Final Report of the Subcommittee on Domestic Trafficking

2. For certain Federal means-tested public benefits, lawful permanent residents aresubject to a five-year waiting period before <strong>the</strong>y may be eligible.As <strong>the</strong> summary chart indicates, <strong>the</strong>se programs include:Food Stamp ProgramThe Food Stamp Program, administered by <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, providesbenefits through specialized electronic debit cards to be used to pay for food at mostgrocery stores. Lawful permanent resident adults must meet a five-year residencyrequirement before <strong>the</strong>y may be eligible; minors do not have a residency requirement.Refugees (including those certified by HHS as victims <strong>of</strong> severe forms <strong>of</strong> trafficking);and certain asylees, deportees, Cuban or Haitian entrants, and Amerasian immigrantsare eligible without a waiting period.Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)TANF, administered by ACF, provides cash benefits and work opportunities forneedy families with children under age 18. Only qualified aliens are eligible forFederal TANF benefits. Qualified aliens include lawful permanent residents,refugees, asylees, aliens paroled into <strong>the</strong> U.S. for at least one year, aliens whosedeportation is being withheld, Cuban/Haitian entrants, aliens granted conditionalentry, and certain battered aliens. Qualified aliens entering <strong>the</strong> country on or afterAugust 22, 1996 are subject to a five-year waiting period to apply for TANFassistance. There are exceptions to <strong>the</strong> five-year bar for refugees, asylees, alienswhose deportation is being withheld, Cuban/Haitian entrants, Amerasian immigrants,veterans, members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> military on active duty, and <strong>the</strong>ir spouses and unmarrieddependent children. Victims <strong>of</strong> severe forms <strong>of</strong> trafficking and certain familymembers are also eligible to <strong>the</strong> same extent as refugees.MedicaidMedicaid is a State-administered Federal means-tested assistance program. Medicaidprovides health coverage including medical and ancillary services to groups <strong>of</strong> lowincomepeople, some <strong>of</strong> whom may have no medical insurance or inadequate medicalinsurance. Medicaid generally provides health coverage for certain low-incomepregnant women, children, parents and adults and those with disabilities. Lawfulpermanent residents with less than five years residence as a legal permanent residentare subject to a five-year bar to full Medicaid services. However, <strong>the</strong>se individualsmay still receive Medicaid for <strong>the</strong> treatment <strong>of</strong> emergency medical conditions.Exceptions to <strong>the</strong> five-year bar are <strong>the</strong> same for Medicaid as for TANF.State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)SCHIP was designed for children who did not qualify for Medicaid, yet could notafford to buy private insurance. States may obtain coverage through a Medicaidexpansion, separate SCHIP program, or a combination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two. Individuals subjectto <strong>the</strong> five-year bar described under Medicaid are not eligible for SCHIP. Exceptionsto <strong>the</strong> five-year bar are <strong>the</strong> same for SCHIP as for Medicaid.9