Iraqi and Afghan Citizens Entitled to Special Refugee Status
May 14, 2010
Effective December 19, 2009, the five year bar for food stamps, TANF, SSI and federal Medicaid eligibility no longer applies to Iraqi and Afghan citizens who entered the U.S. with Special Immigrant Visas rather than as refugees or asylees. Prior to this date, their eligibility for these federal means tested benefits had been limited to a period of eight months. Read More

New Birth Certificate Policy Affects Puerto Ricans
May 14, 2010
There are some major changes coming for identity measures if a person was born in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican birth certificates will become void as of July 1, 2010 - part of a new law designed to reduce identity theft and passport fraud. Read More

Iraqi and Afghan Citizens Entitled to Special Refugee Status
March 10, 2010
Effective December 19, 2009, the five year bar for food stamps, TANF, SSI and federal Medicaid eligibility no longer applies to Iraqi and Afghan citizens who entered the U.S. with Special Immigrant Visas rather than as refugees or asylees. Read More

Immigration Status & Public Benefits Eligibility
April 27, 2007
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