50-State Data

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  Food Stamps Public Health Insurance for Children Public Health Insurance for Parents TANF Cash Assistance
  Immigrant eligibility criteria Immigrant eligibility criteria Immigrant eligibility criteria Immigrant eligibility criteria
  LPRs eligible for state-funded benefits when barred from federal (2005)1 LPRs eligible for state-funded benefits when barred from federal () LPRs eligible for state-funded benefits when barred from federal (2008)4 LPRs otherwise barred from benefits eligible for prenatal care (2008)9 LPRs eligible for state-funded benefits when barred from federal (2007)12
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Alabama No   No No No
Alaska No   No No No
Arizona No   No No No
Arkansas No   No Yes (no immigration test) No
California Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2   Yes Yes (no immigration test) Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Colorado No   No Yes No
Connecticut Yes3   Yes No Yes; most recipients must pursue citizenship (certain exemptions apply) and eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Delaware No   Yes5 No No
District of Columbia No   Yes (no immigration test) No No
Florida No   No No No
Georgia No   No No No
Hawaii No   No Yes Yes
Idaho No   No No No
Illinois No   Only if victims of domestic violence Yes (no immigration test) Only if victims of domestic violence
Indiana No   No No No
Iowa No   No No Only if victims of domestic violence
Kansas No   No No No
Kentucky No   No No No
Louisiana No   No Yes (no immigration test) No
Maine Yes   Yes No Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Maryland No   No Yes Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Massachusetts No   Yes Yes (no immigration test) No
Michigan No   No Yes (no immigration test) No
Minnesota Only if they receive TANF or are at least 50 years old; eligibility may be affected by deeming2   Yes Yes (no immigration test) Yes; recipients must pursue English literacy or citizenship, and eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Mississippi No   No No No
Missouri No   No No No
Montana No   No No No
Nebraska Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2   Yes Yes (no immigration test) Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Nevada No   No No No
New Hampshire No   No No No
New Jersey No   Yes Yes (no immigration test)10 Only if victims of domestic violence
New Mexico No   Only if victims of domestic violence No Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
New York No   Yes Yes (no immigration test) Yes, through the "Safety Net Assistance" program
North Carolina No   No No No
North Dakota No   No No No
Ohio No   No6 No No
Oklahoma No   No No11 No
Oregon No   No No Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Pennsylvania No   Yes No Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Rhode Island No   No7 Yes (no immigration test) Yes
South Carolina No   No No No
South Dakota No   No No No
Tennessee No   No No Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Texas No   No8 Yes (no immigration test) No
Utah No   No No Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Vermont No   No No Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Virginia No   No No No
Washington Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2   No Yes (no immigration test) Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
West Virginia No   No No No
Wisconsin Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2   No Yes (no immigration test) Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
Wyoming No   Only if victims of domestic violence No Yes; eligibility may be affected by deeming2
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Data Notes & Sources

  1. Adult lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are generally barred from federal benefits during their first 5 years as LPRs. Exceptions include refugees and U.S. veterans (and their families). See data source for more details.
    National Immigration Law Center, Guide to Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs, Fourth Edition, 2002; with updates from Update Page, http://www.nilc.org (accessed October 28, 2005).
  2. Deeming refers to adding the income and/or resources of the immigrant's sponsor to that of the immigrant's in determining eligibility.
  3. Immigrants who entered the U.S. on or after 4/1/98 must meet a 6-month residency requirement.
  4. Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are generally barred from federal benefits during their first 5 years as LPRs, unless they entered the U.S. before 8/22/96. Exceptions include refugees and U.S. veterans (and their families). See data source for more details.
    National Immigration Law Center, Guide to Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs, Fourth Edition, 2002; with updates from Update Page, www.nilc.org/pubs/Guide_update.htm (accessed October 17, 2008).
  5. Coverage for "qualified" immigrants is subject to availability of funds.
  6. Coverage is available to persons who were lawfully residing in the U.S. on August 22, 1996; however, Ohio denies federal Medicaid to most "qualified" immigrants who entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996, even after they complete the federal 5-year bar.
  7. Lawfully residing persons who were in the U.S. before August 22, 1996, and were residents of Rhode Island before July 1, 997, are covered.
  8. Texas denies federal Medicaid to most "qualified" immigrant adults who entered the country on or after August 22, 1996, even after they complete the federal 5-year bar.
  9. States have the option of using federal State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funds to provide prenatal care to women regardless of immigration status. They can also extend prenatal care to immigrant women using state funds.
    National Immigration Law Center, Guide to Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs, Fourth Edition, 2002; with updates from Update Page, www.nilc.org/pubs/Guide_update.htm (accessed October 17, 2008).
  10. Limited funds for prenatal services are available to women up to 200% of the federal poverty level, regardless of immigration status.
  11. Oklahoma has invoked the prenatal care option but has not yet implemented it.
  12. Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are generally barred from federal benefits during their first 5 years as LPRs, unless they entered the U.S. before 8/22/96. Exceptions include refugees and U.S. veterans (and their families). See data source for more details.
    National Immigration Law Center, Guide to Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs, Fourth Edition, 2002; with updates from Update Page, www.nilc.org/pubs/Guide_update.htm (accessed September 6, 2007).