Eligibility of Noncitizens
for Health Care and Cash
Assistance Programs

November 2019

Overview
This brief summarizes noncitizen eligibility for various health care and cash assistance programs.
Specifically, it provides information on how the eligibility of noncitizens for health care and cash
assistance programs is determined, verification of noncitizen eligibility for health care and cash
assistance, and services for new refugees and asylees. The brief also includes detailed health care andcash assistance eligibility tables and a glossary of immigration terms.

Contents
Determination of Noncitizen Eligibility for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs.... 1
Verification of Noncitizen Eligibility for Cash and Food Assistance Programs ................... 5
Verification of Noncitizen Eligibility for Health Care Programs .......................................... 6
Funding of Health Care and Cash Assistance for Eligible Noncitizens ................................ 7
Eligibility of People Fleeing Persecution for Health Care and Cash
Assistance Programs ........................................................................................................ 7
Glossary of Immigration Terms......................................................................................... 15

Determination of Noncitizen Eligibility for HealthCare and Cash Assistance Programs
The eligibility of noncitizens for health care and cash assistance programs depends on their U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) status and varies among programs. For some USCIS
statuses, eligibility also depends on when the immigrant entered the United States. 1
Generally, undocumented persons and nonimmigrants 2 are not eligible for most programs, except forcoverage of emergency services through Emergency Medical Assistance and Medical Assistancecoverage of services through the end of a pregnancy for certain undocumented pregnant women.
1

A pending federal rule expansion may make it easier for the federal government to deny an immigrant’s
application to enter the United States, obtain a visa, or adjust his or her immigration status due to the receipt ofcertain program benefits on the grounds that the immigrant is likely to become a public charge. The rule wasscheduled to take effect on October 15, 2019; however, the pending rule expansion has not yet taken effect due
to an injunction and stay ordered by a federal district judge. For more information see “Understanding theFederal ‘Public Charge Rule’,” Minnesota Department of Human Services, September 2019,https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-7962-ENG.

2

For definitions of these and other immigration terms, please see the glossary on page 15.
By Randall Chun, 651-296-8639
Danyell Punelli, 651-296-5058

Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

The table below describes general eligibility requirements for state and federal health care and social
services programs. See tables 2 and 3 for more detailed information on eligibility requirements for thevarious classifications of noncitizens.
Table 1

Noncitizen Eligibility Requirements for State and Federal Programs
ProgramGeneral Assistance (GA)

Noncitizen Eligibility Requirements

Note: U.S. citizens who meet eligibility requirements are eligible
for all listed programs.

Must be a legal noncitizen lawfully residing in the U.S. to beeligible.
Legal adult noncitizens who are under age 70 and have lived in the
U.S. for at least four years must also meet certain requirements
related to English literacy or application for U.S. citizenship.
Undocumented persons and nonimmigrants are not eligible.

Minnesota Family Investment Program(MFIP)/
Diversionary Work Program (DWP)

Noncitizens residing lawfully and permanently in the U.S. whomeet criteria are eligible, whether “qualified” or “unqualified”
under federal TANF law. (See Table 3).
Noncitizens who are not eligible for federally funded welfare
benefits may be eligible for state-funded MFIP benefits.
Undocumented persons and nonimmigrants are not eligible.

Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

Noncitizens may be eligible under some circumstances (see Table
3).
Undocumented persons and nonimmigrants are not eligible.
Persons who are not eligible for the federal SSI program because of
their noncitizen status are not eligible.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Must be a lawful permanent resident.
Legal noncitizens who received SSI benefits on August 22, 1996, or
who were residing in the U.S. on that date and later became
disabled, are eligible.
People Fleeing Persecution, which includes those with refugee
status, asylum status, Cuban/Haitian Entrants, certain Amerasians,
Iraqi & Afghani Special Immigrant Visa holders, and people whose
deportation has been withheld. Eligible for seven years after
entering the U.S.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP)

Legal noncitizens may be eligible if they fall into one of thecategories specified under federal law (see Table 3).
There is a five-year waiting period for many qualified noncitizens.
The following noncitizens are eligible with no waiting period:Minnesota House Research Department

Qualified noncitizen children under 18 years oldPage 2

Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Program

Noncitizen Eligibility Requirements

Note: U.S. citizens who meet eligibility requirements are eligible
for all listed programs.

Refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (includes victims of severe forms of
trafficking) Victims of Trafficking under the federal Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000
 Asylees under Section 208 of the Immigration andNationality Act (INA) Deportation withheld under section 243(h) or 241(b)(3) of
INA Amerasian immigrants under section 584 of the Foreign
Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs
Appropriations Act
 Cuban or Haitian entrants as defined in section 501(e) of
the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980
 Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants under Section
101(a)(27) of the INA
 Certain American Indians born abroad Members of Hmong or Highland Laotian tribes, legallyliving in the U.S., that helped the U.S. military during theVietnam era, and their spouses or surviving spouses andunmarried dependent children Elderly individuals born on or before August 22, 1931, andwho lawfully resided in the U.S. on August 22, 1996
 Lawful Permanent Residents in the U.S. who are receiving
government payments for disability or blindness
 Lawful Permanent Residents with a military connection(veteran, on active duty, or spouse or child of a veteran or
active duty service member)
Noncitizens who are not eligible for federally funded SNAP may be
eligible for state-funded food assistance. Undocumented persons
and nonimmigrants are not eligible.
Emergency General Assistance

Legal noncitizens may be eligible under certain circumstances (seeTable 3).
Legal noncitizens who have been denied or terminated from SSI
due to noncitizen status are not eligible.
Undocumented persons and nonimmigrants are not eligible.

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Program
Medical Assistance (MA)

Noncitizen Eligibility Requirements

Note: U.S. citizens who meet eligibility requirements are eligible
for all listed programs.

Noncitizens who are in the U.S. lawfully may be eligible to receive
federally funded MA 3, depending upon their immigration
classification and date they entered the
U.S. (see Table 2). In general the state provides MA coverage for allgroups of noncitizens for which MA eligibility is mandatory or
optional under federal law and, beginning January 1, 2012, forwhich federal financial participation (FFP) is available.
Undocumented persons are eligible only for coverage of
emergency services, including labor and delivery, if they meet allother eligibility criteria (see Emergency MA).
Undocumented pregnant women who are uninsured and do nothave a spenddown are eligible for covered MA services through theperiod of pregnancy, including labor and delivery and 60 days
postpartum. These services are funded through the Children’s
Health Insurance Program (CHIP). To obtain these services, theymust meet all other MA requirements except for immigration
status.

MinnesotaCare

Noncitizens who are in the U.S. lawfully may be eligible to receive
either federally funded or state-funded MinnesotaCare, depending
upon their immigration classification and date they entered the
U.S. (see Table 2). In most cases, federally funded MinnesotaCare isavailable for the same groups of individuals listed as potentiallyeligible for MA with FFP.
State-funded MinnesotaCare is available for the groups that werepotentially eligible through December 31, 2011, for MA without
FFP. State-funded MinnesotaCare is also available for Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

3

The 2011 Legislature eliminated MA coverage for most categories of legal noncitizens funded solely by state
dollars (referred to as MA without federal financial participation (FFP)) effective January 1, 2012. These
individuals have the option of seeking coverage through the MinnesotaCare program. MA without FFP continues
to fund services provided to persons served through a center for victims of torture who are otherwise ineligible
for federally funded MA (Minn. Stat. § 256B.06, subd. 4, para. (j)).

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Program
Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA)

Noncitizen Eligibility Requirements

Note: U.S. citizens who meet eligibility requirements are eligible
for all listed programs.

Nonimmigrants and undocumented persons may be eligible if they
have a basis of eligibility for MA and meet MA income and asset
limits, but are ineligible for MA due to their immigration status (seeTable 2).
Pregnant women who are ineligible for CHIP-funded MA because
they have other insurance or are ineligible without a spenddown
may be eligible for payment of labor and delivery costs.
Lawfully residing noncitizens who have a basis of eligibility for MA
but do not meet MA income and asset standards due to thedeeming of sponsor income and assets 4 may be eligible.

