Privacy Policy
BenefitsLouisiana is a service created by Code for America Labs, Inc. ("Code for America," "we," "us,", "our") to:
- Help you get and keep benefits in Louisiana ("Louisiana Benefits" refers to all such programs).
- Suggest other services or assistance programs that may be useful to you. We will only use your personal information to present those services or programs to you as an option. Still, we will only send your personal information to other services or programs with your permission.
This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information. You agree to the terms in this Privacy Policy by using our Services, and this Privacy Notice applies regardless of the type of device you use to access our Services.
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Notice, please contact us at help@benefitslouisiana.org
Information we collect
We follow the Data Minimization principle in collecting and using your personal information. We may collect the following information about you, your dependents, or members of your household:
- All information you provide through the Site, including your name, address, contact information, social security number, financial information, and similar information for other individuals that you provide information for include on your Louisiana Benefits application
- Copies of any documents you upload, like pictures of your driver's license, pay stubs, birth certifications, rent receipts, etc.
- Any messages you send us through SMS, email, or live chat
- Any answers or comments you provide in response to a survey we send you
In addition to the information you provide, we automatically collect and store information about your visit to the Site:
- The device from which you access the Internet
- IP address (an IP or internet protocol address is a number that is automatically given to a computer connected to the Web)
- The operating system on your computer and information about the browser you used when visiting the site
- Date and time of your visit
- Pages you visited
- Address of the website that connected you to the Site (such as google.com or bing.com)
We will not collect your personal information without your consent, except in a few limited circumstances, as described in this policy.
How we collect your information
We collect your information from various sources, such as when you or your household members:
- Visit our Site, fill out forms on our Site, opt-in to email or text messages, or use our Services
- Provide us with documents to use our Services
- Communicate with us (for instance through email, chat, social media, or otherwise)
We may also collect your information from third parties such as:
- The Louisiana state agencies or other government agencies relating to our Services
How we use your information
We use your information for our business purposes and legitimate interests such as:
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To help you obtain and keep benefits in Louisiana, including:
- To complete forms required for the use of the Services
- To submit your documents and personal information to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
- To access an account linked to your case in the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services' online system
- To send you messages related to your benefits application, updates, and renewals
- To provide support to you through the process and communicate with you
- To monitor and understand how the Site and our Services are used
- To improve the quality or scope of the Site or our Services
- To suggest other services or assistance programs that may be useful to you, if you opt-in to these notifications
- For fraud detection, prevention, and security purposes
- To comply with legal requirements and obligations
- For research
How we share your information
We do not sell your personal information.
We do not share personal information with any third party except as provided in this Privacy Policy. We may disclose information to contractors, partners, and affiliated organizations to provide the Site's services. For example, we may share your information to:
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Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services in order to provide and improve the services.
- The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services may use the documents to process applications for benefit programs they administer.
- Third parties to distribute surveys, focus groups, or for other administrative, analytical, research, and marketing purposes. These third party communications are for the betterment of the product, to learn about the experience, and to update you if you ask for updates.
- Third-party research partners for administrative, analytical, and research purposes. The research is for the betterment of the product and to learn about the experience.
We require our third parties acting on our behalf to keep your personal information secure and do not allow these third parties to use or share your personal information for any purpose other than providing services on our behalf.
We may share your information with third parties in particular situations, such as when required by law, or sharing will help to protect the safety, property, or rights of Code for America, the people we serve, our associates, or other persons.
Your choices regarding your information
We value and respect your privacy and offer you choices over how we collect, use, and share your information.
We will only send you emails related to your application or documents that you have submitted through BenefitsLouisiana.
We won't ever send you marketing emails or subscribe you to any email lists.
If you share your contact information through BenefitsLouisiana to provide to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, they may contact you. Any contact from the Department would be subject to their privacy policy.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files that websites place on the computers and mobile devices of people who visit those websites. Pixel tags (web beacons) are small blocks of code placed on websites and emails.
- We use cookies and other technologies like pixel tags to remember your preferences, enhance your online experience, and gather data on how you use our Sites to improve how we promote our content, programs, and events.
- Your use of our Sites indicates your consent to such use of Cookies.
Most browsers are initially set up to accept HTTP cookies. If you want to restrict or block the cookies set by our Site, or any other site, you can do so through your browser setting. The 'Help' function in your browser should explain how. Alternatively, you can visit www.aboutcookies.org, which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on various browsers. You will find general information about cookies and details on deleting cookies from your machine.
Transactional SMS (Text) Messages
The Department of Children and Family Services may send you text messages using the contact details you provided when you applied for benefits. We are not in control of the content or timing of those messages, and messages sent from the Department would be subject to their Terms and Conditions.
Analytics
We use MixPanel and Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site and to gather aggregate performance metrics. To learn more about MixPanel's privacy practices and any opt-out choices it offers, click HERE. To learn more about Google Analytics privacy practices and any opt-out choices it offers, click HERE. You can also email help@benefitslouisiana.org for additional information.
Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Website
Once your personal information is received by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, it is subject to their Web Accessibility and Privacy Statement.
Additional Services and Resources
We may provide additional links to resources you'll find helpful. These links may lead you to sites not affiliated with us and/or operate under different privacy practices. We are not responsible for such other sites' content or privacy practices. We encourage our visitors and users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of any other site, as we do not control how other sites collect personal information.
How we protect your information
Protecting your personal information is extremely important, so we take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical precautions to protect your online and offline data.
Still, no system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. If you have questions about the security of your personal information, or if you have reason to believe that the personal information we hold about you is no longer secure, please contact us immediately, as described in this Privacy Notice.
Data Retention
We will retain your information as long as necessary to: provide Services to you, operate our business consistent with this Notice, or demonstrate compliance with laws and legal obligations.
Children's Privacy
We do not knowingly collect personal information from unemancipated minors under 16 years old.
Access Request
BenefitsLouisiana respects your control over your information, and upon request, we will confirm whether we hold or are processing the information we have collected from you. You also have the right to amend or update inaccurate or incomplete personal data, request deletion of your personal information, or request that we no longer use it. Under certain circumstances, we cannot fulfill your request, such as if it interferes with our regulatory obligations, affects legal matters, we cannot verify your identity, or involves high cost or effort. Still, in any event, we will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and provide you with an explanation. To make such a request, please email us at help@benefitslouisiana.org.
Please note that for personal information about you that we have obtained or received for processing on behalf of a separate, unaffiliated entity--which determined the means and purposes of the processing, all such requests should be made to that entity directly. We will honor and support any instructions they provide concerning your personal information.
Changes
We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. Please check this page frequently for updates, as your continued use of the Site after any changes in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of the changes. We will notify you via email or other means consistent with applicable law of any material changes to this policy.
Effective Date
This version of the policy is effective March 1, 2023.
Questions
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or complaints with the Site, please contact us by email at help@benefitslouisiana.org.
We will do our best to resolve the issue.