Government Benefits
for Non-Citizens
October 2013
Laura Melnick
SMRLS
651-894-6932
laura.melnick@smrls.org
Government Benefits for Non-Citizens
1. Welfare reform
2. Definitions: qualified and unqualified
immigrants, “battered immigrants”
3. Sponsor-deeming
4. “SAVE”
5. Reporting to Immigration
6. Public charge considerations
7. 5-year Bar
8. Federal cash and food benefits:
a.
SSI
b.
SNAP (food stamps)
9. State and federal/state cash & food
benefits
a. cash and food: TANF – families
(i) FSS (Family Stabilization Services)
(ii) DWP (Diversionary Work)
(iii) MFIP (MN Family Investment Program)
(iv) WB (Work Participation Cash Benes.)
b. cash: GA (General Assistance)
c. cash: MSA (Minnesota Supplemental Assistance)
d. emergencies: EA (Emergency Assistance), and
EGA (Emergency GA)
e. non-need-based: UI (Unemployment Insurance)
f. food MFAP (MN Food Assistance Program)
g.
health care
(i) MA (Medical Assistance)
(ii) EMA (Emergency MA)
(iii) MinnesotaCare
10. other benefits
11. considerations for mixed-status
households
12. scenarios
1. Welfare reform
 enacted August 22, 1996
 replaced AFDC (family cash program)
with “TANF” block grants to states
 imposed lifetime limits on, and work
requirements for, family cash
assistance
 eliminated SSI & food stamp eligibility
for many non-citizens (“Restricting Welfare
and Public Benefits for Aliens” provision)
 required certain agencies to file reports with
Immigration
Post-1996 federal law changes (all good!)
 IIRIRA - ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM &
IMMIGRANT RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1996
• amended definition of “Qualified Alien” to include
battered non-citizen.
• (BUT – clarified that SSDI & retirement benefits could
not be paid to anyone not “lawfully present” in US)
 BBA - BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 1997
• broadened eligibility for SSI based on disability;
• extended SSI window for refugees, asylees to 7
years;
• treated Amerasian immigrants as refugees;
• broadened “qualified” definition to include certain
Indians born in Canada; &
• added surviving spouses to US vet exception.
 1998 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ACT
restored food stamp eligibility to certain groups of
legal immigrants (those receiving disability benefits,
elderly, under 18, Hmong/Laotian); also extended
window for refugees, asylees to 7 years (from 5).
 FARM BILL OF 2002
significantly broadened eligibility for food stamps for
non-citizens beginning 2003 (allowed all “qualified”
non-citizens to get food stamps 5 years after
arrival; eliminated 5-year wait for certain groups).
 SSI EXTENSION FOR ELDERLY AND
DISABLED REFUGEES ACT OF 2008
allowed certain humanitarian immigrants an
additional 2-3 years of SSI past their “window.”
2. Definitions
for eligibility for FEDERAL benefits.
“QUALIFIED” NON-CITIZEN
 lawfully admitted for permanent residence under
the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA)
 “refugee,” including Haitian, Cuban, & Amerasian
 granted asylum or parol
 granted conditional entry before 4/1/80
 deportation withheld or removal cancelled
 granted T-Visa
 “battered immigrant”
“UNQUALIFIED” NON-CITIZENS
 expired or no documentation
 pending application for adjustment, asylum,
suspension of deportation, or cancellation of
removal
 lawful temporary resident under amnesty program
 non-immigrant (temporary protected status, or
student, visitor, or temporary worker visa)
 U-visa (crime victim)
 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA)
“BATTERED IMMIGRANTS”
can qualify for range of federal & state-funded
benefits but must wait 5 years for SNAP, SSI, MA:
o must have been battered or subjected to
extreme cruelty in U.S. by U.S. citizen or LPR
parent, spouse, or relative in same household,
AND
o must no longer live with abuser, AND
o need for benefits must be “substantially
connected” to abuse, AND
applicant must either:
• be spouse or child of U.S. citizen AND
have petitioned for adjustment of status
under Violence against Women Act
(VAWA); OR
• be spouse or child of U.S. citizen OR
LPR AND have petitioned for
cancellation of removal under
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
3. Sponsor-deeming
attribution of income from sponsor to immigrant
can make certain immigrants COMPLETELY
INELIGIBLE for almost all types of public assistance!