Housing Support

For aged, blind, and disabled participants: noncitizens may be
eligible under some circumstances. Persons who are not eligible forthe federal SSI program because of their noncitizen status are noteligible.

Verification of Noncitizen Eligibility for Cash andFood Assistance Programs
Minnesota Statutes, section 256P.04, subdivision 4, requires county agencies to verify immigration
status at the time of application for MFIP/DWP. Subdivision 3 of the same section requires applicants to
document all required application information and places the burden of providing documentary
evidence to verify eligibility on the applicant.
For applicants who report being noncitizens, counties may need to verify several factors
including current immigration status, date of entry into the United States, sponsor’s income
and assets, and membership in a particular group that is accorded special eligibility. Counties
are prohibited from contacting USCIS unless the applicant provides written authorization to doso, except for contacts made through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)
process.
The SAVE system is used to validate immigration status of noncitizen applicants for certain
cash, food assistance, and health care programs, or for participants of those programs whoreport an immigration status change. SAVE is an information-sharing initiative to assist inverifying the immigration status of noncitizens. It allows authorized staff to validate a
noncitizen’s immigration status information by accessing USCIS data through the Automated4Federal law requires the income and assets of sponsors of legal noncitizens to be counted when determining
eligibility for certain government programs. Refugees, asylees, and other specified groups of legal noncitizens are
exempt from this requirement.

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Status Verification System database, which contains information on more than 60 million
noncitizens.
Minnesota Statutes, section 256.01, subdivision 18, requires the commissioner of humanservices to utilize SAVE to conduct immigration status verifications:1) as required under federal law (this reference to federal law has the effect of requiring theuse of SAVE for applicants for MA and Refugee Medical Assistance);2) for all applicants for food assistance benefits, whether under the federal food stamp
program, the MFIP program, or the Minnesota food assistance program; and3) for all applicants for GA, MSA, MinnesotaCare, or Housing Support, when the benefits
provided by these programs fall under the federal definition of “federal public benefit” and if
federal funds are used to pay for all or part of the benefits.
The SAVE system cannot be used as a reporting mechanism. Federal law prohibits information provided
to workers by SAVE to be used for administrative (noncriminal) enforcement of immigration laws.

Verification of Noncitizen Eligibility for Health Care
Programs
Lawfully residing noncitizens applying for coverage through a Minnesota health care program
must verify their immigration status by providing documentation, as specified by the USCIS, tocounty agency staff. Agency staff provide applicants with assistance in obtaining
documentation, upon the request of the applicant. However, agency staff are prohibited fromcontacting the USCIS without the applicant’s written consent, and in the case of an
undocumented person, are prohibited from contacting USCIS unless the person specificallyrequests the contact and gives signed permission.
As noted in the previous section, agency staff are also required to use the SAVE system tovalidate the immigration status of noncitizen applicants for certain health care programs.
Agency staff are not required to obtain consent from the applicant to use SAVE.
More specifically, staff are required to use SAVE to verify immigration status for noncitizens applying forcoverage under:MA, including coverage under state-funded MA but excluding undocumented andnonimmigrant persons receiving services from the Center for Victims of Torture andundocumented or nonimmigrant pregnant women;
Refugee Medical Assistance (described below); andMinnesotaCare for families with children.

SAVE is not used to determine eligibility for those exceptions noted above, and for Emergency Medical
Assistance and MinnesotaCare for adults without children.

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Funding of Health Care and Cash Assistance for
Eligible Noncitizens
Funding sources can vary with an individual’s immigration status or the date an individual entered theUnited States. For some programs, the state pays for benefits using state-only dollars if federal funds
may not be used for certain categories of noncitizens. The tables that follow describe these differences
in more detail.

