o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r services <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State wishes to provide. Thus, families must check with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TANFagency in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir residential area to learn about eligibility for financial assistance or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rTANF benefits and services.Agency: ACF / OFARepresented <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Subcommittee</str<strong>on</strong>g> by: Steve WagnerI. <strong>Domestic</strong> VictimsA. <strong>Domestic</strong> victims who are U.S. Citizens and adults:Adult trafficking victims who are U.S. citizens do not need to receive a certificati<strong>on</strong> letterfrom ORR to be eligible for Federal TANF benefits. These benefits are available to U.S.citizens and minors if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y meet TANF eligibility requirements.B. <strong>Domestic</strong> victims who are legal U.S. residents and adults:Adult trafficking victims who entered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> U.S. <strong>on</strong> or after August 22, 1996, who arelawful permanent U.S. residents, may receive Federal TANF benefits, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y meet TANFeligibility requirements. However, lawful permanent residents who enter <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> U.S. <strong>on</strong> orafter August 22, 1996, are statutorily barred for five years from receiving a Federalmeans-tested TANF benefit.C. <strong>Domestic</strong> victims who are U.S. Citizens and minors (under 18):<strong>Trafficking</strong> victims under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> age <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> eighteen who are U.S. citizens do not need to receivean eligibility letter from ORR to receive Federal TANF benefits. These benefits areavailable to U.S. citizens and minors if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y meet TANF eligibility requirements.D. <strong>Domestic</strong> victims who are legal U.S. residents and minors (under 18):<strong>Trafficking</strong> victims under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> age <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> eighteen who entered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> U.S. <strong>on</strong> or after August 22,1996, who are lawful permanent U.S. residents, and who have received an eligibilityletter from ORR, may receive Federal TANF benefits if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y meet TANF eligibilityrequirements.An eligibility letter is necessary because most qualified aliens, including lawfulpermanent residents, who entered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> U.S. <strong>on</strong> or after August 22, 1996 are statutorilybarred for five years from receiving a Federal means-tested TANF benefit. However,certain qualified aliens are exempted from this bar. Exempted qualified aliens includerefugees, asylees, aliens whose deportati<strong>on</strong> is being withheld, Amerasians, Cuban/Haitianentrants, as well as veterans, members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> military <strong>on</strong> active duty, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir spouses24
and unmarried dependent children. But, victims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> severe forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trafficking are eligiblefor benefits and services under any Federally funded or administered program to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sameextent as refugees. Therefore, such victims are also exempt from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> five year statutorybar.II. Internati<strong>on</strong>al VictimsA. Internati<strong>on</strong>al victims who are minors (under 18):Internati<strong>on</strong>al victims under 18 who have received an eligibility letter from ORR may beeligible for TANF to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same extent as refugees, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y meet TANF eligibilityrequirements.B. Internati<strong>on</strong>al victims who are adults:If internati<strong>on</strong>al adult victims receive a certificati<strong>on</strong> letter from ORR, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y may be eligiblefor TANF to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same extent as refugees, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y meet TANF eligibility requirements.25