PUBLIC CHARGE

An individual who is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible to the United States and ineligible to become a legal permanent resident.  However, receiving public benefits does not automatically make an individual a public charge. “Public charge” means an individual who is likely to become “primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance, or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense.” In determining whether an alien meets this definition for public charge inadmissibility, a number of factors must be considered, including age, health, family status, assets, resources, financial status, education, and skills. No single factor - other than the lack of an affidavit of support, if required - will determine whether an individual is a public charge.

Benefits Subject to Public Charge Consideration Include:

·         Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

·         Cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

·         State or local cash assistance programs for income maintenance, often called “General Assistance” programs. 

·         Medicaid that is used to support aliens who reside in an institution for long-term care

Acceptance of these forms of public cash assistance could make a non-citizen inadmissible as a public charge, if all other criteria are met.  However, the mere receipt of these benefits does not automatically make an individual inadmissible, ineligible to adjust status to lawful permanent resident, or deportable on public charge grounds.  In addition, public assistance may also be considered as part of the public charge analysis.

Benefits Not Subject to Public Charge Consideration Include:

·         Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases, use of health clinics, short-term rehabilitation services, prenatal care, and emergency medical services) other than support for long-term institutional care

·         Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

·         Nutrition programs, including Food Stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, and other supplementary and emergency food assistance programs

·         Housing benefits

·         Child care services

·         Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

·         Emergency disaster relief

·         Foster care and adoption assistance

·         Educational assistance (such as attending public school), including benefits under the Head Start Act and aid for elementary, secondary, or higher education

·         Job training programs

·         In-kind, community-based programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter)

·         Non-cash benefits under TANF such as subsidized child care or transit subsidies

·         Cash payments that have been earned, such as Title II Social Security benefits, government pensions, and veterans' benefits, among other forms of earned benefits, do not support a public charge determination

·         Unemployment compensation is also not considered for public charge purposes 

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Immigration & Tax Law Firm
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