Citizenship or Alien Status

	EAZ	Search for:

Acronyms Revisions WAC Number Index Site Map WCCC DSHS Home

Citizenship or Alien Status

Revised October 28, 2007

Purpose: This chapter describes how to determine a client's citizenship or alien status. It also describes how to determine a client's date of entry, veteran status, work quarters, and SSN requirements. It then explains how these immigration-related factors affect eligibility for both state and federal programs. Specific program eligibility rules are contained in separate sections. Washington provides state-funded programs for many of those immigrants who are not eligible for the federal programs.

A. DEFINITIONS

WAC 388-424-0001 This section provides basic definitions of various citizen and immigrant statuses relevant for determining eligibility for federal and state programs.

B. DATE OF ENTRY

WAC 388-424-0006 This section explains how to determine an alien’s “date of entry” into the United States. It describes which groups of aliens are subject to the five-year bar on receipt of federal means-tested benefits and which groups are not. Finally, it describes how to determine the date on which the five-year bar begins.

C. ARMED SERVICES OR VETERAN STATUS

WAC 388-424-0007 This section describes the ways in which membership in the armed services or veteran status affects eligibility for immigrants and their family members.

D. WORK QUARTERS

WAC 388-424-0008 This section describes how to determine whether an alien can be credited with Social Security Administration (SSA) work quarters. For information on how work quarters affect immigrant eligibility for federal Basic Food assistance, see Section I.

E. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS

WAC 388-424-0009 The purpose of this section is to explain the special situations that affect immigrants when there are requirements for a Social Security number (SSN) in federal and state benefit programs.

F. IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS FOR THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

WAC 388-424-0010 This section provides information on how an alien's immigration status affects their eligibility for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and medical benefits, including non-emergency Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

G. IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS FOR STATE CASH ASSISTANCE AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PROGRAMS – SFA, GA, AND ADATSA

WAC 388-424-0015 This section provides information on how an alien’s immigration status affects their eligibility for the State Family Assistance (SFA), General Assistance (GA), and ADATSA programs.

H. IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS FOR STATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS – MEDICAL CARE SERVICES AND PREGNANCY MEDICAL

WAC 388-424-0016 This section provides information on how an alien's immigration status affects their eligibility for state medical programs.

I. IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED BENEFITS THROUGH THE WASHINGTON BASIC FOOD PROGRAM

WAC 388-424-0020 This section describes which immigrants are eligible for federally funded benefits through the Washington Basic Food Program.

J. IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS FOR STATE FUNDED BENEFITS THROUGH THE WASHINGTON BASIC FOOD PROGRAM

WAC 388-424-0025 The state funded portion of the Washington Basic Food Program (Basic Food) provides benefits to some legal immigrants who are ineligible to receive federally funded Basic Food benefits. This section describes which legal immigrants can receive state funded Basic Food benefits.

Appendix

Appendix I – Decision Trees for Cash/Medical and Basic Food Programs

The “decision trees” in this appendix provide a quick visual overview of the immigrant eligibility requirements for cash/medical and Basic Food programs.

Appendix II – National Immigration Law Center (NILC) Guide

This appendix gives you access to sections of the NILC Guide, which contain descriptions and pictures of key citizenship and immigration documents, and information on how to decipher the coding on these documents.

Appendix III - Statement of Hmong/Highland Lao Tribal Membership

This appendix contains a statement for clients to sign indicating their Hmong or Highland Lao tribal membership during the period of U.S. military operations in Southeast Asia.

Appendix IV – Earnings Required for Work Quarters for Recent Years

This chart shows the amount of earnings needed to qualify for each SSA work quarter of coverage for 1978 through 2004.

Appendix V - Barcode procedures for requesting Work Quarters

This appendix details step-by-step barcode procedures for requesting work quarters through the SSA query system.

Appendix VI – Sample SSN Request Letter

This appendix links to a sample SSN request letter that you can use to request a non-work SSN from the Social Security Administration on behalf of clients applying for benefits.

EAZ