Citizenship and Alien Status - Immigrant Eligibility Restrictions for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medical Assistance Programs
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Citizenship and Alien Status - Immigrant Eligibility Restrictions for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medical Assistance Programs

Revised April 18, 2013

Purpose: This section provides information on how an alien's immigration status affects their eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and medical benefits, including non-emergency Medicaid and the state children’s health insurance program (CHIP).
WAC 388-424-0010Citizenship and alien status - Eligibility for TANF, Medicaid, and CHIP.

WAC 388-424-0010

WAC 388-424-0010

Effective June 1, 2012

WAC 388-424-0010 Citizenship and alien status - Eligibility for TANF, Medicaid, and CHIP.

1.      To receive  temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), Medicaid, or children's health insurance program (CHIP), an individual must meet all other eligibility requirements and be one of the following as defined in WAC 388-424-0001:

a.      A United States (U.S.) citizen; 

b.      A U.S. national;

c.      An American Indian born outside the U.S.;

d.      A “qualified alien”;

e.      A victim of trafficking; or

f.        A Hmong or Highland Lao.

2.      A “qualified alien” who first physically entered the U.S. before August 22, 1996 as described in WAC 388-424-0006 (1)  may receive TANF, medicaid, and CHIP.

3.      A “qualified alien” who first physically entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996 cannot receive TANF, Medicaid, or CHIP for five years after obtaining status as a qualified alien unless the criteria in WAC 388-424-0006 (4) are met.

4. A lawfully present "nonqualified alien" child or pregnant woman as defined in WAC 388-424-0001 who meet residency requirements as defined in WAC 388-468-0005  may receive medicaid or CHIP.

5.  An alien who is ineligible for TANF, Medicaid or CHIP because of the five-year bar or because of their immigration status may be eligible for:

a.    Emergency benefits as described in WAC 388-436-0015 (consolidated emergency assistance program) and WAC 388-438-0110  (alien medical program); or

b.      State-funded cash or chemical dependency benefits as described in WAC 388-424-0015 (state family assistance (SFA), Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) cash, and the alcohol and drug addiction treatment and support act (ADATSA) ) and medical benefits as described in WAC 182-503-0532; or

c.      Pregnancy medical benefits for noncitizen women as described in  WAC 388-462-0015(3)  ; or

d.     State-funded apple health for kids as described in WAC 388-505-0210  (5).

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION

  1. For Title XIX Medicaid programs, all U.S. citizens as defined in WAC 388-424-0001, must verify citizenship and identity to receive or continue benefits.  If a U.S. citizen does not have verification of citizenship but has a valid SSN see worker responsibilities #2 below.
  2. For other programs, when a client states he or she is a U.S. citizen, take this declaration at face value.  Do not routinely request proof of citizenship unless there is a specific and substantive reason to do so, such as an inconsistency in a client's statements or in the information presented on their application for benefits.
  3. Immigrant children and pregnant women who are lawfully present non-qualified aliens as defined in WAC 388-424-0001 and meet residency requirements in WAC 388-468-0005 are eligible for federally funded medical benefits, unless they are approved under Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The following non-qualified aliens are considered lawfully present and eligible for federally funded Apple Health for Kids or pregnancy medical if they meet all other eligibility criteria:
    • Pending applicants for Asylum, Withholding of Deportation/Removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) if over age 14 with an approved work authorization or if under 14 and their application has been pending for 180 days or more;
    • Aliens who have been granted withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT);
    • Aliens who have been paroled into the U.S. for less than 1 year;
    • Aliens in current lawful temporary resident status (LTR), current Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or pending applicants for TPS granted employment authorization;
    • Aliens granted deferred action status, with the exception of Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED);
    • Family Unity beneficiaries;
    • A child who has a pending application for Special Immigrant Juvenile status;
    • Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.  These persons have special rights under compacts of Free Association and are lawfully allowed to enter, reside and work in the U.S., but are not U.S. Nationals.  They are considered lawfully present non-qualified aliens unless they have some other immigration status;
    • Individuals with approved relative visa petitions who have applied and are pending adjustment to LPR status;

NOTE:
  1. For Title XIX Medicaid programs, all U.S. citizens as defined in WAC 388-424-0001, must verify citizenship and identity to receive or continue benefits.  If a U.S. citizen does not have verification of citizenship but has a valid SSN see worker responsibilities #2 below.
  2. For other programs, when a client states he or she is a U.S. citizen, take this declaration at face value.  Do not routinely request proof of citizenship unless there is a specific and substantive reason to do so, such as an inconsistency in a client's statements or in the information presented on their application for benefits.
  3. Immigrant children and pregnant women who are lawfully present non-qualified aliens as defined in WAC 388-424-0001 and meet residency requirements in WAC 388-468-0005 are eligible for federally funded medical benefits, unless they are approved under Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The following non-qualified aliens are considered lawfully present and eligible for federally funded Apple Health for Kids or pregnancy medical if they meet all other eligibility criteria:
    • Pending applicants for Asylum, Withholding of Deportation/Removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) if over age 14 with an approved work authorization or if under 14 and their application has been pending for 180 days or more;
    • Aliens who have been granted withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT);
    • Aliens who have been paroled into the U.S. for less than 1 year;
    • Aliens in current lawful temporary resident status (LTR), current Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or pending applicants for TPS granted employment authorization;
    • Aliens granted deferred action status, with the exception of Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED);
    • Family Unity beneficiaries;
    • A child who has a pending application for Special Immigrant Juvenile status;
    • Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.  These persons have special rights under compacts of Free Association and are lawfully allowed to enter, reside and work in the U.S., but are not U.S. Nationals.  They are considered lawfully present non-qualified aliens unless they have some other immigration status;
    • Individuals with approved relative visa petitions who have applied and are pending adjustment to LPR status;

  • Aliens who have been granted employment authorization under one of the following categories:
    1. C9 - pending adjustment of status under section 245;
    2. C10 - Applicant for Suspension of Deportation or Cancellation of Removal;
    3. C16 - Applicant for creation of record of lawful admission for permanent residence;
    4. C18 - Order of Supervision;
    5. C20 - Applicant for Special Agricultural Worker Legalization under Section 210;
    6. C22 - Applicant for legalization under Section 245A; or
    7. C24 - Applicant for adjustment under the LIFE Act Legalization Program.