Eligibility for Health Care and Cash Assistance
Programs of People Fleeing Persecution
People fleeing persecution, which includes refugee status, asylum status, Iraqi/Afghani special
immigrants visa holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and victims of trafficking, are eligible for federally
funded cash and food assistance if they meet program eligibility requirements. Cash assistance is funded
by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program funds, and food assistance is fundedthrough the federal SNAP. Adults without children are eligible for federally funded Refugee Cash
Assistance for up to eight months from date of entry into the United States or date an eligible status is
granted.
People fleeing persecution may also be eligible for Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, and child careassistance if they meet program eligibility requirements. People fleeing persecution who are not eligible
for regular MA are eligible for Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) if they meet the RMA income andasset limits. 5 RMA is available for an eight-month period, beginning on the date the individual entered
the United States with a qualifying immigration status or the date the individual was granted a qualifying
immigration status. 6 RMA is funded solely with federal dollars; unlike regular MA, no state match is
required.

5

The income limit for RMA is 133 percent of FPG and the asset limit is $10,000 for a household of one and $20,000
for a household of two or more. Persons eligible for RMA may include refugees who do not meet the lower
income and asset limits for MA eligibility as a person age 65 or older or who has a disability or is blind.

6

People fleeing persecution remain eligible for RMA for the eight-month period, even if their income increases
beyond the RMA income limit during that period.

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Table 2

Noncitizen Eligibility for Minnesota Department of Human Services Health Care Programs
Immigration
Status/Noncitizen
Category
Assuming all other eligibility
criteria are met (e.g.,
residency, income and asset
limits) eligibility for eachprogram is as follows:

Federally funded
Medical Assistance (MA)Children under 21, pregnant
women, disabled, blind, age
65 or older, parents and adultcaretakers of children, adults
without children, andChildren’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP)7

Yes
People Fleeing Persecution:
those with refugee status,
asylum status, Cuban/Haitian
Entrant, Iraqi/Afghani Special
Immigrant Visa holders,certain Amerasians, Victims ofTrafficking

Federally funded
MinnesotaCare

State-funded
MinnesotaCare

Federally funded for people
with an MA eligibility basis 8Children, pregnant women,
and parents and adultcaretakers of children

Adults without children. Also
children, pregnant women,
and parents and adultcaretakers of children who
are not eligible for federally
funded MinnesotaCare andfederally funded MA

N/A

Yes

Yes, for adults withoutchildren (these individuals are
not eligible for
MinnesotaCare with federal
funding)

Emergency MA (EMA)

Lawful Permanent Residents
who previously held one of
the statuses above.
Those whose deportation has
been withheld.
Canadians born with ≥ 50%
American Indian blood,
7

CHIP is a federal/state program that provides an enhanced federal match (65 percent) for the cost of MA services provided to: (1) children under age two with household incomes
greater than 275 percent but not exceeding 280 percent of FPG; (2) uninsured pregnant women who are undocumented noncitizens with incomes up to 278 percent of FPG, throughthe period of pregnancy, including labor and delivery and 60 days postpartum; and (3) children under age 21 with incomes greater than or equal to 133 percent but below 275 percent
of FPG.

8

EMA covers care and services necessary for treatment of an emergency medical condition, including labor and delivery and a limited set of chronic care and long-term care services.

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Immigration
Status/Noncitizen
Category

Federally funded
Medical Assistance (MA)Federally funded
MinnesotaCare

Emergency MA (EMA)

State-funded
MinnesotaCare

American Indians born
outside U.S. and members offederally recognized tribes,
U.S. military veterans, active
duty personnel, and theirfamilies
Living in U.S. prior to 8/22/96:

Yes

N/A

Yes

Yes, for adults withoutchildren

MA – No, until five years after
entry

Yes, if not eligible for full
benefits under federally
funded MA

No, until five years after entry

Yes, for adults withoutchildren not enrolled in MA

Lawful permanent residents,
paroled > 1 year, certain
battered persons 9
Arrived in U.S. on/after
8/22/96:

Lawful permanent residents, 10 Exception: pregnant womenparoled > 1 year, certain
and children under 21 arebattered persons
eligible for federally funded
MA regardless of date ofentry in the U.S.

9

Pregnant women are eligible
for labor and delivery

Exception: pregnant womenand children under 21 are
eligible for federally fundedMA

Pregnant women, parents andcaretakers, and children are
eligible if they have resided in
the U.S. for less than five
years (and therefore are noteligible for MinnesotaCarewith federal funding or MA
with federal funding)

The spouse or child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who has self-petitioned for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident due to the battery or extreme crueltyof a spouse or parent. Eligibility may extend to the child or parent of the battered person.

