Immigrants & Immigration

“Qualified Immigrant” is a non-citizen considered eligible for public benefits. This definition is different for each federal program. It's very important to check the requirements for each individual program and speak with an Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) case worker to confirm which definition applies.

In July 2025, the federal statute H.R. 1 significantly narrowed the definition of a qualified immigrant for specific federal benefits programs. These are: Medicaid, Medicare, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. Qualified Immigrants for these programs now only include:

• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs or green card holders) who have had LPR status for at least five years,
• Haitian/Cuban entrants, and
• People living in Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau. These countries are a part of the Compact of Free Association (COFA).

Under this new law, refugees and asylees are no longer eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and SNAP.

H.R. 1 also imposed new restrictions on these federal benefits for survivors of domestic violence Harm by one household or family member against another household or family member. Harm may be an emotional, mental, or physical injury with a pending or approved application for lawful status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), survivors of trafficking with a pending or approved T visa, and people with temporary protected status (TPS) and valid visa holders (for Medicare ineligibility and ACA premium tax credits as they are already ineligible for SNAP and Medicaid). These individuals would need to adjust to LPR status to regain potential eligibility. 

The restrictions become effective throughout 2025-2027 depending on the program.

For some programs, eligibility depends on whether a person is a “Qualified Immigrant.” 

Some of these programs include:

• Head Start
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
• Social Security Disability A federal program that gives money to people who cannot work because of a disability Insurance (SSDI),
• Illinois Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD),
• Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF),
• Illinois General Assistance (GA),
• Social Security Retirement Benefits,
• Medicaid,
• Health insurance exchanges, such as Get Covered Illinois, and
• Public and assisted housing and low income tax credit Can reduce the amount of tax a person owes or increase their tax refund housing (LIHTC).

Head Start

Head Start is a child development program. It provides services to preschool children (ages 3 to 5) and their families whose income is low, with a focus on:

• Education,
• Social and emotional development,
• Physical and mental health, and
• Nutrition.

Under H.R. 1, Head Start is now limited only to immigrants who are LPRs, asylees, or refugees. However, due to ongoing litigation, children in Illinois are still able to enroll in Head Start regardless of their immigration status.

SNAP benefits (food stamps)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a government benefits program that helps low-income families buy food. SNAP benefits are also known as “food stamps”.

Learn more about non-citizens' eligibility for SNAP.

Note: As of October 15, 2025, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the federal agency that funds SNAP, does not have access to SNAP data in Illinois. In May 2025, the USDA required all states to give them SNAP information, but a federal court temporarily stopped them from collecting information from Illinois, Washington D.C., and 12 other states. Protecting Immigrant Families has the latest information on this issue.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI provides monthly benefits for people who have limited income and assets Anything a person owns that has financial value and who are:

• 65 years old or older,
• Blind, or
• Disabled.

A person may be eligible for SSI benefits if they are an LPR or an immigrant granted conditional entry into the US. Members of one of the following groups may also be eligible for SSI benefits, however they are only eligible during the first seven years after they’ve obtained their relevant immigration status:

• Parolees, refugees, asylees, and immigrants who have had their deportation or removal withheld,
• Cuban and Haitian immigrants, and
• Amerasian immigrants.

They must also meet one of the following conditions:

• They were receiving SSI on August 22, 1996 and are living lawfully in the US,
• They are a LPR with 40 qualifying quarters of work. Learn what counts as a qualifying quarter of work,
• They are on active duty A legal obligation to do something in the US armed forces or are a veteran, or are a dependent A person who relies on another for support, such as a child or person with a disability of a veteran or active duty member,
• They were living lawfully in the US on August 22, 1996, and they are blind or disabled, or
• They are a trafficking victim.  Note: they may have eligibility limited to seven years. 

Certain Native Americans who are not US citizens are exempt from these rules. 

Other immigrants who may be eligible for SSI include:

• Victims of severe forms of human trafficking, Involves the use of force or coercion to make someone participate in forced labor or a commercial sex act, or luring them into participating if they are under 18.
• Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants,
• Some Afghan parolees,
• Ukrainian humanitarian parolee, and
• Citizens of Micronesia, Marshall Islands or Palau.

Learn more about SSI.

Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD)

AABD is an Illinois program that provides a cash grant to certain low-income people who:

• Have a disability, A substantial impairment that functionally limits a person in carrying out major life activities, such as walking, lifting, seeing, or learning.
• Are blind, or
• Age 65 and over.

