Immigrants & Immigration

“Qualified Immigrant” is a term that is defined by US immigration law. They are non-citizens who are considered eligible for some public benefits. In July 2025, the federal statute H.R. 1 significantly narrowed the definition of a qualified immigrant for federally funded assistance programs. Qualified Immigrants now include:

• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs or green card holders) who have had LPR status for at least five years,
• Refugees and asylees (for some programs but not for others),
• Haitian/Cuban entrants,
• Amerasians, and
• People living in Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau.

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 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, and
• Medicaid.

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.

Beginning July 2025, Head Start is limited to immigrants who are LPRs, asylees, or refugees.  

SNAP benefits for immigrants (food stamps)

Non-citizens may be eligible for the SNAP program if they are a member of one of the following groups:

• LPRs or who have had LPR status for at least five years,
• Certain other LPRs,
• Cuban or Haitian entrants,
• People living in Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau, and
• Non-citizen US Nationals.

Certain other LPRs may be eligible for SNAP without a waiting period if they meet one of the following conditions:

• Under 18 years old,
• LPRs who have 40 qualifying quarters of work,
• LPRs who are blind or disabled,
• Immigrants born on or before August 22, 1931, and who lawfully lived in the United States on August 22, 1996,
• LPRs who have a military connection (on active duty or honorably discharged),
• Admitted to the U.S. as an Amerasian immigrant,
• Native Americans born in a different country,
• Members of certain Hmong or Highland Laotian tribes.

Even if someone does not qualify for SNAP because of their immigration status, they can apply for their children or members of the household who do qualify.

Qualifying immigrants must also meet the income limits and the other requirements of the SNAP program to be eligible. Receiving SNAP benefits is not likely to affect someone’s immigration status.

Learn more about non-citizens' eligibility for SNAP and SNAP benefits basics.

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 and who are:

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

A person may be eligible for SSI benefits if they are a member of one of the following groups:

• LPRs,
• Immigrants granted conditional entry into the US,
• 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 in the US armed forces or are a veteran, or are a dependent 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,
• 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 ,
• Are blind, or
• Age 65 and over.

A person may be eligible may be eligible for AABD benefits if they are a member of one of the following groups:

• A person who received AABD cash from Illinois on December 31, 1973,
• A person who meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of aged, blind, or disabled , or
• An immigrant 65 or older who was lawfully present in the US on August 22, 1996, meets certain citizenship/immigration requirements for medical assistance, and has been determined “not disabled” by Social Security.

To qualify, a person must be in one of the following Qualified Immigrant groups:

• LPRs who have been living in the US since before August 22, 1996 and who currently live in the US,
• LPRs who have been in the US for 5 years,
• LPRs who are under 18 years old,
• Immigrants who have been paroled into the US for 1 year or more,
• Native Americans born in Canada,
• US veterans, those on active duty, and their dependents,
• Refugees or asylees,
• Cuban and Haitian immigrants,
• Amerasian immigrants and their close family members,
• Members of the Hmong or Highland Laotian Tribe,
• Immigrants who were granted conditional entry or parole ,
• Immigrants who have had their deportation withheld,
• Trafficking victims and their close family members,
• Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrants, or
• Victims of domestic abuse and their families.

You can also ask your caseworker to explain the requirements to you.

Learn more about 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 after December 2003, or
• Other Qualified Immigrants.

Learn more about Social Security retirement benefits.

Medicaid

Note: Medicaid eligibility will be changing in October 2026. This information is current as of November 2025. Medicaid is a state and federal program that pays for medical expenses for low-income people. 

A person may be eligible for Medicaid if they belong to one of the following groups:

• LPRs who have been living in the US since before August 22, 1996 and who currently live in the US,
• LPRs who have been in the US for 5 years,
• Certain Native Americans born in Canada,
• US veterans, those on active duty, and their dependents,
• Refugees or asylees,
• Cuban and Haitian immigrants,
• Amerasian immigrants and their close family members,
• Members of the Hmong or Highland Laotian Tribe,
• Immigrants who were granted conditional entry or parole,
• Immigrants who have had their deportation withheld,
• Trafficking victims and their close family members,
• Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrants, or
• Victims of domestic abuse and their families.

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. It provides:

• Nutritious supplemental foods,
• Health care referrals, and
• Nutrition education to pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

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 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 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.