# Benefits Content Eligibility Service
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/bces-service/documentation/index.md

## Overview {#overview}

The Benefits Content Eligibility Service API is a PAN (Primary Account Number) level verification service designed to facilitate the targeted distribution of Mastercard card-level benefits content. While the existing eligibility API operates solely for backend validation, assuming cardholders already have knowledge of their benefits and usage, it does not possess the capability to directly present benefits and related information to cardholders. This service empowers issuers, vendors, merchants, service providers, and third-party developers to utilize a PAN for checking and promoting the benefits available to cardholders. The API facilitates benefit information based on input criteria, requiring the card number and allowing for additional filtering with the other available fields.

## How It Works {#how-it-works}

![Overview Image](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/bces-service/images/Howitworks.png)

* Cardholders go to the Issuer site to register. Cardholder creates an account and enters their card number to verify eligibility.
* Card number is matched against Mastercard's database (Global Benefits Platform) through the Benefits Content Eligibility Service API call. The level and type of access they are entitled to are determined and returned to the Issuer.
* Cardholder is provided with their Benefit Details including Images, Short Description, Long Description, T\&Cs link and Privacy link.
* Cardholder may choose to check out with their Mastercard on file depending on the benefit being provided.
* All information is retained for program reporting and billing.

## Getting Started {#getting-started}

Here are several participants, their roles, responsibilities, and how they interact with each other.

|                Roles                |                                                                   Description                                                                   |
|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Issuer/Service Provider/Merchant UX | Establishes a catalog of benefits as a core or optional benefit. This must be pre-configured in the Mastercard system during the catalog setup. |
| Mastercard                          | The Mastercard implementation team takes the catalog information and configures the platform via the proprietary tools.                         |
| Bank/Vendor API Developer           | Develops the backend API client, using the Mastercard API signer libraries for authentication, to invoke the various API functions.             |

### Before You Start {#before-you-start}

A Mastercard representative will be assigned once the issuer has agreed to provision Benefits Content Eligibility Service API benefit to the cardholders. Ensure that you have completed all the contractual steps with your Mastercard representative. Decide how the terms and conditions and privacy policies will be presented to the cardholder. You may need to get the documents from your representative and make them available to your cardholders.

## Next Steps {#next-steps}

* Review our API basics to learn about the Mastercard environments and authentication requirements.
* Review the use cases to understand how the Mastercard Benefits Content Eligibility Service API facilitates the supported operations.
* When you are ready to use the API, see our [tutorials and guides](https://developer.mastercard.com/bces-service/documentation/tutorials-and-guides/index.md) page for information on connecting to the Mastercard Benefits Content Eligibility Service API.