International and Immigrant Eligibility

 

Information on eligibility of non-U.S. citizens for government assistance programs.

 

International and Immigrant Eligibility Food Stamps WIC (Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children) MassHealth Income Eligible Childcare: Section 8, Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and Alternative Voucher Housing Program (AHVP) Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children TAFDC

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Food Stamps

 

Nonimmigrant, non-US citizens (e.g. visiting students) are not eligible.

All applicants must provide a social security number and proof of immigration status

 

Non citizens who meet one of these criteria can get foodstamps

• Refugees
• Asylees
• Noncitizens granted withholding of deportation
• Cuban/Haitian entrants
• Amerasians from Vietnam
• OR you had one of these immigration statuses prior to becoming a legal permanent resident

 

 

• Victims of severe forms of trafficking
• American Indians born in Canada or Mexico
• Members of Hmong or Laotian tribes that assisted the U.S. during the Vietnam Era and certain family members
• Parolees, paroled into the U.S. for at least one year
• Conditional entrants
• Certain battered noncitizens (or parents of abused children)
• Legal permanent residents (LPRs)

AND one or more of the following is true:

 

 

 

WIC (Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children)

 

WIC has NO immigration requirements.

Undocumented immigrants can safely apply for WIC.

Getting WIC benefits will not hurt chances of becoming a legal permanent resident

 

MassHealth

 

Eligible for any type of Mass Health Coverage

Legal permanent residents

Parolees

Conditioanl Entrants

Asylees

Refugees

Noncitizens with deportation withheld

Veterans and military personnel (including Filipino WWII and some Hmong and Laotian Vietname veterans)

Some battered noncitizens

Cuban and Haitian entrants

Amerasian entrants

Victims of severe forms of trafficking

 

Undocumented immigrants who are otherwise qualified, except of immigration status, are eligible for Mass Health Limited.

 

Mass Health does not report immigration status or undocumented immigrants to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service

 

Income Eligible Childcare:

 

Non-US citizens may get subsidized child-care.

A Social Security number will be requested, but assistance will not be denied if an applicant can/does not provide one.

“Nonimmigrants with student visas are not eligible for subsidized childcare on the basis of their student status”

 

Section 8, Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and Alternative Voucher Housing Program (AHVP)

 

MHVP and AHVP

No immigration requirements.

Applicants will not be asked about immigration status, undocumented immigrants

can apply

 

Section 8

 

The following groups are eligible:

Permanent residents

Refugee

Asylee

Witholding grantee

Conditional entrant

Parolee

Registry alien

1986 amnesty status

Victim of trafficking.

Note: Date of entry does not impact eligibility

 

 

Undocumented immigrants may live with an eligible family member, although Assistance may be reduced for families in which some members are not eligible.

 

Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children TAFDC

 

Eligible:

Veterans and active duty military personnel

Legal permanent resident if at least one of the following is true:

- 5 Years have passed since granting of legal permanent resident status

- Refugee, asylee, noncitizen with deportation withheld, Cuban or Haitan entrant, Amerasian immigrant prior to obtaining legal permanent resident status

- Entered US before August 22, 1996 and were continuously in the U.S. until legal permanent resident status was granted.

Refugee

Asylee

Witholding of deportation noncitizen

Parolee if one of the following is true:

- Parolee status was granted more that 5 years ago

- Entered US before August 22, 1996 and were continuously in the U.S. until parolee status was granted

Conditional entrant, if one of the following is true

- Conditional entrant status was granted more that 5 years ago

- Entered US before August 22, 1996 and were continuously in the U.S. until conditional entrant status was granted

Some battered noncitizens legally in the U.S.

Cuban or Haitian entrant

Victim of severe forms of trafficking

American Indian born in Canada

 

Noncitizens must show proof of immigration status.

 

In some (limited) cases, receiving TAFDC or other cash assistance can affect decisions on legal permanent resident status

 

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for TAFDC

 

Nonimmigrant noncitizens (such as visitors or international students) are not eligible for TAFDC

 

More information:

http://www.massresources.org/pages.cfm?contentID=57&pageID=18&Subpages=yes

 

See this information as a word document: Eligibility for International Students and immigrants.doc

 

 

Source: massresources.org

 

 

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