 Requirement imposed by 1996 welfare reform
law.
 Began December 19, 1997 with implementation
of “Affidavit of Support” form (form I-864).
 Applies only to family-based immigrants
(immigrants arriving through petition from family
member) & immigrants who come to US to work
in family-owned business).
Deeming does NOT apply to:
 refugees, asylees, parolees
 diversity visa (visa lottery) recipients
 Cuban/Haitian entrants
 people granted Temporary Protected Status
 children under 18 (for SNAP and MA only)
 pregnant women (MA & MinnesotaCare only)
How deeming works
• 100% of income & assets of sponsor AND
sponsor’s spouse are considered fully available
to immigrant. (Less harsh deeming for SNAP).
• Sponsor’s family size & fixed debts are irrelevant.
• Burden of proving sponsor has little income on
immigrant applying for public assistance.
• Income and assets deemed until: immigrant
becomes U.S. citizen, works 10 years, or dies;
OR sponsor dies.
• Divorce from sponsor has no effect on deeming.
• Whether deeming will affect people other
than sponsored immigrant varies by type of
assistance program.
• In MFIP & other family cash programs, & for
MinnesotaCare, income is deemed to all
members of “assistance unit.”
• In MA, income & assets are deemed only to
sponsored immigrant.
2 exceptions to deeming:
A. Indigence exception:
 Sponsor-deeming will NOT apply if welfare
agency determines that, as result of sponsor’s
failure to support, immigrant is without food and
shelter.
 12-month renewals available.
 Govt. can sue sponsor for reimbursement.
(Immigrant can sue sponsor, too, for nonsupport).
B. Battered spouse/child exception
 Deeming will NOT apply if immigrant or child is
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by
spouse or parent, or by relative of spouse or parent in
same household.
 Immigrant can’t have participated in abuse of child.
 Immigrant must show that battery or cruelty is
substantially connected to need for benefits.
 Exception ends after 12 months, UNLESS battery
was perpetrated by sponsor AND is recognized in
court order (OFP, etc.) or USCIS determination.
 Government can sue for reimbursement; immigrant
can sue for non-support.
Deeming applies to:
 cash programs: SSI, MSA, GA, MFIP, EA
 food programs: SNAP for adults; MFAP
 health care programs: MA, MinnesotaCare
Deeming does NOT apply to:
o EMA (Emergency Medical Assistance)
o MA & MinnesotaCare for pregnant women &
children
o SNAP for children
o Basic Sliding Fee child care
o SSDI
o UI
Special 3-year deeming for MFIP
• 3-year deeming in state law for MFIP only.
• Applies only to those who came to U.S.
through means other than relative petition
(such as diversity visa).
• Does not affect refugees or asylees.
• Takes into account sponsor’s family size &
support obligations.
4. “SAVE”
Systematic Alien
Verification for Entitlements
o Inter-agency governmental informationsharing program
o Used to verify immigration status for
public assistance & public housing
o NOT used for reporting immigration
status (or lack thereof) to Immigration
5. Reporting to Immigration
requirement stems from 1996 welfare reform law
WHO IS REQUIRED TO REPORT?
Only:
agencies receiving “TANF” funds (in MN,
that means county agencies administering
MFIP & DWP benefits)
Social Security Administration
public housing agencies contracting with
HUD
WHAT MUST BE REPORTED?
names, addresses, & other
“identifying information”
ON
anyone worker “knows” is
unlawfully in U.S.
Reporting in Minnesota
protocols require that agencies:
 report to MDHS rather than to Immigration
 not verify status if not relevant to benefit
being sought
 stop inquiring about status when applicants
are unwilling/unable to verify
 interpret “knowledge” very narrowly
 comply strictly with data privacy laws
6. “Public charge”
 Receiving/having dependents receive certain benefits
may affect ability to adjust to LPR status.
 Benefits considered are:
 cash benefits: MFIP, DWP, SSI, MSA, GA
 long-term medical care (nursing home care)
 Benefits not considered include health care, WIC,
housing & energy assistance, & benefits not
intended for income maintenance.
 Receipt of SNAP or state-funded food support not a
factor for public charge determinations.
7. “5-year bar”
5-year “bar” prevents immigrants from
receiving federal benefits during first 5 years
in “qualified” status.