10

Until 40 work quarters are credited, a lawful permanent resident’s income and resources are considered to include a sponsor’s income and resources.

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Immigration
Status/Noncitizen
Category

Federally funded
Medical Assistance (MA)Federally funded
MinnesotaCare

Emergency MA (EMA)

Others lawfully residing in
U.S. 11

MA – Yes, but only forYes
pregnant women and children
Pregnant women are eligible
under 21for labor and delivery

No

Nonimmigrants 12 andundocumented persons

MA – No

Yes

No

CHIP – funds MA services
provided to uninsured
pregnant women through 60
days postpartum, including
labor and delivery

Pregnant women are eligible
for labor and delivery

State-funded
MinnesotaCare
Yes

Exception: pregnant womenand children under 21 are
eligible for federally fundedMA
No

Source: Modification of table originally prepared by the Department of Human Services.

11

Includes lawful temporary residents, family unity beneficiaries, deferred enforced departure, temporary protected status, paroled less than one year, and applicants for asylum.

An immigration law term that includes visitors, tourists, foreign students, and a number of other temporary entry classifications that, with a few exceptions, cannot be converted toimmigrant resident classifications.

12

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Table 3

Noncitizen Eligibility for Minnesota Department of Human Services Cash and Food Assistance Programs
Immigration
StatusAssuming all other MFIP Cash Portion(state and federal
eligibility criteria
funding)
are met, eligibility
for each programis as follows:
People Fleeing
Yes – Eligible for
Persecution: thosefederally fundedwith refugee status, benefits
asylum status,
Cuban/Haitian
Entrant,
Iraqi/Afghani Special
Immigrant Visa
holders, certain
Amerasians, Victimsof Trafficking

MFIP FoodPortion 13(state and federal
funding)

Yes – Eligible forfederally funded
benefits

General Assistance(state funding)

Yes

Minnesota
Supplemental Aid(MSA) 14(state funding)Eligible for sevenyears from date of
U.S. entry

Food Assistance(state and federal
funding)

Emergency
General Assistance(state funding)

Refugee Cash
Assistance (RCA)(federal funding)

Yes – Eligible forfederally funded
SNAP

Yes

Yes, for adults
without children.
Eligible for eightmonths from date ofarrival in the U.S. ordate an eligible
status is granted.

Lawful Permanent
Residents who
previously held oneof the statuses
above.

Most people with
deportation
withheld are noteligible for RCA.
Cuban/Haitian
Entrants are theexception to this.

The Food Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2002 restored federal food stamp benefits to some legal noncitizens who: are disabled, regardless of date of entry; are children under age 18,
regardless of date of entry into the United States; or have been in the United States for more than five years).

13

14

To be considered eligible for Emergency Minnesota Supplemental Aid (EMSA), the applicant must be receiving MSA.

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Immigration
StatusAssuming all other MFIP Cash Portion(state and federal
eligibility criteria
funding)
are met, eligibility
for each programis as follows:

MFIP FoodPortion 13

General Assistance(state funding)

Minnesota
Supplemental Aid(MSA) 14

Yes – Eligible forfederally funded
benefits

Yes

Yes

Yes

(state and federal
funding)

Food Assistance(state and federal
funding)

Emergency
General Assistance(state funding)

Refugee Cash
Assistance (RCA)(federal funding)Yes

Yes – Eligible forfederally funded
SNAP

Yes

No

Yes

Yes – Eligible forfederally funded
SNAP

Yes

No

(state funding)Those whose
deportation has
been withheld.
Veterans or persons
on active militaryduty, along withspouses anddependent children,
Canadians born with
≥ 50% American
Indian blood,
American Indiansborn outside U.S.
and members offederally recognizedtribesYes – Eligible forfederally funded
benefits
Canadian born/
American Indianborn outside U.S. –Eligible for state
funded cash if
federal funds can’t
be usedLiving in U.S. prior to Yes – Eligible for
8/22/96:federally funded
benefits
Lawful permanent
residents, paroled > May be eligible for
1 year, conditional
state-funded cash if
entrants, batteredfederal funds can’t
persons, andbe usedMinnesota House Research Department

