8 U.S.C. § 1612

Title 8 Chapter 14 Current through PL 119-73 Last updated: March 29, 2026 View on OLRC →

Sections in this chapter

§ 1612. Limited eligibility of qualified aliens for certain Federal programs

(a)
- (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in paragraph (2), an alien who is a qualified alien (as defined in section 1641 of this title ) is not eligible for any specified Federal program (as defined in paragraph (3)).
- (2)
  - (A) With respect to the specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 7 years after the date—
    - (i) an alien is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1157 ];
    - (ii) an alien is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1158 ];
    - (iii) an alien’s deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1253 ] (as in effect immediately before the effective date of section 307 of division C of Public Law 104–208 ) or section 241(b)(3) of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3) ] (as amended by section 305(a) of division C of Public Law 104–208 );
    - (iv) an alien is granted status as a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980); or
    - (v) an alien is admitted to the United States as an Amerasian immigrant pursuant to section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988 (as contained in section 101(e) of Public Law 100–202 and amended by the 9th proviso under migration and refugee assistance in title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1989, Public Law 100–461 , as amended).
  - (B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien who—
    - (i) is lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.]; and
    - (ii)
      - (I) has worked 40 qualifying quarters of coverage as defined under title II of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.] or can be credited with such qualifying quarters as provided under section 1645 of this title , and (II) in the case of any such qualifying quarter creditable for any period beginning after December 31, 1996 , did not receive any Federal means-tested public benefit (as provided under section 1613 of this title ) during any such period.
  - (C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien who is lawfully residing in any State and is—
    - (i) a veteran (as defined in section 101, 1101, or 1301, or as described in section 107 of title 38 ) with a discharge characterized as an honorable discharge and not on account of alienage and who fulfills the minimum active-duty service requirements of section 5303A(d) of title 38 ,
    - (ii) on active duty (other than active duty for training) in the Armed Forces of the United States, or
    - (iii) the spouse or unmarried dependent child of an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) or the unremarried surviving spouse of an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) who is deceased if the marriage fulfills the requirements of section 1304 of title 38 .
  - (D)
    - (i)
      - (I) With respect to the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(A), during the period beginning on August 22, 1996 , and ending on September 30, 1998 , the Commissioner of Social Security shall redetermine the eligibility of any individual who is receiving benefits under such program as of August 22, 1996 , and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of the provisions of this subsection.
      - (II) With respect to any redetermination under subclause (I), the Commissioner of Social Security shall apply the eligibility criteria for new applicants for benefits under such program.
      - (III) The provisions of this subsection and the redetermination under subclause (I), shall only apply with respect to the benefits of an individual described in subclause (I) for months beginning on or after September 30, 1998 .
      - (IV) Not later than March 31, 1997 , the Commissioner of Social Security shall notify an individual described in subclause (I) of the provisions of this clause.
    - (ii)
      - (I) With respect to the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), ineligibility under paragraph (1) shall not apply until April 1, 1997 , to an alien who received benefits under such program on August 22, 1996 , unless such alien is determined to be ineligible to receive such benefits under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 1 1 See References in Text note below. [ 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.]. The State agency shall recertify the eligibility of all such aliens during the period beginning April 1, 1997 , and ending August 22, 1997 .
      - (II) With respect to any recertification under subclause (I), the State agency shall apply the eligibility criteria for applicants for benefits under such program.
      - (III) The provisions of this subsection and the recertification under subclause (I) shall only apply with respect to the eligibility of an alien for a program for months beginning on or after the date of recertification, if on August 22, 1996 , the alien is lawfully residing in any State and is receiving benefits under such program on August 22, 1996 .
  - (E) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien who is lawfully residing in the United States and who was receiving such benefits on August 22, 1996 .
  - (F) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien who—
    - (i) in the case of the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(A)—
      - (I) was lawfully residing in the United States on August 22, 1996 ; and
      - (II) is blind or disabled (as defined in paragraph (2) or (3) of section 1614(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382c(a) )); and
    - (ii) in the case of the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), is receiving benefits or assistance for blindness or disability (within the meaning of section 3(j) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 1 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012(r) )). 2 2 So in original. Probably should be “2012(j))).”.