Benefits affected are SSI, SNAP, MA, &
federally-funded MFIP.
During 5-year wait period, immigrants may
receive state-funded benefits if eligible for
them (& such benefits exist).
BENEFITS!
8. Federal cash & food benefits:
a. Supplemental Security
Income (SSI)
Social Security administers
2 types of disability benefits:
SSI, for low-income, low-asset
individuals. Recipients must be too
disabled to work or 65 or older.
SSDI, for people too disabled to work
who meet earnings requirements by
having paid into system via FICA wage
deductions.
To qualify for SSI, noncitizen applicants must:
meet definition of “qualified” noncitizens under federal law;
AND
meet certain residency requirements.
SSI residency issues:
A. immigrants lawfully residing in U.S.
before welfare reform (8/22/96)
 if on SSI on 8/22/96, can keep getting SSI as
long as elderly or disabled.
 if not on SSI on 8/26/96, can get SSI now if:
• “qualified” AND
• disabled.
 Can’t get SSI based on age (over 65).
B. arriving after welfare reform
(coming to U.S. or adjusting to LPR status after
8/22/96)
 If “unqualified,” can’t get SSI.
 Even if “qualified,” probably can’t get SSI.
There are 3 exceptions.
Exceptions to SSI ineligibiity:
 1) refugees, asylees, & those granted
withholding: 7 year window of eligibility (from
date of grant of status).
 2) U.S. veterans, active-duty members of U.S.
armed forces, & spouses or minor children of
vets & active duty members: no time limits, not
subject to 5-year bar.
Hmong soldiers who fought with the CIA in
Vietnam War not considered “U.S. veterans.”
 3) workers (or those credited with at least 40
work quarters): no time limits, but 5-year bar
applies.
Note about work exception:
o Only work where FICA taxes deducted from pay
counts toward 40-quarter requirement.
o Quarters can be attributed from spouse to spouse &
from parent to minor child. Minor children can carry
parents’ quarters into adulthood.
o Any quarters worked after December 31, 1996 in
which hh received federal “need-based” benefits
(AFDC, MFIP, SNAP, SSI, MA) do not count as
quarters.
Sponsor-deeming
and Social Security
o Because SSI is need-based
program, sponsor-deeming
may preclude eligibility.
o Because SSDI is not needbased, sponsor-deeming does
not apply.
b. SNAP
Except when sponsor-deeming
applies, all “qualified” non-citizens
are potentially eligible for SNAP.
Applicants may have to wait 5
years to get SNAP benefits.
SNAP exemptions from 5-year bar
 refugees, asylees, & those granted withholding
of deportation
 U.S. veterans & active-duty members of U.S.
armed forces (& their spouses & unmarried
dependents)
 elderly immigrants who were “lawfully residing”
in U.S. AND at least 65 on 8/22/96
 disabled (certified by State or SSA)
 under age 18
 Hmong or Highland Lao
9. State (and federal/state)
cash & food benefits
requirement for all state cash & food benefits:
“steps” toward citizenship
 Most recipients of state-funded assistance must take
“steps” toward obtaining citizenship.
 They don’t have to take such steps if:
 legally residing in U.S. fewer than 4 years;
 are age 70 or older; OR
 living in nursing home, group home, or similar
facility.
“Steps” toward citizenship
“steps” =
o
o
o
o
taking citizenship, literacy, or ESL class
being on wait list for ESL or literacy class
having application for citizenship on file
applying for waiver of citizenship test
requirements
o having failed citizenship test at least twice or
being unable to understand rights &
responsibilities of citizenship.
“Lawfully residing people”
Some non-citizens not eligible for federal
benefits may get state-funded benefits:
 Lawful Temporary Residents
 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients
 applicants for asylum or withholding who have
employment authorization
 spouses or children of U.S. citizens with
approved visa petition or pending application for
adjustment to LPR
 Others permitted to stay in US for humanitarian
or public policy reasons. (Category includes
Deferred Enforced Departure [DED], deferred
action, voluntary departure)
Victims of Trafficking: T Visas
o Victims of trafficking who have “T”
visas are eligible for both federal and
state-funded benefits to extent that
refugees are eligible.
o To qualify, T visa holders must get
certification from the Office of Refugee
Resettlement (ORR).
