Fact Sheet: Immigration Status and Public Benefits

Fact Sheet: Immigration Status and Public Benefits

Source:

As part of eligibility requirements, most public benefits programs only offer benefits and services to U.S. citizens and certain legal residents. A few programs do make some of their services available to non-citizens.

What Programs can I receive as a Non-Citizen?

/ Emergency medical coverage is available to non-citizens through the Medicaid program as long as the individual’s situation meets the Medicaid definition of “emergency.”
Medicaid also provides undocumented pregnant women with medical coverage for prenatal care, labor and delivery.
Many community-based programs run by non-profit organizations also offer a range of services to non-citizens.
Nutrition programs such as soup kitchens and food banks are also available to those without legal immigration status including the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) if the non-citizen meets the income and program requirements.
Lawfully present non-citizens may purchase health coverage through the Marketplace and are responsible to prove coverage at tax filing

What if I am not a Legal Immigrant but my Children are?

/ Parents who are not citizens or legal residents can still apply for public benefits and social services for their children who are citizens. For example, non-citizen parents can apply for TANF cash benefits, food stamps and Medicaid for their children who are citizens. Non-citizen parents do not need social security numbers to complete applications and can be the payee on their children’s public benefits cases.

When is Receiving Public Benefits Bad for my Immigration Status?

/ When applying for legal immigration status, the government may look back to see whether or not you received government benefits to support yourself at anytime before applying to be a legal immigrant. Individuals who are found to be a “public charge” or dependent on government benefits to support themselves may find it difficult to successfully apply for legal immigrations status. But, receiving benefits for citizen children does not have a negative impact on immigration status.
TIP: The government agencies that run public benefits programs do not report contact with unauthorized non-citizens to U.S. immigration officials. So, non-citizens should not worry that applying for benefits for a citizen family member will cause them to be reported to immigration officials.