NOTE:

An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) does not in itself confer immigration status.  EADs contain coded information that indicates a client's immigration status.  Immigrants with a variety of statuses may be issued an EAD.  An expired EAD does not mean that a person's immigration status has expired and should not in itself be a reason to deny benefits.

  • Aliens with a current nonimmigrant status who have not violated the terms of their status.  Examples include:
    1. "U" visa holders;
    2. Religious workers under section 101(a)(15)(R) of the INA;
    3. An individual with a petition pending for 3 years or more, as permitted under section 101(a)(15)(V) of the INA;
    4. A fiancé of a citizen, as permitted under section 101(a)(15)(K) of the INA;
    5. Tourist/Visitor visa holders; and 
    6. Visitors on business. 

NOTE:

Examples of violation of status are persons who overstay their visa or work without permission from USCIS.  If in violation of status and still in the U.S. without proof of pending status change or extension of status, these nonimmigrants are considered undocumented.

EXAMPLE

A client applying for benefits has an I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) with a "B2" code that is not expired.  According to the NILC Guide, "B2" signifies tourist status.  A person with a tourist status is considered a lawfully present nonimmigrant and if otherwise eligible (including residency requirements) may qualify for Apple Health for Kids or pregnancy medical benefits.

EXAMPLE

A five-person family applies for benefits.  The father has a Lawful Permanent Resident card (I-551) but the mother and three children only have Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).  All four EADs are coded "A15".  According to the NILC Guide, the "A-15" code indicates "V" status.  These are spouses and children of lawful permanent residents whose visa petitions have been pending for at least three years.  Immigrants with "V" status are lawfully present non-qualified aliens.  These aliens may qualify for state benefits or federal Apple Health for Kids or pregnancy medical.  The father may be eligible for federal benefits depending on other factors such as date of entry into the U.S.

EXAMPLE

A mother and child apply for benefits. The mother has an I-94 Arrival/Departure form stamped with a "U" visa stamp that is currently valid.  The child would likely have been included as a dependent on the mother's U visa application.  Both mother and child are considered "lawfully residing" and may be eligible for state benefits or federal Apple Health for kids or pregnancy medical.

4.  Immigrants who are not eligible for the federal TANF and medical programs should be considered for the state programs.  They should also be provided information about naturalization assistance offered by naturalization agencies.  For information on the Department's naturalization assistance program, see the Social Services Manual, SSI Facilitation – Facilitation Process – SSI Facilitation Process.

5.  Immigrants from Iraq or Afghanistan who were granted Special Immigrant Status under section 101(a)(27) of the INA are qualified aliens and are eligible for federally funded benefits, such as TANF, Basic Food and Medicaid, to the same extent and for the same time period as refugees.  Their eligibility period starts from their date of entry into the United States or, if occurred after the U.S. entry, the date Special Immigrant Status was granted.  For more information on documentation, immigration status codes, benefit eligibility and a step-by-step process for these immigrants, please see desk aid Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants Benefits.

If you have questions regarding eligibility or how to process a case, please contact Tome Berry or Olga Walker, in the CSD Office of Programs and Policy -

Tom (360) 725-4617 or by e-mail at berry@dshs.wa.gov
Olga (360) 725-4641 or by e-mail at walkeop@dshs.wa.gov

If you have questions regarding eligibility or how to process a medical only case, please contact Dody McAlpine or Kathy Johansen, in HCA Office of Medicaid, Medicare Eligibility & Policy.

Dody (360) 725-9964 or by e-mail at dody.mcalpine@hca.wa.gov
Kathy (360) 725-1321 or by e-mail at Kathy.Johansen@hca.wa.gov

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Gather all the information necessary to determine eligibility as described in WAC 388-424-0001, WAC 388-424-0006, WAC 388-424-0007, WAC 388-424-0008, and WAC 388-424-0009. Document immigration status, date of entry, armed service/veteran status, work quarters, and SSN information in ACES. Inform any client who is subject to the five-year bar of the expiration date of their five-year bar and of the need to inform the Department if family members become citizens (including parents who have children under 18).

  2. For U.S citizens, with a valid SSN applying for Medicaid, who cannot verify citizenship:

    1. Accept declaration; and

    2. Code ACES valid value with "CS".


NOTE:

Once the SSN is federally verified, ACES will send back to SSA to verify citizenship status.  If SSA cannot verify citizenship, MPA will receive an alert to work with the client to verify citizenship (see citizenship and identity requirements for Medicaid ).

3.  For aliens who have an Affidavit of Support form (I-864) filled out on their behalf, be sure to determine work quarters and citizenship status. If the affidavit is still in effect:

  1. See WAC 388-450-0155 and WAC 388-450-0156  to determine if sponsor deeming applies;

  2. See WAC 388-450-0160  for treatment of the sponsor's income; and

  3. See WAC 388-470-0060  for treatment of the sponsor's resources.

ACES PROCEDURES

Alien Emergency Medical

See Medical - Alien

See TANF Processing for Special Immigrants

Modification Date: April 18, 2013