1515.000.00 ELIGIBILITY FOR FOOD STAMPS AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Eligibility for food stamps is determined in the same manner as for any other food stamp household and all eligibility requirements must be met.  For food stamp purposes, refugees are considered eligible aliens.  The following additional instructions apply:

  1. View the Alien Registration form (I-94, I-151, I-551).
  2. If all refugees are budgeted in the same budget and eligible for cash payment, consider the household an IM household.
  3. If the refugee(s) is ineligible for a cash payment, consider the household a NPA household.
  4. Some Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Laotians entered this country as aliens (i.e. students, diplomats, etc.).  If such a person applies, it is necessary for him to contact INS to have his alien status changed.  Until his alien status is changed, he is considered an ineligible alien and is handled as any other ineligible alien as outlined in the Food Stamp Manual.
  5. Certain Hmong and Laotian Highlanders can receive Food Stamps if they meet all other requirements as long as they are lawfully residing in the United States and a member of a certain tribe between 8/05/64 and 5/05/75.

    Refer to Food Stamp Manual, Citizenship and Alien Status.

1515.005.00  SOCIAL SERVICES

All refugees are eligible for social services.  If such service is necessary, make a referral to the Children's Services Section in the usual manner.

Part of what can be an allowable referral is for the refugee to participate in citizenship preparation services.