**GAO-09-375**                      Published: May 19, 2009. Publicly Released: May 29, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

Federal law restricts noncitizens' access to public benefits, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Further, when noncitizens who legally reside in this country through sponsorship of a family member apply for these benefits, they are subject to sponsor deeming, which requires benefit agencies to combine noncitizens' incomes with those of their sponsors to determine eligibility. Sponsors are also financially liable for benefits paid to the noncitizen, and benefit agencies must seek repayment for these costs. GAO was asked to analyze (1) what is known about the size of the noncitizen population potentially affected by the sponsor deeming requirements for TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, and SSI; (2) to what extent have agencies implemented sponsor deeming; (3) to what extent have agencies implemented sponsor repayment. To address these, GAO analyzed federal data, surveyed states, and interviewed federal, state, and local officials.

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## Topics

Health Care

Immigration statusEligibility determinationsEmployeesFederal agenciesFederal aid to statesFederal lawFederal regulationsstate relationsGovernment information disseminationImmigrationIncome statisticsLocally administered programsMedicaidPublic officialsReporting requirementsState-administered programsSupplemental security incomeSurveys