The newly signed welfare reform bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation with far-reaching implications for legal and illegal immigrants. Major changes have been made in the eligibility requirements for federal and state funded welfare programs. States are now responsible for determining eligibility and distributing many state and federal public benefits. Exceptions include refugees, parolees, asylees, those granted withholding of deportation for their first 5 years in the U.S., lawful permanent residents who have worked for 40 quarters without receiving federal means-tested benefits, veterans, active duty military, and their spouses and dependents.
States decide eligibility thereafter.
Exceptions include refugees, parolees, asylees, those granted withholding of deportation for their first 5 years in the U.S., lawful permanent residents who have worked 40 quarters without receiving federal means-tested benefits, veterans, active duty military, and their spouses and dependents. Barred from all federal means-tested public benefits for five years. Exceptions include refugees, asylees, those granted withholding of deportation for their first 5 years in the U.S., veterans, active duty military, and their spouses and dependents. States are required to deem for all federal means-tested programs for most current and future legal immigrants. Deeming means that the sponsor's income and resources are considered as available to the immigrant when determining eligibility for public means-tested benefits.