Receiving Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Benefits
and How Your Immigration Status is Effected 5/21/2010
Please Note: Each family situation is different. Contact your local Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Self Reliance Office to receive more detailed information about eligibility for Health and Welfare benefits. The following is provided as an example only.
If you do not have a Green Card but your children are American citizens or have a Green Card:
According to U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services, if you do not have a green card, members of your family who are eligible can use non-cash benefits, including: Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP), Medicaid, Food Stamps, WIC, housing assistance, energy benefits, job training, child care, disaster relief, public health assistance, etc. Use of these benefits will not hurt your chances of getting a green card, becoming a U.S. citizen, or sponsoring relatives in the future.
You might have a problem getting your green card later if you receive long-term hospital or institutional care at government expense or if someone in your family uses cash assistance and it is your family’s main source of income.
If you are a Refugee:
If you are a refugee, you can use any benefits, including cash assistance and long-term care, without hurting your chances of getting a green card.
If you have a Green Card:
According to U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services, if you or a family member has a green card, the green card cannot be taken away for using non-cash benefits, including Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP), Medicaid, Food Stamps, WIC, housing assistance, energy benefits, job training, child care, disaster relief, public health assistance, etc. Using non-cash benefits will not prevent you from sponsoring relatives if you can show that you or your co-sponsor earns enough income to support them.
Exceptions that could affect your Green Card status:
If you receive Medicaid for long-term hospital or institutional care during your first five years in the U.S. for a condition that existed before you entered the U.S.
If you leave the U.S. for more than six continuous months after using cash assistance or long-term care.
Contact your local Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Self Reliance Office:
You can call the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine to get contact information for your local Self Reliance office. Dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588.