May be eligible forstate-funded foodassistance if 50
years old and older

Page 12Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Immigration
StatusAssuming all other MFIP Cash Portion(state and federal
eligibility criteria
funding)
are met, eligibility
for each programis as follows:

MFIP FoodPortion 13(state and federal
funding)

General Assistance(state funding)

Minnesota
Supplemental Aid(MSA) 14(state funding)children of batteredpersons

Food Assistance(state and federal
funding)

Emergency
General Assistance(state funding)

Refugee Cash
Assistance (RCA)(federal funding)

Yes

No

Yes

No

and not eligible for
SNAP

Arrived in U.S.
on/after 8/22/96:

No, until five years
after entry

Lawful permanent
residents, 15 paroled< 1 yr., conditional
entrants, batteredpersons, andchildren of batteredpersons

May be eligible forstate-funded cash
before five years

Lawfully residing in
U.S. 16 on 8/22/96
and receiving
Supplemental
Security Income(SSI)

No – No concurrent No – No concurrent No
MFIP eligibility when MFIP eligibility when
receiving SSI
receiving SSI

Yes

Yes

No

Yes – Eligible forfederally funded
SNAP
May be eligible forstate- funded foodassistance if 50
years old or older
and not eligible forfederal SNAPYes

Yes – Eligible forfederally funded
SNAP

15

Until 40 work quarters are completed, a lawful permanent resident’s income and resources are considered to include a sponsor’s income and resources.

16

Includes lawful temporary residents, family unity beneficiaries, deferred enforced departure, temporary protected status, paroled less than one year, and applicants for asylum.

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Immigration
StatusAssuming all other MFIP Cash Portion(state and federal
eligibility criteria
funding)
are met, eligibility
for each programis as follows:
Others lawfully
residing in U.S.

Nonimmigrants 17
and undocumented
persons

MFIP FoodPortion 13(state and federal
funding)

May be eligible forfederal funds if
admitted to U.S.
before 8/22/96;
otherwise may be
eligible for statefunded cash

No – Not eligible forfederally funded
SNAP

No

No

General Assistance(state funding)

Minnesota
Supplemental Aid(MSA) 14Yes

No

(state funding)

May be eligible forstate-funded food iffederal funds can’t
be usedFood Assistance(state and federal
funding)

Emergency
General Assistance(state funding)

Refugee Cash
Assistance (RCA)(federal funding)No – Not eligible forfederally funded
SNAP

Yes

No

No

No

May be eligible forstate-funded foodassistance if 50
years old or older
No

No

No

Source: Modification of table originally prepared by the Department of Human Services.

17

Includes visitors, tourists, and foreign students.

