I’m not a U.S. Citizen. Am I eligible for any public assistance programs?

Public assistance programs help you pay for your basic needs, such as food, medical coverage, and rent. You must have low income to be eligible for most of these programs. There may also be other eligibility requirements. 

The Department of Social and Health Services (“DSHS”) and the Health Care Authority (“HCA”) are the state agencies that manage most public assistance programs in Washington State. Most applications for medical assistance are filed with the Health Benefits Exchange (“HBE”). 

Maybe. Most public assistance programs have immigrant status requirements. This means you may have to be in a legal immigration status to be eligible. Some programs may require you to be in legal status for 5 years before you can get benefits.

But different programs have different eligibility requirements. Some are only available to limited categories of immigrants, while others are available to many categories of immigrants and immigration applicants. 

Certain immigrants can apply for a special insurance called the Apple Health Expansion. Undocumented immigrants can apply. Lawfully present non-qualified immigrants can only apply if they are not in an employment authorized immigrant category. Lawfully present qualified immigrants can’t apply. There are other eligibility requirements. You should apply for these benefits as soon as possible because the program is limited. Find out if the program is still accepting applications. 

You may be eligible for some programs, including community programs that “protect life or safety”. These include: 

• domestic violence shelters
• food pantries
• cash assistance to help you after a natural disaster 

You may also be eligible for some medical programs, including:

• Emergency Medicaid for treatment of emergency medical conditions in a hospital

• Treatment for cancer, benign life-threatening tumors, or dialysis 

• Low-income pregnant people are eligible for medical coverage, until one year after the pregnancy ends

• You can buy medical and dental insurance through the state’s Health Benefit Exchange. If you have low income, you can get help to pay for insurance coverage.

You can ask for help with medical bills if you don't have legal immigration status.

Yes. 

• All children up to age 19 who have low income are eligible for free medical coverage (“Washington Apple Health”) in Washington State. There are no immigration status requirements for this coverage. 

Children from families with moderate income can also get coverage. They may have to pay a small monthly premium. 

• Your children may also be eligible for other programs, including Head Start and other education programs, school meals, and child nutrition programs. 

Yes, it’s generally very safe to apply. State and federal laws protect the privacy of the information you put on your application. Your information should not be shared with immigration officials. 

If you prefer, you can choose to apply for benefits for other family members, such as your children, and not for yourself. You won’t have to give information about your own immigration status, but you may have to give proof of your family’s income.

The application will ask for a social security number. If you don’t have one, you can still fill out the application. Some programs don’t require a social security number. But you may have to give proof of income, such as paystubs.

Most programs are safe to use and won’t hurt your immigration case.  

Some green card applicants must show they aren’t going to rely on government assistance for financial support in the future. This is called the public charge test. The public charge test mostly affects people applying for green card status through a family visa petition. It doesn’t apply to refugees, asylees, and many other categories of immigrants.

Even if the public charge test applies to you, most programs are safe to use. Immigration officials will only consider the applicant’s use of:

• Cash assistance received on an ongoing basis. This includes TANF, State Family Assistance (SFA), Aged Blind and Disabled (ABD) benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
• Long-term institutionalization paid for by the government. This includes things like a long-term stay in a nursing home paid for by Medicaid. It does not include incarceration, short-term rehabilitation, or home- and community- based long-term care.

Immigration officials won’t consider benefits that your family members use, such as medical coverage for your children. 

Cash and food assistance: apply at your local DSHS office, call the Customer Service Contact Center at 877.501.2233 or visit WashingtonConnection.org.

Most medical programs, including insurance and subsidies: you can apply through Healthplanfinder. You can also apply by calling 1-855-923-4633 (1-855-WAFINDER), or by asking for a paper application at your local DSHS office.

If you apply for benefits in person, take a copy of your immigration papers, if you have them. (This includes a copy of your receipt notice from USCIS.) If you do not have immigration papers yet, you may still be eligible for some help. If you do not have a social security number, leave that line blank, or put “not available.” DSHS must accept emergency applications at any time. They may be able to help you soon with cash, medical coupons, and food stamps.

You should write it on the application form if you have a hard time reading, speaking, or understanding English. You can put the language you prefer to use. DSHS must provide you with a free interpreter without delay.

DSHS and HCA must provide a free interpreter so you can talk with them about your application and benefits. They should also send you translated notices about your benefits. DSHS should send you translated notices about your benefits so you can read about your rights and responsibilities in your own language. Keep copies of what they send you.  

If you haven’t gotten interpreters or notices in your own language and DSHS have stopped your benefits, you may be able to get the benefits turned back on. Try to talk to a lawyer if DSHS hasn’t been providing you interpreters or translations. 

When you apply for help, DSHS will ask if you need extra help, such as someone to help you fill out forms, or call you to explain your letters. If you do need any type of help, say so.  Ask them to provide you Necessary Supplemental Accommodation (NSA). Ask for the help you need if you have a medical condition or disability that makes it hard for you to fill out the application, understand the notices or instructions, or communicate with DSHS or HCA. 

Here are some things you should do when you apply:

• Give complete information on your application.
• Quickly report changes to your family’s income or if a family member moves in or out of the home.
• Keep copies of notices you get from DSHS, HBE, or HCA. 
• Keep copies of any letters or documents you send to DSHS, HBE, or HCA, with proof of mailing. If you go to the DSHS office in person, you can ask for a date-stamped copy.