About 11 percent of non-citizens have incomes less than 50 percent of the poverty line, compared to six percent of citizens. Refugees and elderly immigrants are more likely to receive cash and non-cash assistance than other immigrants. Five percent of AFDC recipients are immigrants, whereas 18.9 percent of aged SSI recipients are immigrants. Immigrant use of welfare appears to correlate with national origin. There is no reputable evidence that prospective immigrants are drawn to the U.S. because of its public assistance programs.
Most researchers believe that few undocumented immigrants illegally use public assistance programs.
However, the data are scarce, and firm conclusions cannot be drawn.