Crime Victims: U Visas
• Crime victim recipients of “U” Visas are not eligible
for federally-funded benefits; U Visa is “nonimmigrant” visa.
• U Visa holders are not eligible for state-funded cash
benefits.
• They are eligible for MinnesotaCare.
• They are eligible for state-funded food benefits
(MFAP) if they meet categorical eligibility
requirements.
DACA recipients
o Those granted Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are not
considered “lawfully residing” for MA
(according to HHS).
o DACA recipients should qualify for
MinnesotaCare.
a.
cash & food: TANF
(i) FSS – Family Support Services
(ii) DWP – Diversionary Work Program
(iii) MFIP – Minnesota Family Investment Prog.
(iv) WB – Work Participation Cash Benefits
MFIP, DWP, FSS & WB = programs that
have replaced AFDC.
They provide cash assistance to families with
minor children. Cash grants for MFIP, DWP
& FSS are very low: $437 for a household of
2, $532 for 3, $621 for 4, $697 for 5, etc.
Adults without minor children are not eligible
for FSS, DWP, MFIP or WB.
FSS, DWP, MFIP & WB
 Most non-citizens here lawfully & permanently can
get family cash benefits if categorically eligible,
whether “qualified” or “unqualified” under federal law.
 Certain non-citizens can only get state-funded
benefits. (Eligibility depends on date of arrival in U.S.
& immigration category).
 Newly-arrived (here < 1 year) are exempt from DWP.
 State-funded benefit recipients must take “steps”
toward citizenship.
 Sponsor-deeming may preclude eligibility.
MFIP & DWP work plans & ESL
Most MFIP recipients have to work, unless exempted.
o Counties may allow non-English speakers to include
ESL in job search & work plans if spoken language
proficiency level low enough on standardized testing.
o MFIP recipients may fulfill only half of work
participation requirements through ESL, unless taking
intensive functional work literacy.
o MFIP & DWP recipients may include ESL in work
plans for total of only 24 months (out of 60).
b. cash:
General Assistance (GA)
GA is state-funded program for low-income,
low-asset individuals not living with minor
children.
GA is also for minor children whose adult
caregivers don’t qualify for MFIP due to
relationship status.
GA pays $203 per month for individual &
$260 for married couple.
 Legal immigrants residing in U.S. permanently
(or with pending application for adjustment) may
get GA if meet other eligibility criteria.
 If under 70 & here at least 4 years, must take
steps toward citizenship.
 Sponsor-deeming may preclude eligibility.
c. Cash: Minnesota Supplemental
Assistance (MSA)
 MSA is state supplement for recipients of SSI (or
those who would receive SSI but for excess
income).
 MSA serves to ameliorate high housing costs.
 SSI recipients living in “shared households”
usually ineligible for MSA.
 Average MSA supplement = $81.
 Non-citizens must take “steps” toward
citizenship, & sponsor-deeming may preclude
eligibility.
d. cash: EA and EGA
Emergency Assistance (EA) & Emergency GA (EGA)
designed to prevent destitution, providing cash
grants to resolve crises.
 Both EA & EGA are funded through block grants
from State, so individual counties have great deal of
discretion in administering benefits.
 Legal, permanent residents are eligible for EA &
EGA to same extent (& subject to same limitations)
as U.S. citizens.
 Sponsor-deeming may preclude eligibility, but
applicants may qualify for indigence exception.
e. non-need-based cash:
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
UI benefits can be paid if worker was:
• lawfully admitted for permanent residence at time of
employment;
• lawfully present for purposes of employment; OR
• permanently residing in U.S. under color of law at
time of employment.
Work done before attaining legal status does not count
toward earnings requirements.
UI benefits not need-based; therefore not subject to
sponsor-deeming.
f. Food
MFAP – MN Food Assistance Program
 Legal, permanent non-citizens not on MFIP here
< 5 years (who may be subject to 5-year bar on
SNAP) may get food assistance through MFAP.
 MFAP benefits available only to those age 50 & up.
 MFAP program follows federal SNAP regulations.
