Qualified Alien Eligibility Criteria

Entry prior to August 22, 1996

1. A qualified alien who entered the United States prior to August 22, 1996 may receive Cash Assistance provided s/he is determined to be otherwise eligible OR
2. A qualified alien who attained qualified alien status subsequent to August 22, 1996 and who can demonstrate to the district's satisfaction that they have continuously resided in the United States from their date of entry through the date they became a qualified alien, may receive Cash Assistance provided s/he is determined to be otherwise eligible

Entry on or after August 22, 1996

• A qualified alien who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996 is ineligible to receive Cash Assistance for 5 years from the date the alien entered the United States or the date the alien obtained qualified alien status whichever is the later unless the alien meets one of the Exceptions to the 5 year Ineligibility Period.

Exceptions to the 5 year Ineligibility Period

The five year disqualification period for Cash Assistance does not apply to the following qualified aliens:

1. Someone who has lawfully resided as a qualifying immigrant in the U.S. for five years OR
2. An individual who is a lawful permanent resident with 40 qualifying quarters of Social Security coverage OR
3. An alien who is admitted as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act OR
4. An alien who is granted asylum under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act OR
5. An alien whose deportation is being withheld under section 243(h) or 241(b) (3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act OR
6. An alien granted status as a Cuban and Haitian entrant as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 OR
7. An alien admitted as an Amerasian immigrant under the provision of Public Law 100-202 OR
8. An American Indian born in Canada who is at least one-half American Indian as per section 289 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act OR
9. A qualified alien who is a veteran with an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States OR
10. A qualified alien who is the spouse of an honorably discharged veteran OR
11. A qualified alien who is a surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of an honorably discharged veteran OR
12. A qualified alien who is an unmarried dependent child of an honorably discharged veteran OR
13. A qualified alien who is a Hmong or Highland Laotian who has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, and who fought on behalf of the United States during the Vietnam conflict OR
14. A qualified alien who is the spouse of a Hmong or Highland Laotian who fought on behalf of the United States during the Vietnam conflict OR
15. A qualified alien who is a surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a Hmong or Highland Laotian who fought on behalf of the United States during the Vietnam conflict OR
16. A qualified alien who is an unmarried dependent child of a Hmong or Highland Laotian who fought on behalf of the United States during the Vietnam conflict OR
17. A qualified alien lawfully residing in the State who is on active duty in the United States military OR
18. A qualified alien who is the spouse of an individual on active duty in the United States military OR
19. A qualified alien who is an unmarried dependent child of an individual on active duty in the United States military OR
20. Victims of a severe form of trafficking, in accordance with Section 107(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386