AI at BenCon 2024
A panel of experts discuss the application of civil rights protections to emerging AI technologies, highlighting potential harms, the need for inclusive teams, and the importance of avoiding technology-centric solutions to social problems.
Policy2Code Demo Day at BenCon 2024: Video and Recap
The Policy2Code Prototyping Challenge explored utilizing generative AI technology to translate U.S. government policies for public benefits into plain language and code, culminating in a Demo Day where twelve teams showcased their projects for feedback and evaluation.
The Integral Pillars for Digital Benefits Delivery: Access, Security, and Accuracy at BenCon 2024
Government leaders discuss how to ensure seamless access to public benefits through breaking down silos, user-friendly digital identities, and privacy-focused security measures.
Balancing Security and Customer Experience During Digital Account Creation and Authentication for Benefits Delivery at BenCon 2024
This presentation explores the balance between security and user experience in digital benefit account creation and authentication, highlighting insights from a forthcoming playbook focused on SNAP and Medicaid portals.
Digital Identity Updates from the Digital Benefits Network at BenCon 2024
Announcements include the Digital Identity Community of Practice, updates on research with NIST and CDT, and upcoming data set.
Takeoff Velocity and Rocket Fuel: How to Continue Forward Momentum at BenCon 2024
NYC's My File NYC and New Jersey's unemployment insurance system improvements demonstrate how successful digital innovations can be scaled across various programs, leveraging trust-building, open-source technology, and strategic partnerships.
Mission Driven Bureaucrats at BenCon 2024
This talk explores how empowering public servants and fostering a sense of purpose, rather than stricter controls, is key to improving government.
Visions for the Future at BenCon 2024
Leaders share their aspirations for excellence in digital benefits delivery and their reflections on BenCon and the work ahead.
BenCon 2023
More than 120 practitioners from 70 organizations gathered in Washington, D.C. on June 13-14, 2023 to collaborate on the future of public benefits delivery at the Digital Benefits Conference (BenCon), the first-annual convening of the Digital Benefits Network (DBN) at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University.
The DBN believes that accessing public benefits and services can be effective, equitable, and easy if the right people, tools, and processes are in place. In this first-of-its-kind gathering, leading practitioners from various levels of government, nonprofits, academia, and industry came together to explore current and emerging research on topics including digital identity, rules as code, automation, centering beneficiaries and workers, and digital service delivery, define goal posts for digital benefits delivery, and collaboratively build tools for the ecosystem.
This was a critical moment to gather to support the remote access and delivery of services. In recent years, we saw historic federal investment and support for equitably transforming the delivery of public benefits, but processes continue to be burdensome and outdated technologies prevent eligible people from receiving and maintaining their benefits. Systemic issues have caused millions to lose their benefits, have funds stolen, or wait in backlogs.
BenCon 2023: Lighting the Path for Equitable and Ethical Public Benefits Technology
The article discusses key takeaways from BenCon 2023, highlighting the importance of creating equitable and ethical public benefits technology. It emphasizes the need for tech solutions that address systemic inequalities, ensure accessibility, and promote inclusivity for underserved communities in accessing public services.
The Equitable Tech Horizon in Digital Benefits Panel
Hear perspectives on topics including centering beneficiaries and workers in new ways, digital service delivery, digital identity, and automation.This video was recorded at the Digital Benefits Conference (BenCon) on June 14, 2023.
Lightning Talks at BenCon 2023
Lightning talks on innovative ideas, approaches, and pilots to understand and improve benefits delivery. This video was recorded at the Digital Benefits Conference (BenCon) at Georgetown University on June 14, 2023.
Recoding America at BenCon 2023
Jennifer Pahlka, Deputy CTO in President Obama’s Administration and author, shares her new book, Recoding America on how government must be equipped for digital delivery in order to meet ambitious policy goals. This video was recorded at the Digital Benefits Conference (BenCon) at Georgetown University on June 14, 2023.
Digital Benefits Wishlist: Insights from Bencon 2023
The Digital Benefits Wishlist collects on tools, resources, or policy changes needed to improve benefits delivery. Originally created as part of BenCon2023, it continues to grow and accept new wishes.