I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I get public assistance benefits or help?

Immigrants who have just arrived in New York may be eligible for public benefits that provide money and medical care, including:

• Cash Assistance provides you with some money twice a month so you can buy things you need, like toiletries and clothes.
• Medicaid pays for your medical care, like going to the doctor or getting medications.
• WIC helps women, infants and children buy things they need, like formula or cereal.

Who is eligible for cash assistance, Medicaid, And WIC In New York?

• You do NOT need to be a US citizen or have status to receive these benefits.
• Applying for WIC and Medicaid should NOT harm your immigration status and applying for cash assistance will not automatically deem you a “public charge”.
• The “public charge” rule does not apply to asylees, refugees, VAWA self-petitioners, U-visa and T-visa holders; special immigrant juveniles; and certain individuals paroled into the U.S.
• Most immigrants do not even qualify for public benefits that make a person a “public charge.”

How to apply for cash assistance and Medicaid: (to apply for WIC, call 1-800-522-5006)

• Go to the nearest NYC Human Resource Administration (HRA for short) location here and say you want to apply for Cash Assistance (Medicaid is included in the application).
• HRA must give you an application and help you in your primary language.
• HRA must take your application and cannot turn you away from applying.
• The application includes a short interview. You can ask HRA to complete your interview the same day you are at their location.
• At the HRA location you should ask for a temporary EBT card. The card is where your cash assistance money will post when your application is approved.
• When you get your EBT card, don’t forget to ask for a PIN. A PIN is the code you need to access the money on the card. HRA should give you a PIN that day, even though there is no cash on your card yet.

What documents do I need to apply for cash assistance and Medicaid?

You will need documents to support your application for benefits. Bring these documents with you to HRA:

• Photo ID for all adults in the family (Driver’s license, ID from your home country, NYCID)
• Birth certificate and school records for all children
• Marriage license or 2 letters from other people, including clergy, for married couples
• Proof that you live in New York City – Lease, letter from landlord or roommate with rent amount, or shelter letter for shelter residents
• Proof that children live with you if there are children in the family (this can be included in the shelter letter or can be a letter from the child’s school)
• Proof of present income and assets – paystubs, bank statement, letter stating you have no income
• Proof of immigration status – bring immigration documents for everyone in the family

PLEASE NOTE – Do not request documents from the government of your home country as this could affect your future immigration case. If you cannot provide any of the documents HRA asks from you, you should explain why to the person interviewing you for benefits.

When will I know if my application is approved?

• If you reside in a shelter and/or have very little money or resources, you may be eligible to have your application processed faster and get benefits as soon as the next day. You will need your temporary EBT card and PIN to access the cash.
• If HRA determines you do not have an “immediate need” it can take 30 days to get a decision on your application.
• Before you leave the HRA location, ask for your “Cash Assistance Case Number.”

What if I can’t go in person?

• If you have a phone with internet access, you can download the AccessHRA app, create a login and submit your Cash Assistance/Medicaid application.
• You can call the HRA information line at 718-557-1399 to apply by phone.
• You will still need to submit documents. You can use the AccessHRA app to upload them, or you can take them to the nearest HRA location where you will be asked to scan them (HRA should help you if you have difficulty scanning).
• You will still need to complete the interview. HRA will call the US phone number you list on your application. Your application can be denied if you miss the interview call.

Will applying for benefits affect my immigration case?

• The “public charge” rule, which can sometimes affect getting immigration status in the future, does not apply to: asylees, refugees, VAWA self-petitioners, U-visa and T-visa holders; special immigrant juveniles; and certain individuals paroled into the U.S.
• Housing assistance, Medicaid, and WIC do not make you a “public charge.” Most immigrants do not even qualify for public benefits that make a person a “public charge.”

Do I need a social security number?

• You do not need a social security number to apply for cash assistance and Medicaid, but you may be asked later to show you applied.
• Apply at the nearest Social Security office, no appointment necessary. You can find the nearest Social Security office here.

For free legal help, call Legal Services NYC at 917-661-4500 Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more about our intake process here.

* The information does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult an attorney regarding your matter. Legal help subject to capacity and location.