  - (G) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3), section 1611(a) of this title and paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual—
    - (i) who is an American Indian born in Canada to whom the provisions of section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1359 ) apply; or
    - (ii) who is a member of an Indian tribe (as defined in section 5304(e) of title 25 ).
  - (H) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program), paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual—
    - (i) who is receiving benefits under such program for months after July 1996 on the basis of an application filed before January 1, 1979 ; and
    - (ii) with respect to whom the Commissioner of Social Security lacks clear and convincing evidence that such individual is an alien ineligible for such benefits as a result of the application of this section.
  - (I) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual who on August 22, 1996 —
    - (i) was lawfully residing in the United States; and
    - (ii) was 65 years of age or older.
  - (J) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual who is under 18 years of age.
  - (K) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to—
    - (i) any individual who—
      - (I) is lawfully residing in the United States; and
      - (II) was a member of a Hmong or Highland Laotian tribe at the time that the tribe rendered assistance to United States personnel by taking part in a military or rescue operation during the Vietnam era (as defined in section 101 of title 38 );
    - (ii) the spouse, or an unmarried dependent child, of such an individual; or
    - (iii) the unremarried surviving spouse of such an individual who is deceased.
  - (L) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to any qualified alien who has resided in the United States with a status within the meaning of the term “qualified alien” for a period of 5 years or more beginning on the date of the alien’s entry into the United States.
  - (M)
    - (i)
      - (I) Subject to clause (ii), with respect to eligibility for benefits under subparagraph (A) for the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(A) of qualified aliens (as defined in section 1641(b) of this title ) and victims of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 7105(b)(1)(C) of title 22 or as granted status under section 101(a)(15)(T)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(T)(ii) ]), the 7-year period described in subparagraph (A) shall be deemed to be a 9-year period during fiscal years 2009 through 2011 in the case of such a qualified alien or victim of trafficking who furnishes to the Commissioner of Social Security the declaration required under subclause (IV) (if applicable) and is described in subclause (III).
      - (II) Subject to clause (ii), beginning on September 30, 2008 , any qualified alien (as defined in section 1641(b) of this title ) or victim of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 7105(b)(1)(C) of title 22 or as granted status under section 101(a)(15)(T)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(T)(ii) ]) rendered ineligible for the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(A) during the period beginning on August 22, 1996 , and ending on September 30, 2008 , solely by reason of the termination of the 7-year period described in subparagraph (A) shall be eligible for such program for an additional 2-year period in accordance with this clause, if such qualified alien or victim of trafficking meets all other eligibility factors under title XVI of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.], furnishes to the Commissioner of Social Security the declaration required under subclause (IV) (if applicable), and is described in subclause (III).
      - (III) For purposes of subclauses (I) and (II), a qualified alien or victim of trafficking described in this subclause is an alien or victim who—
      - (IV)
      - (V) Benefits paid to a qualified alien or victim described in subclause (II) shall be paid prospectively over the duration of the qualified alien’s or victim’s renewed eligibility.
    - (ii) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified program described in paragraph (3)(A), paragraph (1) shall not apply during fiscal years 2009 through 2011 to an alien described in one of clauses (i) through (v) of subparagraph (A) or a victim of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 7105(b)(1)(C) of title 22 or as granted status under section 101(a)(15)(T)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(T)(ii) ]), if such alien or victim (including any such alien or victim rendered ineligible for the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(A) during the period beginning on August 22, 1996 , and ending on September 30, 2008 , solely by reason of the termination of the 7-year period described in subparagraph (A)) has filed an application for naturalization that is pending before the Secretary of Homeland Security or a United States district court based on section 336(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1447(b) ], or has been approved for naturalization but not yet sworn in as a United States citizen, and the Commissioner of Social Security has verified, through procedures established in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, that such application is pending or has been approved.
  - (N) With respect to eligibility for benefits for any specified Federal program, paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual who lawfully resides in the United States in accordance with section 141 of the Compacts of Free Association between the Government of the United States and the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
- (3) For purposes of this chapter, the term “specified Federal program” means any of the following:
  - (A) The supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.], including supplementary payments pursuant to an agreement for Federal administration under section 1616(a) of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 1382e(a) ] and payments pursuant to an agreement entered into under section 212(b) of Public Law 93–66 .
