President
|
Vice President
|
First Lady
|
Mrs. Cheney
|
News & Policies
History & Tours
|
Kids
|
Your Government
|
Appointments
|
Jobs
|
Contact
|
Graphic version
Email Updates | Español | Accessibility | Search | Privacy Policy | Help
|
Provide Food Stamps for Legal Immigrants
Overview
The 1996 welfare reform law substantially changed the circumstances under which noncitizens could receive welfare benefits. Although the new rules are complex, the most important provision is that noncitizens who arrive in the United States after 1996 are subject to a five year ban on most welfare benefits. The major exception is that noncitizens can receive emergency services. At the end of five years, noncitizens can receive TANF, Medicaid, and a few other benefits at the discretion of the state in which they reside. However, the ban continues on food stamps and the Supplemental Security Income program until the immigrant works for 10 years or becomes an American citizen. In addition, some immigrants who entered the U.S. before 1996 continue to be eligible for Supplemental Security Income and food stamps. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that these changes have resulted in a very substantial reduction in receipt of welfare benefits by noncitizens. Research also suggests that immigrant children have experienced an increased incidence of difficulty in obtaining the resources to purchase nutritionally adequate food.
Summary of Proposal
Federal policy should strive to find a balance between the needs of destitute noncitizens and the need to ensure that welfare policy neither attracts noncitizens to the U.S. to take advantage of welfare programs nor induces welfare dependency among noncitizens who do receive welfare benefits. Thus, the Administration supports continuation of the five-year ban on welfare benefits for noncitizens entering the country after 1996 and proposes to align food stamps with TANF and Medicaid by allowing legal immigrants to receive food stamps five years after entry. This policy helps ensure adequate nutrition among children and other vulnerable immigrant groups, while continuing to require new entrants to support themselves and their families through work.
[ Last Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter ]
| Printer-Friendly Version |
| Email this page to a friend |
|
Issues
Budget Management
Education
Energy
Health Care
Homeland Security
Hurricane Recovery
Immigration
Jobs & Economy
Medicare
National Security
Pandemic Flu
Patriot Act
Renewal in Iraq
Social Security
|
|
News
More Issues »
Current News
Press Briefings
Proclamations
Executive Orders
Radio
RSS Feeds
|
News by Date
|
June 2006
|
May 2006
|
April 2006
|
March 2006
|
February 2006
|
January 2006
|
December 2005
|
November 2005
|
October 2005
|
September 2005
|
August 2005
|
July 2005
|
June 2005
|
May 2005
|
April 2005
|
March 2005
|
February 2005
|
January 2005
|
December 2004
|
November 2004
|
October 2004
|
September 2004
|
August 2004
|
July 2004
|
June 2004
|
May 2004
|
April 2004
|
March 2004
|
February 2004
|
January 2004
|
December 2003
|
November 2003
|
October 2003
|
September 2003
|
August 2003
|
July 2003
|
June 2003
|
May 2003
|
April 2003
|
March 2003
|
February 2003
|
January 2003
|
December 2002
|
November 2002
|
October 2002
|
September 2002
|
August 2002
|
July 2002
|
June 2002
|
May 2002
|
April 2002
|
March 2002
|
February 2002
|
January 2002
|
December 2001
|
November 2001
|
October 2001
|
September 2001
|
August 2001
|
July 2001
|
June 2001
|
May 2001
|
April 2001
|
March 2001
|
February 2001
|
January 2001
Interact
Ask the White House
|
Appointments
White House Interactive
Nominations
Application
|
Federal Facts
|
Federal Statistics
|
West Wing
|
History