Chart of Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs

Federal Program	Eligibility
SSI	Refugees: eligible for nine years, plus one additional year if a naturalization application is pending (effective FY2009-FY2011, when eligibility reverts to seven years)
	Legal immigrant SSI recipients resident in the U.S. on or before 8/22/96
	Legal immigrants resident on or before 8/22/96 who are or become disabled
	Legal immigrants with 40 work quarters
	Veterans, active military and their spouses and dependents
Food Stamps	Legal immigrant children (benefits restored as of October 1, 2003)
	Legal immigrants with 5 years residence in the U.S. (benefits restored as of April 1, 2003)*
	Legal immigrants with 40 work quarters
	Refugees
	Elderly, resident in the U.S. on or before 8/22/96
	Disabled or blind immigrants, regardless of when they entered the U.S.
	Veterans, active military and their spouses and dependents
TANF	Legal immigrants residing in the U.S. on or before 8/22/96 at state option
	Legal immigrants who enter the U.S. after 8/22/96: barred for first 5 years*
	Legal immigrants with 40 work quarters
	Refugees
	Veterans, active military and their spouses and dependents
Medicaid	Legal immigrants residing in the U.S. on or before 8/22/96 at state option
	Legal immigrants who enter the U.S. after 8/22/96: barred for first 5 years*
	Legal immigrants with 40 work quarters
	Refugees (eligible for first 7 years of residence)
	Veterans, active military and their spouses and dependents
	SSI recipients
SCHIP	Legal immigrant children residing in the U.S. on or before 8/22/96
	Legal immigrant children who enter the U.S. after 8/22/96: barred for first 5 years*
	Refugees (eligible for first 7 years of residence)
	Children of veterans and active military (unmarried, dependent)

NOTES:   “Refugee” on this chart also includes asylees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, Amerasians, and those whose deportation has been withheld.   Victims of domestic abuse and victims of trafficking may be eligible for the above programs, but they must still meet eligibility requirements (for example, 5 years residence or 40 work quarters.)

*Sponsor-to-immigrant deeming applies to legal immigrants who have signed a legally binding affidavit of support on or after December 19, 1997.  The income and resources of the sponsor are counted as available to the immigrant when determining the immigrant’s eligibility.


Prepared by Ann Morse, Immigrant Policy Project, NCSL, October 10, 2008

Last Updated: October 14, 2008

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