  - (B) The food stamp program as defined in section 3( l ) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. 1
(b)
- (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in section 1613 of this title and paragraph (2), a State is authorized to determine the eligibility of an alien who is a qualified alien (as defined in section 1641 of this title ) for any designated Federal program (as defined in paragraph (3)).
- (2) Qualified aliens under this paragraph shall be eligible for any designated Federal program.
  - (A)
    - (i) With respect to the designated Federal program described in paragraph (3)(C), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 7 years after the date—
      - (I) an alien is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1157 ];
      - (II) an alien is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1158 ];
      - (III) an alien’s deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1253 ] (as in effect immediately before the effective date of section 307 of division C of Public Law 104–208 ) or section 241(b)(3) of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3) ] (as amended by section 305(a) of division C of Public Law 104–208 );
      - (IV) an alien is granted status as a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980); or
      - (V) an alien 3 3 So in original. Probably should be “alien is”. admitted to the United States as an Amerasian immigrant as described in subsection (a)(2)(A)(i)(V) 1 until 5 years after the date of such alien’s entry into the United States.
    - (ii) With respect to the designated Federal programs under paragraph (3) (other than subparagraph (C)), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 5 years after the date—
      - (I) an alien is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1157 ];
      - (II) an alien is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1158 ];
      - (III) an alien’s deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1253 ] (as in effect immediately before the effective date of section 307 of division C of Public Law 104–208 ) or section 241(b)(3) of such Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3) ] (as amended by section 305(a) of division C of Public Law 104–208 );
      - (IV) an alien is granted status as a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980); or
      - (V) an alien 3 admitted to the United States as an Amerasian immigrant as described in subsection (a)(2)(A)(i)(V) 1 until 5 years after the date of such alien’s entry into the United States.
  - (B) An alien who—
    - (i) is lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.]; and
    - (ii)
      - (I) has worked 40 qualifying quarters of coverage as defined under title II of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.] or can be credited with such qualifying quarters as provided under section 1645 of this title , and (II) in the case of any such qualifying quarter creditable for any period beginning after December 31, 1996 , did not receive any Federal means-tested public benefit (as provided under section 1613 of this title ) during any such period.
  - (C) An alien who is lawfully residing in any State and is—
    - (i) a veteran (as defined in section 101, 1101, or 1301, or as described in section 107 of title 38 ) with a discharge characterized as an honorable discharge and not on account of alienage and who fulfills the minimum active-duty service requirements of section 5303A(d) of title 38 ,
    - (ii) on active duty (other than active duty for training) in the Armed Forces of the United States, or
    - (iii) the spouse or unmarried dependent child of an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) or the unremarried surviving spouse of an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) who is deceased if the marriage fulfills the requirements of section 1304 of title 38 .
  - (D) An alien who on August 22, 1996 , is lawfully residing in any State and is receiving benefits under such program on August 22, 1996 , shall continue to be eligible to receive such benefits until January 1, 1997 .
  - (E) With respect to eligibility for benefits for the program defined in paragraph (3)(C) (relating to the medicaid program), section 1611(a) of this title and paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual described in subsection (a)(2)(G).
  - (F) An alien who is receiving benefits under the program defined in subsection (a)(3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program) shall be eligible for medical assistance under a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) under the same terms and conditions that apply to other recipients of benefits under the program defined in such subsection.
  - (G) With respect to eligibility for benefits for any designated Federal program, paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual who lawfully resides in 1 of the 50 States or the District of Columbia in accordance with the Compacts of Free Association between the Government of the United States and the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau and shall not apply, at the option of the Governor of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa as communicated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services in writing, to any individual who lawfully resides in the respective territory in accordance with such Compacts.
- (3) For purposes of this chapter, the term “designated Federal program” means any of the following:
  - (A) The program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.].
  - (B) The program of block grants to States for social services under title XX of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 1397 et seq.].
  - (C) A State plan approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.], other than medical assistance described in section 1611(b)(1)(A) of this title .

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