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Glossary of Immigration Terms
Note on sources. The definitions in the glossary are from various sources listed at the end of theglossary. The source for each term is specified by the number in brackets at the end of each definition.
In some cases, terms have been updated and definitions abbreviated.
Alien: Any person not a citizen or national of the United States. [1] (In this publication, aliens arereferred to as noncitizens.)
Amerasian: Amerasian status is granted to certain individuals who were born to a United States
father and a Vietnamese mother during the Vietnam War. People with Amerasian status may be
admitted to the United States with their immediate relatives such as spouse, children, or parents. [3]Asylum status: Asylum status is a form of protection granted to people who are already present in the
United States or are seeking admission at a port of entry, who meet the definition and criteria ofrefugee. To be granted asylum status, people must establish they are unable or unwilling to returnhome due to persecution or fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in aparticular social group, or political opinion. People with asylum status are eligible for Federal and State
benefits and services beginning on the date of their asylum grant. Asylees are eligible to adjust to
lawful permanent resident status after one year of continuous residence in the United States. Eligibility
is treated the same as for someone with refugee status. [3]Conditional resident: Any foreign national granted permanent resident status on a conditional basis
who must petition to remove the conditions of their status before the second anniversary of theapproval date of their conditional status. [1]Cuban/Haitian entrant: Cuban/Haitian entrant status is granted to nationals of Cuba and Haiti whohave a current or expired parole, who are in pending removal proceedings, or who have a pending
application for asylum. The individual’s country of origin/citizenship must be Cuba or Haiti. People
with Cuban/Haitian entrant status are eligible for Federal and State benefits and services beginningon their date of United States arrival. Eligibility is treated the same as for someone with refugee
status. [3]
DACA: The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was established in 2012 as ameans of providing temporary relief from removal for certain individuals without legal status whoarrived in the United States as children and meet other eligibility criteria. DACA is not a path to lawful
immigration status and DACA recipients are ineligible for federal public benefits, with the exceptionof short-term emergency assistance. (See Andorra Bruno, “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals(DACA): Frequently Asked Questions” Congressional Research Service, September 6, 2017.) DACA
recipients may be eligible for MinnesotaCare if they meet all eligibility requirements for that
program. The Trump Administration announced the termination of the program in September 2017
and this termination has been subject to litigation. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hearseveral DACA cases in the current term.
Deferred action: A type of prosecutorial discretion that allows an individual to remain in the UnitedStates for a set period of time, unless the deferred action is terminated for some reason. Deferred
action is determined on a case-by-case basis and only establishes lawful presence. It does not provide
immigration status or benefits of any kind. [1]Minnesota House Research Department

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Eligibility of Noncitizens for Health Care and Cash Assistance Programs