Learn more about AABD, and which non-citizens qualify for AABD.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF is a cash assistance program that  offers temporary financial help for families with children. TANF can help pay for:

• Food,
• Shelter,
• Utility expenses, and
• Other non-medical expenses.

TANF also offers classes and programs to help recipients improve their education and work skills. The citizenship requirements for TANF are the same as the requirements for AABD.

If children in a household are eligible for a benefit, the parents aren’t, the parents may still receive TANF benefits for their children. IDHS encourages families to ask their caseworker what those requirements are. 

Learn more about TANF.

Illinois General Assistance (GA)

GA provides money and medical assistance to those in need. The program is run by individual townships or a county. The rules regarding eligibility may change from township to township. This tool will help people find what township they live in.

Learn more about General Assistance.

Social Security Retirement Benefits

Social Security provides income to retired workers 62 years old or older.

Immigrants who are not US citizens may be eligible for social security benefits if they have held one of the following statuses at least five years:

• LPRs,
• Immigrants authorized to live and work in the US,
• Immigrants admitted because they have family in the US,
• Qualified Immigrants who are allowed to work in the US and who received a Social Security number A number that the federal government gives to each U.S. citizen. It keeps track of their earnings and retirement benefits. after December 2003, or
• Other Qualified Immigrants.

Learn more about Social Security retirement benefits.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a state and federal program that pays for medical expenses for low-income people. H.R. 1 significantly narrowed who is eligible for Medicaid. Learn about non-citizen Medicaid eligibility.

Yes. Some programs in Illinois will grant public benefits without checking or affecting a person’s immigration status. Some examples are:

• The Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC),
• All Kids,
• Public school education: from kindergarten through 12th grade; including free school lunch programs, and free breakfast programs if a school offers breakfast, and,
• Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors. Note: No new applications are being accepted at this time, but benefits are still being paid to existing recipients.

All immigrants are eligible for the following services, no matter immigration status:

• Emergency services, including end-stage kidney disease services,
• Pregnant women immigrants can get care during and after pregnancy,
• Medical benefits for immigrants who have applied for asylum, and
• Medical benefits for victims of trafficking, torture, and other serious crimes.

Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

WIC is a federally funded food assistance program for pregnant women, recently pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under five years old. It provides:

• Nutritious supplemental foods,
• Health care referrals, and
• Nutrition education.

All Kids health insurance

All Kids is a state program that provides affordable health insurance for children. Children under 19 years old are eligible for health insurance coverage, if they:

• Live in Illinois, and
• Have a family income at or below 318% of the federal poverty level.

Learn more about All Kids health insurance.

Health benefits for Asylum Applicants and Torture Victims (AATV)

The Illinois AATV program is a state-funded medical assistance program that may provide medical coverage for up to 24 continuous months. To be eligible, the person must have a pending application for asylum or an appeal A request to change a court's decision pending or must be receiving treatment services for torture victims from a federally funded torture treatment center. Additional eligibility requirements include: 

• Is an Illinois resident.
• Is 19 years of age or older.
• Is not otherwise eligible for medical assistance.
• Income is 100% or less of the Federal Poverty Level.
• Assets Anything a person owns that has financial value are $17,500 or less. Certain assets, like a home or one car, will not be counted.

Health benefits for Victims of Trafficking, Torture, and Other Serious Crimes (VTTC)

The Illinois VTTC is a state-funded medical assistance program that may provide coverage to victims and certain family members (spouse, child, parent, or sibling under age 18). Additional eligibility requirements include: 

• Is an Illinois resident.
• Have a child or other derivative family member.
• Verification that they have filed for a T Visa, a U Visa, or asylum.
• Income is 100% or less of the Federal Poverty Level.
• Assets are $17,500 or less. Certain assets, like a home or one car, will not be counted.

Health benefits for immigrant seniors (HBIS)

Health benefits for immigrant seniors is a state-funded medical assistance. A person can apply regardless of immigration status as long as they are not eligible for Medicaid.

Note: The Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program was paused for new enrollees beginning November 6, 2023. This means new applicants will not be able to enroll. As of November 2025, people who were enrolled before November 6, 2023 can still renew their HBIS benefits.

Learn more about the HBIS program.