 MFAP recipients may be subject to sponsordeeming.
g. health care
(i)
Medical Assistance (MA)
MA available to immigrants who:



are low-income & low-asset;
are “qualified” under federal law; AND
meet categorical requirements, meaning they’re:
•
•
•
•
•
•

pregnant;
living with minor children or in MFIP household;
<21;
>64;
certified disabled by State or SSA; OR
>20, without kids, & living <76% FPG.
Sponsor-deeming may preclude eligibility.
In 2011, Minnesota legislature eliminated
state-funded MA statutorily, effective
1/1/12, for non-citizens lawfully residing in
the U.S. who were not eligible for federallyfunded assistance. Implementation of
change took place 3/1/12.
No longer eligible MA,
since 3/1/12, are:
o people considered “otherwise lawfully residing”
who don’t meet definition of “qualified” under federal
law; AND
o LPRs subject to 5-year bar. (All in this group should
qualify for MinnesotaCare during 5-year wait, except
those on Medicare).
NOTE: Pregnant women & children remain
eligible for MA (funded by SCHIP, State
Children’s Health Insurance Program). No 5year bar.
Special rule for
torture survivors
Those receiving “care and rehabilitation” services
from Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) do NOT
have to meet MA guidelines in terms of:
o categorical eligibility;
o income and asset restrictions; OR
o immigration requirements.
(ii) Emergency Medical
Assistance (EMA)
 Basic safety net health care program.
 Can provide health care services to “medically
needy” people who are undocumented, who have
lapsed documentation, or who otherwise would be
ineligible due to sponsor-deeming.
 Does NOT cover organ transplants or “related
procedures.”
EMA is available only to those
categorically eligible for MA (i.e.,
living in household with minor
children, pregnant, elderly, certified
disabled, <21, or >20 and living
<76% FPG).
EMA is for
“Emergency Medical Services”:
required for medical conditions manifested by acute
symptoms of such severity that absence of
immediate medical attention reasonably could be
expected to result in:
o Placement of patient’s health in serious jeopardy;
o Serious impairment to bodily functions; OR
o Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
EMA no longer available for chronic
conditions since 1/8/12:
o MN legislature eliminated EMA eligibility for those
with chronic conditions in 2011.
o Exceptions were made for those who would have
respiratory or cardiac failure within 48 hours but
for treatment.
o In 2012 legislature allowed EMA for kidney dialysis &
for treatment (including chemotherapy & radiation) for
cancer.
o Law limits EMA to care delivered in hospital
emergency rooms or ambulances; on in-patient
basis following ER care; & as follow-up care directly
related to ER treatment.
Medical coverage
for pregnant women
Pregnant women qualify without
regard to immigration status or sponsor
income for:
labor & delivery AND
pre- & post-natal care for 60 days after
birth
(iii) MinnesotaCare
 Need-based program with higher income allowances
than MA.
 Available to those ineligible for MA because of
categorical or income restrictions.
 Available to those who meet income guidelines AND:
 are “qualified” non-citizens OR
 effective 3/1/12, meet definition of “lawfully
present” under federal regulations.
 DACA grantees & U Visa recipients should qualify.
 Sponsor-deeming may preclude eligibility.
10. Other benefits
Some benefits available without regard
to immigration status include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
WIC (Women, Infants & Children) benefits
school breakfast & lunch benefits
benefits through Head Start
K-12 free public education
public health immunizations & testing
soup kitchens, short-term shelter, etc.
child care assistance for U.S. citizen children
11. Considerations for
mixed-status households
To avoid getting reported to Immigration, those
without proper documentation should be advised to:
 Tell agency they are not eligible for benefits for
themselves due to immigration status.
 Tell agency they are applying only for eligible
household member.
 Not provide details about their status to agency.
 Not provide Social Security number (unless
necessary for income verification).
 Verify earned income, from whatever source.
 Verify pregnancy if seeking health coverage.
SCENARIOS
A. Battered immigrants: Natasha
o Natasha is 36 & came to US without papers. She left
o
o
o
o
o
U.S. citizen husband after he assaulted her with
baseball bat, causing traumatic brain injury.
Friend is letting Natasha stay in her condo & has
stocked it with food.
Natasha filed a VAWA petition & received notice last
month she’d made prima facie case for VAWA relief.
Natasha’s main concern is medical coverage.
Cognitive functioning is significantly impaired due to
injury, & she needs some home health care to remain
in community (& out of nursing home).