Deportable alien: This is an alien who has been admitted into the United States subject to any
grounds of removal specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. This includes any alien illegallyin the United States, regardless of whether they entered the country by fraud or misrepresentationor entered legally but subsequently violated the terms of their nonimmigration classification or
status. [1]Green card: Also known as a Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, or alien registration card. USCIS
issues green cards to foreign nationals as evidence of their lawful permanent resident status in the
United States. Although some green cards do not have an expiration date, most are valid for ten
years. [1]Illegal alien: See unauthorized immigrant. [1]Immigrant: The term is often used generally to refer to aliens residing in the United States, but its
specific legal meaning is any legal alien in the United States other than those in the specified class ofnonimmigrant aliens such as temporary visitors or students. [2]Iraqi or Afghani Special Immigrant: Special immigrant visas (SIVs) are granted to certain Iraqi or Afghani
individuals who provided assistance to the United States government in Iraq and Afghanistan. SIVs areadmitted as lawful permanent residents (LPRs) or adjust to Special Immigrant status after entering theUnited States under another immigration status. People with SIV status are eligible for federal and state
benefits and services beginning on their date of United States arrival. Eligibility is treated the same as forsomeone with refugee status. [3]Lawful permanent resident (LPR): An LPR is an immigrant who has been lawfully accorded the privilegeof residing permanently in the United States. Lawful permanent residents are granted admission to theUnited States on the basis of family relation or job skill. Refugees and asylees may adjust to LPR status
after one year of continuous residence. Lawful permanent residents may be issued immigrant visas by
the Department of State when they are not yet in the country or adjust to LPR status with the USCIS
after entering the United States. Generally, lawful permanent residents are those individuals who have“green cards” and are permitted to apply for naturalization after five years of United States residence.
[2]
Migrant: A person who leaves their country of origin to seek residence in another country. [1]Naturalization: The manner in which a person not born in the United States voluntarily becomes a U.S.
citizen. [1]Nonimmigrant: A foreign national who is admitted to the United States for a specific purpose and fora limited period of time, such as tourists, students, business visitors, foreign government officials, andtemporary workers and trainees. [1]Not qualified alien: The term means any immigrant who is not a “qualified alien,” including
undocumented immigrants, nonimmigrants, and most PRUCOL (see below) immigrants. “Not
qualified” immigrants are ineligible for federal, state, and local public benefits covered by welfare
reform, unless a specific exception applies. [2]Parole: The discretionary decision that allows inadmissible foreign nationals to leave an inspection
facility freely so that, although they are not admitted to the United States, they are permitted to be
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physically present in the United States. Parole is granted on a case-by-case basis for urgent
humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. The paroled foreign national is treated as anapplicant for admission. [1]People Fleeing Persecution: USCIS defined statuses that are granted to people based onhumanitarian protection from persecution in their home countries. There are several immigration
statuses that fall under the category of people fleeing persecution: refugee status, asylum status,
Cuban/Haitian entrant, Iraqi/Afghani special immigrant visa holder, certain Amerasians, and victimsof trafficking. People with these statuses may adjust their status to lawful permanent resident (LPR)
after a period of continuous presence in the United States, and have a path to citizenship. People
with these statuses are eligible for federal and state benefits and services to the same extent as a
refugee.
Permanent resident: See lawful permanent resident.
Permanent resident alien: See lawful permanent resident.
Permanently residing under color of law (PRUCOL): PRUCOL is not an immigration status provided by
the USCIS; rather, it is a legal term that applies to aliens in the United States “under statutory authority
and those effectively allowed to remain in the United States under administrative discretion.”
Examples of PRUCOL include: those granted indefinite voluntary departure; those residing in the
United States under orders of supervision; aliens granted stays or suspension of deportation; andaliens whose departure USCIS does not contemplate enforcing. [2]Qualified alien: The term, created in the 1996 federal welfare reform legislation (Pub. L. No. 104193), refers to lawful permanent residents, refugees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, asylees, aliens
paroled into the United States for a period of at least one year, aliens granted withholding ofdeportation by the USCIS, aliens granted conditional entry into the United States, and certain
battered alien spouses and children. “Qualified” aliens are generally eligible for federal publicbenefits on the same basis as citizens if they entered before August 22, 1996, when the welfare law
was enacted. Qualified aliens entering after August 22, 1996, are generally barred from federal
assistance for five years. Different restrictions and limits apply to qualified aliens’ eligibility,
depending on the immigration category. [2]Refugee status: Refugee status is a form of protection granted to people who meet the definition andcriteria of refugee and who are of special humanitarian concern to the United States. To be granted
refugee status, people must establish they are unable or unwilling to return home due to persecution
or fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or
political opinion. People with refugee status are eligible for federal and state benefits and services
beginning on their date of United States arrival and are eligible to adjust to lawful permanent resident
status after one year of continuous residence in the United States. [3]Resident alien: This term applies to non-U.S. citizens currently residing in the United States. [1]Temporary protected status: The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security may designate a
foreign country for temporary protected status due to conditions that temporarily prevent thecountry’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable tohandle the return of its nationals adequately. Temporary protected status may be granted to eligible

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nationals of certain countries who are already in the United States. The secretary may designate acountry for temporary protected status due to ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, orother temporary conditions. Grants of temporary protected status are initially made for periods of six
to 18 months, and may be extended. [1]Temporary resident: This is an alien who seeks temporary entry into the United States for a specificpurpose. They must have a permanent residence abroad and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification
they are seeking. [1]Unauthorized immigrant: Also known as an illegal alien or undocumented worker, this is someone whoenters or lives in the United States without official authorization, either by entering illegally or by
violating the terms of his or her admission. [2]Undocumented worker: See unauthorized immigrant.
Victims of severe forms of trafficking: This category refers to individuals who have been subjected to“a severe form of trafficking in persons”—for purposes of sex or labor—and who are either: (1) under
18 years of age; or (2) have been certified by the federal government as being willing to assist in theinvestigation and prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons and who either have made anapplication for a visa or whose continued presence in the United States is being ensured by theattorney general in order to prosecute traffickers in persons. Victims of trafficking who are granted a Tvisa are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence after a period of three years of continuouspresence in the United States. Eligibility is treated the same as for someone with refugee status. [4]Sources:[1] Glossary and Acronyms, from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, accessed
September 23, 2019.
[2] Common Immigration Terms, from the website of the National Conference of State Legislatures,
October 15, 2018.
[3] Combined Manual, Non-Citizens-People Fleeing Persecution, Minnesota Department of Human
Services, January 2019.
[4] Minnesota Department of Human Services.

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