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SNAP and Public Charge

By October 7, 2022September 1st, 2023No Comments

SNAP & Immigrants: Final Public Charge Rule Ensures that Immigrants Can Access SNAP

The final Public Charge rule has been filed and will go into effect on December 23, 2022. This rule cements the public charge policy in the longstanding 1999 interim field guidance, and will continue to reduce the bias and harm resulting from the 2019 changes. The final rule makes it clear that the use of most public benefits programs, such as health, nutrition, and housing programs, will not have an impact on an individual’s immigration status.

What Is Public Charge?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIC) defines “public charge” as an individual who is likely at any time to become “primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance, or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense.” A public charge test is used by immigration officials to decide whether a person can enter the U.S. or is eligible to receive lawful permanent residence or “LPR” status. When a noncitizen applies for LPR status or for a visa, they are subjected to an assessment of their life circumstances to determine if they are likely to become a public charge in the future.

With the release of the final rule, community organizations can continue to assure immigrants and their families that SNAP is not used as part of a public charge determination.

Benefits that Can Be Considered in a Public Charge Test

DHS only considers benefits received by the person applying for lawful permanent residence status. Benefits used by other family or household members are not considered, unless they are the sole source of income for the family.

As of March 9, 2021, only the following benefits will be considered in a public charge test:

  • Monthly cash assistance intended to support a person, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and state-based cash assistance programs
  • Long-term institutional care at government expense

The public charge decision is based on several different factors. Called the “totality of circumstances” test, an immigration officer looks at the applicant’s age, health, family status, financial status, education and skills, and their affidavit of support (if they have one). The government must look at the person’s whole situation to decide if they are likely to depend on public programs in the future.

Benefits that Will Not Be Considered in a Public Charge Test

The following benefits will not be considered in a public charge test:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • School meals and other food assistance programs for children including Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT), the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and CACFP afterschool snacks and dinners
  • Emergency Food Program assistance through food pantries, soup kitchens or homeless shelters
  • Medicaid, Emergency Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), state and locally-based health care programs (for services other than long-term care), and other health coverage
  • Subsidized housing programs, such as Section 8 and public housing
  • COVID-related supports, such as stimulus payments, child tax credits, emergency rental assistance, and more
  • Head Start
  • Energy assistance (including HEAP and weatherization projects)
  • Disaster relief

Next Steps

2019 public charge rule created fear among immigrants and their families, causing them to avoid vital public benefits that safeguard nutrition, health, housing, and economic security. To help immigrants and their families feel safe accessing nutrition and food programs, community organizations should continue to reach out to local immigrant communities to share this important update. Much work will need to be done to rebuild trust with immigrants and reverse the damage of the 2019 public charge rule. The resources below provide more information and can help guide outreach efforts.

Additional Resources

NYSOTDA:

NYS Resources:

  • Public Benefits Immigrant Eligibility Chart: a tool to help assess an immigrant’s eligibility for public benefits like SNAP. This chart is an ongoing joint project of Empire Justice Center and the NY Immigration Coalition (NYIC).

National resources:

New Yorkers who have questions about the public charge rule should contact the Office for New Americans hotline at 1-800-566-7636 to receive more information.