Citizenship and Qualified Non-Citizenship Criteria Guide

Citizenship or qualified non-citizenship status is only required for “means tested benefits.”  This means eligibility for the benefit, program or supportive service is based on income.  If the family member does not meet a status criteria under Section A , B or C, (s)he is not eligible for TANF “means tested benefits”.

Section A: United States Citizen is an individual who was born in the United States, born abroad to a United States Citizen meeting specific criteria, or the individual is naturalized. Is the individual/family member a United States Citizen?  Yes   No

Section B: The family member is eligible if the relevant member of the family has one of the following INS statuses:
•	An alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA);
•	An alien who is granted asylum under Section 208 of the INA;
•	A refugee who is admitted to the U.S. under Section 207 of the INA or a victim of human trafficking (these individuals must have their status verified by the Department of Health and Human Services);
•	An alien who is paroled into the US under Section 212(d)(5) of the INA for a period of at least one year;
•	An alien whose deportation is being withheld under Section 243(h) of the INA (as in effect prior to April 1, 1997) or whose removal has been withheld under Section 241 (b)(3);
•	An alien who is granted conditional entry pursuant to Section 203(a)(7) of the INA as in effect prior to April 1, 1980; or
•	An alien who is a Cuban/Haitian Entrant as defined by Section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980.

Or, they are lawful permanent residents with a prior INS status identified above
Or, they are without a prior INS status listed above, and they were in the U.S. prior to August 26, 1996.

Does the individual/family member meet one of the above criteria in Section B?  Yes   No

Section C:  Does the applicable family member(s)’ status meet one of the following two circumstances?  Yes   No
•	The relevant members are lawful permanent residents who are without prior INS status (above) and who entered on or after August 22, 1996;
•	Or the relevant members are aliens who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty, or whose children/parents have been battered or subject to extreme cruelty.

If yes, the family is not eligible until five years after the date of entry.  Please provide the date of entry ___/___/_____.