Access to Public Benefits & Programs
This section contains articles, charts, manuals and other resources
addressing the eligibility of immigrants for a variety of public benefit
programs and other public services.
Empire Justice’s Albany Office deals primarily with these issues though
the Rochester and Long Island offices handle individual cases of immigrants
seeking to access public benefits, primarily Medicaid.
The various public benefits and services highlighted in this section
include Supplemental Security Income, Food Stamps, welfare assistance, and Medicaid.
USDA Issues New Guidance on Immigrant Eligibility for Food Stamp Benefits
In June, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued updated guidance on the eligibility of immigrants for food stamp benefits1 in order “…to assist people in understanding current eligibility requirements.” Read More
SSA Wrongfully Denies Refugees
Advocates from the Syracuse region report that at least several SSI claims representatives misunderstand SSI refugee eligibility. The ins and outs of the rules are admittedly convoluted. Read More
A Matter of Life & Death: Advocates in New York Respond to Medical Repatriation
This article is about the response of one group of advocates to the practice of medical repatriation, also referred to as medical deportation, in which hospitals choose to send non-citizen patients, usually those in need of long-term care, back to their home countries for treatment without engaging the federal immigration process. Read More
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Empire Justice Testimony on New York State’s Draft Child Care Development Fund Plan for FFY 2012-2013
Access to subsidies gives children in low income families the opportunity to engage in an early learning experience that their families could not ordinarily afford. Much of this testimony focuses on areas where we believe OCFS can expand access to child care subsidies to two underserved populations: children in immigrant families and children with special needs. Read More
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Immigrant Eligibility Chart
The Immigrant Benefit Eligibility chart now includes the provisions of the SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act of 2008. Read More
Immigrant Eligibility Handbook
The rules governing the eligibility of individuals who are not citizens of the United States for federal or state public benefits, including medical assistance, are complicated. They are also subject to change. This manual addresses the immigrant eligibility rules of the various health care programs in New York as they existed in December of 2008. Read More
Legal Services Journal - Summer 2011
The Summer 2011 Legal Services Journal reports on a wide range of poverty law topics with an emphasis on areas impacted by New York State budget cuts and other legislative activities. The issue reviews Empire Justice Center's 2011-2012 legislative priorities and includes an in-depth look at legislative activities in the domestic violence area. The Journal also reports on several key public benefits and health areas affected by the recent State budget cuts including child care, 24-hour home care and the EPIC program for seniors. Other articles address kinship guardianship, immigrant eligibility for food stamps, Medicaid Managed Care, standing to sue in foreclosure cases, upcoming changes in fair hearings, and the challenges faced by pro se litigants with disabilities when navigating the family court system. Thanks to all of our authors for their contributions to this issue of the Legal Services Journal. Read More
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WEBINAR - Immigrant Access to Health Care
In this free lunch and learn webinar, Barbara Weiner of the Empire Justice Center will discuss immigrant eligibility rules for public health care programs in New York, including Medicaid, Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus and Medicare. We will also include information about access to health care for immigrants who are unable to qualify for public health insurance. Read More
Food Stamps 101
This course will cover the rights of individuals to apply for food stamp benefits; the financial and non-financial eligibility requirements of the program, including a brief summary of immigrant rules; a basic look at the food stamp budgeting methodology, including how to read a food stamp budget, and the food stamp recertification process. Read More
Immigration Status & Public Benefits Eligibility
This is a training on immigration status as an eligibility requirement in various federal and state public benefits programs. The main focus of the session will be on the immigrant eligibility rules in means tested benefit programs, specifically the Family and Safety Net Assistance Programs, the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI), Food Stamps and Medicaid. In addition to the program rules, we will cover the immigrant documentation requirements of the benefits agencies and some special issues that arise in the context of immigrant use of benefits programs, including public charge, sponsor liability and reporting. Read More
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