MA covers home health services; MinnesotaCare
does not.
Natasha would also like cash assistance, since she
can’t work. She doesn’t have SSDI eligibility.
A. Natasha quiz
Natasha:
1. is not currently eligible for any cash or health
care because she is undocumented.
2. is eligible for GA & MinnesotaCare, but not for
SSI or MA; therefore, she can’t get home care.
3. is eligible for SSI & MA since, she is now a
“qualified” non-citizen under federal law.
B. Sponsor-Deeming: Ralph & Mai Lia
o Mai Lia moved to US with minor daughter, Bee (now 8), 6 years
ago, via relative petition signed by Mai Lia’s mom. Mom lives in
California with stepdad, who earns $200,000 a year.
o 11 months ago, Mai Lia married widower Ralph, US citizen & MFIP
recipient with 6 kids. Mai Lia’s mom & stepdad stopped talking to
her after marriage. Ralph added new wife to MFIP grant, then
added couple’s new baby, Jethro, 2 months ago (he gets only food
portion & MA).
o County just notified Ralph it made mistake by not counting Mai
Lia’s deemed income. County has determined that whole
household is ineligible for MFIP. County has terminated
household’s MFIP benefits & assessed it huge overpayment.
o Ralph & Mai Lia were just served with eviction notice from landlord.
o County says:
 Ralph and all 8 kids remain eligible for MA.
 Kids can get SNAP.
 No one else is eligible for anything.
B. Ralph & Mai Lia quiz.
Mai Lia should:
1.
Appeal the MFIP termination & overpayment; she has
not had any contact with mom & stepdad, so their
income should not be imputed to household (and,
particularly, to 8 U.S. citizen members of household,
including child born after signing of I-864 affidavit).
2.
Encourage Ralph to appeal imposition of sponsordeeming, as he & all his children are US citizens &
therefore can’t be subject to sponsor-deeming.
3. Reapply for MFIP & SNAP and start working on
citizenship application.
C. Reporting and Public Charge: Tamara & Mustafa
o Tamara is U.S. citizen, married to Mustafa. Mustafa’s
student visa expired; he hopes to adjust to LPR status
sometime.
o Tamara is unemployed. Mustafa works part-time using
SSN he obtained on black market. Neither is eligible for
UI. Mustafa isn’t earning enough to make ends meet.
o The couple has 2 minor children born in U.S. Household
needs food, medical & cash. Tamara is worried that
applying for benefits will:
 cause County to report Mustafa’s lapsed status to
Immigration;
 get Mustafa in legal trouble because of false SSN; &
 harm Mustafa’s chances of adjusting to LPR status.
C. Tamara & Mustafa quiz
Tamara should:
1. apply only for medical & food benefits, reporting
Mustafa’s wages to County as part of application
process.
2. Apply only for medical and food benefits, but not
report Mustafa’s wages to County because he
used false SSN & he could get charged criminally.
3. Not apply for any benefits. County would have to
report Mustafa to Immigration, & he could face
removal (deportation).
4. Apply for all benefits. She has nothing to fear;
she’s merely being worry-wart.
D. SSI: Tang
o Tang is 52, from Laos. She came to U.S. as refugee little
over 7 years ago.
o Tang doesn’t speak English. She suffered trauma in her
youth & can’t work. She likes to keep to herself. She
started getting SSI couple years ago due to PTSD. She
also got state MSA grant.
o Because she had over $700 in monthly income, Tang
could afford her own apartment.
o Recently, Tang’s SSI & MSA terminated because she is
not U.S. citizen. Tang applied for GA but doesn’t know
how she’ll pay her rent. County says she can’t get GA
until she signs up for ESL, literacy, or citizenship classes.
o Tang wants her SSI benefits back.
D. Tang quiz
Tang should:
1.
ask Social Security to reinstate her SSI benefits; as
Hmong refugee, she is not subject to 7-year limitation.
2.
file new application for SSI since she hasn’t used her 7
years of benefits yet.
3.
apply for subsidized housing, sign up for citizenship
classes, file citizenship application, & ask doctor to
complete medical waiver form for it.
4.
appeal County’s termination of her MSA benefits.
She’s a “qualified” non-citizen.
5.
move to Nebraska, as she’ll automatically get SSI there.